Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-08-26
Hon. E. b. Cove On Fusion.


PSdfots totAthR thc Roou pa ease
people superior to self. address this com
muncation to YOU and through you to the
citizens Of our State.
Ny attitude in the present political con-
test places me in opposition to many in our
party. aud in nv capacity as member OF
the State committee in so contemplate MI
nority as one against fifteen. This has
brought TO me communications from friends,
and il would seem that should BY reason
justify my action. lest be unfairly judged.
More especially il it true. in this FIRST Con-
gressiona district, where l stand among
those refusing to support the Democratic
nomination. made in the Greenback conven-
ton Of July 29,h. therefore desire to state.
in brief. Why l have taken this stand. snd
Why shall maintain il.
The first foundation stone Of the Green
back party, in this State. vas an expressed
agreement TO leave the old and unite in a
new and independent; party. Political preju-
dice had kept the old party lines strictly
drawn. Men desirous Of reforms could on
" agree TO meet and act together outside Of
the Republican and Democratic parties. So
long a. this compact Of Independence vas
kept, xe drew from both. Yet the how from
the Democratic party vas more rapid, and
for obviou. reasons. The Republican party.
holding the State and national government.
had the disbursement Of patronage. and pre-
served its members by this bond that main-
tains parties long after their aims have ceased
To be patriotic. To leave the Republican
party Was TO leave the dominant party. To
leave the Democratic party. in Maine, vas
to leave q party crushed by many years Of
dcfea; and having nothing within its gift
As a result, the members Of the Greenbaek
party, Of Democratic an,eceden,s, came TO
be largely in the majority. Our organira-
ton assumed local Importance. While yet
small in numbers. holding as II did in places
the balance Of power.
Then arose the temptation 10 combine
with the Democracy and defea; a common
enemy The disastrous effects Of this policy
soon proved ,ha; these temporary victories
had been secured nj too great cost The
party los, its independent character. Many
from the Republican party we're sen; back.
and our doors eaec,ually barred sgains, fur
ther aecessions from the majority party.
Despite the fac, iha, trial has demonstrated
the effects Of fusion. the policy has been
pushed We have coalesoed with the Dem
ocratic party until it has become dificul,
to marx just where the dividing line falls.
In this year. 1850. the nomination Of Gen.
Hancock has bresihed new hope into the ma
tional Democracy How well founded tha;
hope may he is no, in place for discussion
here. That such hope does exis, is unques-
toned. and j, is drawing Democratic Green
barkers TO their old party. Obligations to
independent action become as ropes Of sand,
against the attraction Of an expectant dom
inant Democracy. controlling public patron
age. Ignoring the nsw party. they break
ranks and rally TO the old standard. This
deser,ion would he less breach Of faith
we're they content TO 90 alone. Consti,u-
ting while in the Grrcnbaek party a
majority. they not only 90. but avail them
selvc. Of the power in majority TO vote
Republican-Greenhaekc into the Demo
cratic party.-as when they nominated Gen.
Anderson. Democrat. in a Greenbaek con
,eniion. and claim that all are bound bv the
action Of that convention Thus do they
purpose. IN renewing the allegiance. 10 bring
with them Republican n-Greenbackers as a
peace offering TO those who mean~h hile. ever
faithful. have kept the wA,ehhres burning
in the deserted camps Of Democracy. Some
seek to smooth over this breach Of faith by
reasons held to be good and TO which have
given consideration
They claim that the Democratic party j.
largely made up from men substantially in
harmony with the principles we seek TO pro-
mote by an independent organization In
evidence. they cite the many Democratic
votes given in support Of bills presented by
our Representatives in Congress. They Al.
firm We need not hesitate 10 enter the Dem
ocra,ic party, when. BY going TO it en- masse.
xe so reinforce the Greenbark eleme nj as TO
secure control Of the organization and
through il all desirable legislation In thi.
estimate, they omit one very important TAG
tor-haru money democrats. These same
votes in Congress no less tru,hfully reveal
the presence Of men in the Democratic party
Who, on questions Of finance, are less Dem
ocra,ic than Republican or would have been
SO held prior to the recen, hard money plat
form. promulgated at Cincinnati. In the
event Of a general Greenbaek stampede to
the Democracy, these men, losing their
ascendeney, would go to the party TO which
they are more nearly allied BY their financial
interests. The majority conveyed to the De-
mocracy by the ingress Of Greenbackers
would how back to the Republican party by
the exit Of hard money Democrats.
This would leave the party Of financial re-
form in the minority aud quarantined by the
name and unSayory record Of the Democrat
ic party. 1t is giving to men like BayaEd an
opportunity to shift the burden Of past dis
loyalty to q cause they hope to crush for
one do no, propose to enter into such an IN
heritance.
l believe the attitude Of Greenbacker. in
this crisis should be one Of complete and alb
solute independence. The renewed energy
of the Democratic party is but the spasmod-
ic effort that presages death. From this na-
tional struggle it will fall back. defeated,
discordant and hopeless minority. The hope
Of federal patronage gone, its local suprema-
cies cannot long be maintained. This is to
be desired, for the way to currency reform
lies across the grave Of the Democratic par
ty. To enter its ranks is to take its name.
To take its name is to assume the vindica-
ton Of its evil past.
II the Greenbacksrs ali over the country
stand alOof from the Democratic party. this
is its last national campaign. Now. to vote
with it. end so step between il and death. is
unpatriotic and criminal.
1t should rest in the grave. together with
its old allies-slaverv and rebellion. With
its departure the vital spark would pass out
of old issues. 1t would no longer exist to
divert attention from the Republican party.
That party, whose leaders. under plea Of
STRENGTHENING the public credit" and "hon-
est money" have paraded in the garb Of pa
triots, would come To immediate trial. 1ts
financial directors would soon stand revealed
in their true character traitors coming mon
ey from the blood and misery Of the nation.
II becomes u.s. then. to stand aloof; new