Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-22
Waldo County.

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Progressive Age Of Belfast, once the or
gan of republicanism in that county, ought
to alarm republican greenbackers in re-
gard to the tendencies and leadership
which are controlling them. From the
formation Of the republican party until a
recent date. Waldo was reliable repub-
lican county, sustaining all the principles
and candidates of the republican party by
good maj0rities at every election. Then
as now, education, temperance, a protec-
tive tariff, the building up of home in
dustries. the payment of the gov
eminent debt. opposition to the doc
trine of State Rights. were card-
nal principles of republicanism. They
are found in the State platforms of the
party. and Waldo endorsed them with
splendid majorties at the polls as late as
1877. That year the vote of Waldo for
governor stood as follows: 3,4i4. repub-
lican; 2630. democratic; 63, greenback
The next year, 1873. the vote stood as
follows: 2,OO3, republican; GA. demo-
cratic; 1920. greenback. Apparently the
democratic party was upon the point of
g being extinguished, and upon the money
question many republicans voted with
the greenbackers.
1t was not until 1880 that the real effect
Of the greenback movement was made
fully apparent. Instead of the democratic
party being dead it swallowed the green
back party. The money question had
served as lure to draw republicans into
the democratic net. The vote in 1880 for
President in Waldo stood Pas for Gar
field; 3s4S for Hancock; 22l for Weaver.
The democratic party increased from GA
in 1873 to 3SiS in 1880; the greenback
party fell from 1920 In 1873 to 22I in
1880; the republican party increased
from 2003 in 1873 to PAS in 1880.
The net result Of the greenback move
ment in Waldo was to transfer
enough republicans to the demo-
cratic party to place the latter party in
the majority. Hundreds of republicans
went into the greenback party with no in
tention of joining the democrats. but they
were led on step by step. blindiolded, I'M
til they found themselves. against their
better judgment. inside the tents of the
democracy.
If the republican greenbackers of Wal
do will examine the prospectus of the
Progressive Age published in its last is
sue they will find there statement
Of the principles which they are
expected to support if they continue
to follow its leadership. 1t avows
Its support of the rankest bourbon
ism. 1t turns its back upon principles
which as republican organ it supported
until 1877. Twenty-one years ago the re-
publicans enacted protective tariff.
which the Progressive Age supported
down to 1877 at least. but which it now
denounces like any other bourbon organ.
1t even goes SO far in its subserviency to
the democracy as to accept the doctrine
Of State Rights. to defend which the
southern democracy raised the standard
of rebellion in 1861. The republican
doctrine has been and is that THIS Is
A NATION and not confederacy
OF States; but the doctrine which the Pro-
gressive Age is going to hold up before
the readers of its columns, as announced
in its prospectus, is that this is not a na-
ton but confederation OF sovereign
States-the old democratic dogma of State
Sovereignty. for which DAVIS and Lee
fought. and to overthrow which hundreds
of thousands Of brave northern boys laid
down their lives between the Potomac and
the Gulf
Are the republican greenbackers OF
Waldo county going to follow this seces-
sion banner and march to the music of the
Southern Confederacy?