Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-07-19
THE SECOND DISTRICT DEMOCRATS

III SCUM us nv AfA--'A
The Lewiston Gg-si,t the leading Dem
ocratic paper in the Second District, thus
states the feeling Of 4 large number OF
Democrats In the District on the question
OF endorsing the work OF the straight
Greenback convention which nominated
Mr.. Gilbert for Congress
Unfortunately the [Greeubaok District
convention allowed the small and miSchlev-
Gus body OF SO-called straight Greenback-
ers~ 10 impose strict party conditions
upop the candidate, which were intended
and which do largely nullify his special ~
ness for Democratic endorsement We
refer 20 the following resolution intro
duced by this clique, and 10 which Judge
Gilbert was called upon 10 pledge himself
a. 4 condition antecedent 70 his nomina-
ton. and 10 which he did 50 pledge him
self.
re. olve,l.-That We the Grcenback voters OF
the second District IN convention Assembled
nrnly believing In the wisdom and justice OF
our principles and Recognizing the absolute
necessity OF party organization To- carry them
INTO execution, do hereby declare tuat We Viii
support no candidate tor Representative who
will not regard himself a. IA hoa't 'vnhu 20
faithfully cooperate with Representatives oi
our party in Congress in the organization OF
the House and the furtherance OF al strictly
party measures
No one can fail 70 perceive tha, what
ever Judge Gilbert's personal views may
be. this resolution binds him in all party
questions exclusively 10 the green0ack
side He is bound in honor 10 act as q
straight GreenbScker OF the most rigid
trbe. and IL is not surprising that Scion
Chase's paper, which has fought SO bitter
ly against fusion and denounced and
spurned Democracy and all pertaining 10
II with such yenomOuS hatred, endorses
the nomination thus qualified, with enthu-
siasm.
II is proper that Democrats should IN
derstand precisely where this pledge
places the nominee they are expected %
indorse. He will be compelled 70 act on
all party matters with the Greenbacker>
as against either OF the old parties. ES-
pecially In the organization OF the House,
which now hangs in s. balance, II the
Greenbackers in Congress unite on poll
CIV 10 prevent Democratic organization,
or ally themselves, - Scion Chase practi-
cally has done here at home, with the Re
publicans, for their own straight" party
purposes, Judge Gilbert has pledged him.
self 20 act with them. There is nothing
in the past course OF the Greenbacker> in
Congress TO assure Us that they will act as
body with the Democrats. one of them
J. HYATT Smith of Brooklyn has already
siopifed his intention To act with the Re
publicans in this matter OF organization
and for all we know a majority may con
clude to do so in their own alleged party
interest Judge Gilbert is pledged TO act
with that majority snd If elected, the curl
Gus contradiction would arise OF Con
gresham elected By Democratic votes
striking vital blow st the party which
helped elect him and, what Is more, being
in honor bound compelled 70 do so.
The Greenback convention knew that II
elected Judge Gilbert could only be electet
by Democratic votes. Why then should
they seek to bind him absolutely 10 thell
party as against the Democrats: What
moral right had they 10 demand all the
party advantages Of a coalition TO which
the Democracy brings full share OF voting
strength: Was this course generous, was
IL Just, was it polite: Have not the Dem
ocraey in the past conceded pretty much
everything for the sake OF union, aud
been poorly enough rewarded for 1t:
Because they have conceded everything in
the past for the sake OF harmony, DO OuI
Greenback friends assume they will con-
tinue to coneede everything 10 party
which has hardly National leg to stand
upon, while the Democracy throughout
the country is gaining In strength aud
position every day.