Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-15
Campaign Letters.-No 8.

The importance of q republican victory in
Maine in September becomes more and more
apparent as the season progresses. The
state for the past few years, owing to peculiar
circumstances, which have already been ex :
planned, has presented an ambiguous and un-
discouraging to the republicans At home and
abroad. Political deception and chicanery
| on the part of the opposition have worked on
the minds of the ignorant, the timid and the
soured portions of the community with sufi-
Gent result to defeat party with frmer and
better principles. But it is hoped and be-
lieved that this disarrangement and detection
is but temporary and that wiser and more "a
tional views will now prevail. 1t 10 psrticu-
larly important that Maine should give no
uncertain sound in view of the liberal views
and movements existing in that section Of
our country heretofore so bitterly bour-
bon and unyielding. / refer to the South.
From nearly all quarters Of ''Dixie's Land"
come cheering notes of the dawn of better
feelings disposition to act and deal fairly in
political matters, and to take more liberal
stand in the Union.
Independence of action in respect to the
old fossil democratic party crops out every
where, and independent leaders are springing
up in abundance. The outlook, particularly
| in Arkansas. Tennessee and North Carolina
10 exceedingly promising. In addition TO
this liberal political sentiment. there is
growing feeling in favor of protective sys-
TEN for our country. The increase of in
ventions and manufactures in the South has
opened a new and energizing force aId char
acter, and bring to bear relations which
eventually. no doubt, will revolutionize large
portions Of that section. This is exceeding
" encouraging not only to the South itself
but to every section of our country. for 1t
| foretells of unity and determination and
eqnalized prosperity.
The very principles, aims and objects which
| the republican party has been for twenty
years struggling for, are now about to be es-
| tabished-in great part by the course OF
| trade and the progress of ideas, art and en-
| lightenment, and in part by the natural bour-
bon spirit to antagonize and hinder every
| thing that points in these directions. The
| more intelligent Southerners are getting their
| eyes opened and see that, after all, the re-
publican party is their best friend. Now,
suppose at this opportune moment, when
every thing looks bright, when the broad and
pro yressve spri; Of that party is making de-
| cided inroads upon the bourbon element OF
the south, the state of Maine, heretofore one
| of the best strongholds of republicianism
| should pronounce against it Would it not
| have marked influence upon this growing
popular sentiment Would it not check and
perhaps discourage the efforts of these liber
al men who are rising up to our support!
The elections in Tennessee and North
Carolina will no doubt be greatly Influenced
| BY our September election. rousing re
publican victory in Maine will find its echoes
in those states and throughout Missouri and
the southwest. A defeat must necessarily
defeat this rising tide
The republicans of Maine have given no
| uncertain sonnd as to the protection of labor
and manufactures. That policy we avow
and are not afraid to avow it in
print and on the stump. triumph
would be an endorsement of that policy;
while defeat would at least place the ques-
| ton in doubt. Neither the democratic nor
greenback platforms are distinctly pronounced
on this subject-the one mildly squirting
| toward one side, and the other querulously
| limiting at the opposite. Victory for the
fusionsts settles nothing, bnt defeat of the
republican party is virtual defeat of the
principles it advocates. Hence we want no
| uncertainty for certainty. Therefore, the
| issue is distinct.
As the South falls in with national ideas, as
her products and manufactures increase. and
her interests become common with other sec
tons of our country, her influence will be
thrown in favor of sound currency and
proper guards for the protection of
this currency; she will be in favor
of our national banking system with its
well regulated circulation and reciprocal
ton. But a fusion victory now in Maine
would tend to lessen their faith in our none
| tary system, for it is supposed that in no sec
ton is it better understood and more practi-
caly administered than in New England,
where trade and manufactures 80 largely
constitute the industry Of communities. I
speak this as no idle tale; as no trumped up
scarecrow. An interchange of views and
sentiment confirms me in the opinion that
am right in my assertions. If then, for no
other reasons than l have given, the State
should elect the republican candidates, they
would give sufficient cause for such a result
Let Maine do her duty. JB.