Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-01
POLITICAL.

POLITICAL.
NEW York, March 81. The committee o
the democratic union to-day, requested tn,
two existing democratic organizations of thi,
lefty to name the Subcommittee to meet on,
OF theirs to devise = plan to secure the cleo
tim of kunited representatives to the State
convention.
| Speech ~ Secretary sherman.
| MASsFrElp, Ohio. March 81. Sec'y Sher.
man addressed a large audience here to.
night. Alter jocular reference to the re.
marks made year ago, that he had come to
| mend his fences, he stated his reasons for
his outspoken acceptance Of the candidacy
before the convention, and announced his
firm determination not to detract from the
merits or service Of others, nor to seek the
position by dishonorable means. Whatever
the result of the convention he would abide
cheerfally by its choice. One Indispensable
condition upon which his candidacy will de-
pend will be the unanimity of the Ohio dele
CATION in his favor. Rcverting to the coming
pres idential contest, he said it would
present for decision questions of the
greatest Importance, and the republican can
didates will be those who will be most certain
of election. The republican party is party
Of principle and the democratic party is q
party Of opposition.
The republican party proposes now to MAIN
tain the policy of resumption and rcfunding,
but must be supported hereafter by friendly
action of the government. Ii proposes to
maintain AMI enforce the constitutional
amendments with all the powers of the Ma
tional government to the end that every
man, poor or rich, white or black, may be
secure in the enjoyment of his civil and polit-
rs.xt,t IL \
the system of free common schools, both by
State and National government, to the end
that every child of proper age may receive
instruction. and thus give the poor as well as
the rich fair chance in life. The republic
can party is the only party in the country that
has courage and ability TO carry out these
great objects. The controlling elements of
the democratic party, cannot and ought not
to be trusted to secure either of these primary
| conditions ofgood government. He regarded
democratic success in gaining control Of the
government as an unmixed calamity.
He then took up the financial question,
pointing to the happy change in the condi-
ton of the country since 1879 brought about
by resumption and the refundiag policy of
the administration. Our debt is now being
| rapidly reduced, without increase of taxation
and this very month the reduction is greater
than in any other month since the creation of
the debt, -Sl4, 900. 900. The political condi-
ton Of the party has vastly improved, as
evinced by the elections last fall. He did
not attribute all these results to the policy of
the republican party alone, but did say that
without steady and firm maintenance Of the
republican policy they would have been i'm
possible. Providence. by giving US bounte-
Gus crops since resumption, has greatly aided
this policy. We admit this and are thankful,
but are certain that if democratic ideas had
prevailed our credit would still be languid
and our industries still be laboring under the
effects Of a deprecated currency. 1t is a
policy which the republican party has firmly
maintained and enforced, in the midst of
doubt, and disaster and partial defeat.
That is chief human cause of the great
change in our affairs, and now the question
to be determined is whether TIE people will
allow this policy to be changed and a demo-
cratic party placed in control of the executive
and judicial branches of the government, for
judicial branch will follow the fate of an
executive branch. The rebel element now
controls the democratic party in every south
ern State, where alone it is secure in its po-
litical power. The triumph of this element
is disgrace to our American civilization. II
they carry this election the rebellion of 1861
is success. If they fail now, the dominant
classes will see that they must submit to
the equal rights of all classes. Every citizen
in the south rs well as in the north. must be
secure in his enjoyment of civil and political
rights and every power of the National gov
eminent must be exercised to this end.
Loud and long continued applause. lie
advocated encouragement of the common
schools in the south and said that if the
colored people were redeemed from igno-