Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-16
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Augusta. Wednesday Morning, Aug. 10
Young Men Stunning the Demo-
cratic Party.

Young Men Stunning the Demo-
cratic Party.
One of the significant signs politically
is that young men are averse to enlisting
in the democratic party. Even the sons
of democratic parents are often found cast
ing their votes with the republican party.
It is 50 in Maine and every other northern
State.
The cause for this is not obscure or diff
cult to find. The democratic party has no
attractions for young men. Its history
for the last twenty years is repulsive TO
them. They see it as the principal factor
in the great rebellion against the govern
ment. True. there were many democrats
who made manly protests against secess-
ion. shouldered their muskets and bravely
fought, bled. and died for the preservation
OF the Union but the party itself,as known
by its conventions and platforms, its spirit
and organization. was with the rebellion
in sympathy and act as far as it dared to
be. No bright young men can overlook
the disloyalty of a great party to the gov
eminent under which it lives. They feel
ashamed to be known as its supporters.
They shrink from taking upon themselves
the odium which attaches to such party.
What though their fathers have voted the
democratic ticket all their lives, is that
any argument why the sons should vote
the same way, when to do so enrolls them
members of party that wears upon its
forehead the brand of d,sloyalty to the
government? Conscience and honor as
wells as personal interest and patriotism
bid them reject such an unholy alliance,
even though their fathers are members OF
the democratic party.
If there were redeeming features in the
course of the democratic party since the
rebellion there might be some apology
for young men joining it. But it con-
tinues as unpatriotic, as destitute of good
principles, as hardened in wickedness and
sin, as while it was passing peace resolu-
tons in the midst Of a bloody war and
encouraging rebels in arms to continue
their unrighteous' warfare against the
Union During the war, when the
issuing of greeenbacks was necessity to
pay the army and save the government
from destruction. democrats knew no
terms too vile to apply to the currency of
the government but when the greenback
party arose clamorous for more paper
money. the democratic party sought its
alliance and became as tenderly in love
with greenbacks as it had been fiercely
opposed to them in previous years. In
order to grasp the spoils of Office by the
help of the greenback party, it apostatized
from its old-time doctrines of hard money
and sound currency. opposed a
return to specie payments, and wandered
away in the fogs of fiat money. To-day
in the State of Maine, it is wearing two
faces on the money question. 1t is OPP
posed in its platform to national banks
and all banks of issue, while one of its
candidates for Congress is the president
of a national bank, and second though
farmer is tool and servant of another
national bank president. Why should a
young man vote such deceptive, double
faced ticket as that. straddling upon two
platforms opposed to each other as fairly
and squarely as words can make them !?
In this State. too. it has candidate for
Governor who endorsed the outrage of
Garcelon and his Council in the attempt
to steal the State. by fraudulently counting
outthirty seven members of the legislature
who had been elected by the peo-
pie at the polls and counting in thirty
seven men in their stead who were not
elected. A party with such a shameful
record as this. and striving to succeed at
this very coming election by fraud and
chicanery. is not an attractive place for
Young men, and few except those blinded
by prejudice or ignorance will enroll
themselves in its ranks.
The republican party attracts young
men because it has record glowing with
patriotism and glorious achievements. 1t
is the party of Lincoln and Garfield,
martyrs in the nations service. 1t
is the party of freedom, equal
rights. temperance, education. progress.
1t has principles and maintains them, and
history which it is proud to lay open tor
the inspection of young or old. Young
men who join it ally themselves with a
brave. strong. wise party, able and will
ling TO help them forward if they are
found deserving, and opening wide the
doors of preferment to all who are worthy
and seek promotion.
Young men! when you cast your votes
at the State election in September let
them be votes for Robe and the whole
republican ticket. You will never repent
the act, but be thankful in future years
that you made wise choice in casting
your first ballot.