Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-01
8aiIp &tlrnebft Journal.
Augusta. Wednesday Morning, Feb. l.
Disguised Democrats.

One Of the leaders of the Ohio democ-
racy, smarting under the demoralized con-
dition Of his party in that State, revealed
his feelings few days since to the re-
porter Of a metropolitan paper in the fol-
lowing remarks: I'VE were brave enough
all through the war. and stood by our
principles at time when it cost something
to stand by them. But in these latter days
a gang of spectators and cormorants has
taken possession Of the reins of authority,
and we are all landed in the ditch. We
denounee corruption to-day and sell out
TO a rich man tomorrow We are fierce
against corporations and monopolies and
are always seeking some monopolist or
head OF a corporation to act as our stan
dard-bearer We pirate of the rights of
the people, and yet no poor man can OBJ
tain a nomination from democratic State
Convention. We have opposed
the legislation that was the legitimate out
come of the war We have juggled with
financial questions until after resumption
has shown us our folly. We have been on
both sides and on neither side Of the tariff
issue, and we have not shown an example
Of sincerity and devotion to principle that
would have an effect on the growing gen.
eration.''
Now this is a statement of facts which
will apply to the democratic party in
many States besides Ohio. Look at it in
Maine. They bitterly opposed the prose-
cution of the war. thus aiding to prolong
the struggle and increase the sacrifice of
life and expenditure of treasure and then
the war being over they crawled in the
dirt at the feet OF the soldiers whom they
sought to sacrifice to southern rebels, and
assaulted the republican party tor the I'M
mense national debt which democratic op-
position to the war increased to double
the size ii should have been. Before the
war, during the war, and Tor some time
after the war closed, the democrats were
hard money party But when the green
back party arose, the democratic party
changed its principles in regard to the
money question, coalescing with the
greenbackers in nominations and plat
forms. In regard to the temperance ques-
ton their course has been equally as incon-
sistent. The republican party has sus-
tanned and enforcedthe prohibitory laws of
Maine against the most strenuous opposi
ton of the democratic party. Now they
denounce the republicans as uniaithful to
the temperance cause which republican
votes lifted into prominence and have sup
ported for nearly thirty years with unwav-
ering fidelity. and whisper to temperance
leaders that if they will but form II tenn
perance party. or cast their influence on
the democratic sie-whch would be the
result of the formation of an independent
prohibtory party-then the success Of
prohibition would be certainly established
Is it any wonder that democrats in Ohio
and Maine are becoming Disguised with
their party and are leaving it to join the
republican ranks (? or that young men
avoid enlisting in a party that has made SO
bad record as the democratic party
has for the last twenty years, and like
weather-cock changes with every
breeze that blowso