Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-24
Country First.


told that the political campaign upon
which we have entered is one of great
to the country.
Involved in the contest is the question
whether the government shall pass from
the hands of that party which defended it
four wears on the battlefield, and be
placed in charge of the men and the party
who for four years fought to divide and
destroy it. The truth of this proposition
is not impeached or changed by the tact
that General Hancock fought on the Union
side. If General Hancock could he elect
ed he would be in the hands OF the
southern democracy as clay in the hands
of the potter He would Garry out their
plans and policy, notwithstanding that ne
fought upon the right side at Gettysburg
We honor him for what he did then, but
we must oppose him for what he will be
II elected President-the humble servant
of the men who raised their hands against
the government, and who intend to rule
it. if they obtain the power, in such way
as to make the nation pay their losses in
Cured in the rebellion, reinstate slavery
as far as possible, and wreak their ven
peance upon the North for fancied wrongs
done the South.
That there is great danger to be feared
in the working out and accomplishing OF
such change as this in the relations of
the two great parties to the govei nment
Is too plain to require argument. 1t
is not like a change Of government
from the hands of one patriotic party to
the hands of another patriotic party, as
was the case when the control passed to
and from the old whig and democratic par
ties in their best days. Then there were
no questions OF rebel claims, rebel pen
sions, payment for slaves emancipated,
hatred of the flag as the emblem OF the
power that had crushed them, to come up
in the transition of power from one party
to the other. The party that supports
Hancock. the Solid South, by every prin-
ciple of justice implanted in the bosoms
of mankind or finding expression in the
statutes of any enlightened country. for
feited forever the right to controlling
voice in this government when it raised
its hands against the flag and the institu-
tons which itsymbOlized. 1t is also against
reason as well as justice that such a
change will be made if made at all
But the mere change, bada it may be, is
not the whole. The means by which such a
change will be wrought, if accomplished,
is enough Ito stir fever in the blood of
age" and make men forswear the allie
glance they owe their country. Oppres-
sion, savagery, murder, intimidation, in
tolerance. bold unblushing fraud, alone
make the South solid for the democratic
party and Hancock, and upon these, sup
plemented by cunning frauds in few
northern States. does he depend for an
election. To be beaten fairly by rebel
party would be bad enough. but to be
beaten by fraud and violence, will the
great strong heart of the loyal and jus
tce-loving North endure it?
So when we see republicans in this cam
paign, in which are bound up questions
involving it may be peace or war and the
very life of the nation, shutting their eyes
to the grave and momentous features and
facts of the great struggle upon which we
have entered for supremacy in the govern
ment and endeavoring to divide and weak
en- the glorious old party upon which alone
the nation can rely for unity, peace. pros
perity. freedom and equal rights for all -,
we wonder what delusion or demon can
have taken possession of them. The Tenn
perance cause is a grand and God-like
cause. but what madness for republicans
to cast their votes solely for a constable or
two more in the State to enforce the pro-
hibitory law. and thus give support to the
party whose hands are red with the blood
of hundreds of thousands of our country
men already slain in battle, and
which is now preparing to gain
by frauds upon the ballot-box all
that it lost in fighting the government
Without country all our fair institutions
are worthless. War fosters intemperance
not alone in the army but among the peo-
Pile everywhere. Temperance flour
ishes in the sunshine of peace and good
government. He who casts his vote in
such manner as to promote good gov
eminent. votes also to promote in the most
effective manner all the great religious.
benevolent and reformatory institutions of
the country. The republicans of Maine
are too intelligent. too patriotic. too keen
ly alive to the great issues involved in the
present political campaign, TO be led by
any will-o-the-wisp to cast their votes
against Gov Davis He stands in the fore
front of the battle. A stab at him is
stab at Garfield Should he fail to be
elected it would be fearful blow to the
national ticket Gov. Davis is an honest,
sincere, upright man. Let him be sus-
tanned by every republican. Let us know
that we have a country firmly established
49, L.