Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-01
From the Providence Journal,
The Significance of the Demo-
cratic Nomination.

| FROM the ffOvl0ence JOURNAL,
The Significance Of the Demo-
cratic Nomination.
When in 1872, the Democratic National
i Convention nominated for its candidate the
lifelong, outspoken, and conspicuously in
huential antagonist Of the democratic party,
Horace Greeley, every sober-minded citizen
of the United States saw at once the faulty
and righteousness of such action. The Gin
cinnati Convention has perpetrated an incon-
sistency equal to, if not quite as absurd, as
that of 1872. 1t has nominated for President,
| General Hancock, and thus in so far as this
| particular movement is concerned, it has
declared that the suppression of the rebel
lion was right and proper; that the South
had no right to rebel: that it was wrong,
as ungrateful, as suicidal and as unpatriOtic
| in its attempt to destroy the Union as the
republican party has always declared it to
have been. 1t has said that the utterances
of the democratic leaders in Congress during
the extra session were false in doctrine, were
wicked and foolish in the then situation of the
country.
| Gen. Hancock fought to maintain the Union
| which the democrats were fighting to sever.
ment bound by constitutional demands to Sc
cure the rights of a class which the democra-
cy of one-half of the country has both
fraudulenlly and forcibly denied. There is
no utilization between the Hancock who fought
for the constitution, and the Hancock who is
supported BY the red shirts of South Carroll
ma. and the bull-dozers of Mississippi. For,
be it remembered, that although in the last
session of Congress the democrats, as mat
ter of prudence, were silent as to the doc
trines of and in favor of rebellion announced
in the extra session, they did not in the least
recant, modify OF abate those doctrines.
| They simply let 81 dare not wait upon l
would They held to the old opinions: they
only. and that reluctantly. agreed not to flaunt
them in the eyes of the country.
But the convention consOled itself for this
compulsory tribute to Unionism and good
government by nominating for Vice Presi-
| dent one who was notorious sympathiZer
with the South when the very life of the ma
| ton was in danger, and who was, in those
| dark and dreary days when even the most
hopeful patriot feared and trembled. con-
federate at heart, though without the confed-
crate honesty and courage. As he was a
| secessionst then, is he not secessionist
now? Is it possible that the Union North
should put him within the possibility of be-
1
the vital issues, what sympathy can there be
between the Union General and the copper
head civilian? 1t is not alleged that Eng
fish has changed; if Hancock has not, then
they are now, as in '6l to '65, wide as the
| poles asunder as respects the principles then
| and now enunciated BY the southern democ-
racy: and the southern democracy is the
power and the helm Of the democratic party
But we say again as heretofore, that we
care comparatively little who are the stand
ard bearers of the democracy. If the dem
ocratic party should gain control of the gov
eminent, it would be controlled by the South
| The democrats of the South have now rs dis
tinct and grimly-held purpose as they had i'll
the ante -bellum days. Then it was seces-
sicn; now it is recompense for the losses
occasioned by the war of the rebellion.
Even with a republican IN the executive
chair of the nation, this has been made ap-
parent. What would be the depletion of the
public treasury in case of democratic adj
ministration can only be conjectured by the
attempts which have been made in Congress
to obtain appropriations for the South
| of amounts simply astounding
to the Northern mind. The idea
of the South is clear, and it is logical. and
granted the premises it is fair. 1t is this
1--WE had right to secede; secession cost us
| thousands of millions of dollars the govern
ment which cost us so much should repay our
losses. We can if we have control of the
government recover our losses by appropri-
atoms to be spent in the South; if we get the
power we will use it," And so say those who
brought forward Hancock and English.
Judge Poland Endorses Garfield.