The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-29

Our Campaign.
Bright Comments on it by the Springfield
(Mass.) Republican.
(Springfield Republican.)

springfield Republican,
PORTLAND, Me-, July %, 1882.
heard last night the first Democratic gun
of the campaign fred by Greenback marks
men. The gun may herald victory, as the
chairman said, bat the immediate result was
more like the effect of the toy pistol, which
has given 80 many Maine boys and girls the
lockjaw-disaster for themselves and mourn
ing for their friends. The chairman was half an
hour late in calling the assembly to order. Is
not the Democracy rather apt to get tardy
mark? noticed the same thing in their COR
vention at Lewiston last month, and L have
heard it said that they have been a little be-
hind time for twenty years. Gov. Plaisted
was absent on account of illness, and Demo
crat thought that he had "premonition."
The grand rally of last evening is entitled
to consideration insomuck as it furnished the
occasion for what ought to have been
full, frank and public presentation OF the
Democrat grievance. 1t was fitting that at
the first meeting OF the season, and in the
leading city of the State, statement should
be made by their Gubernatorial and Congress
sional candidates, of what the party wanted
and why their wants should be granted.
Maine people have usually voted the Republi-
can ticket their votes are not mortgaged and
for good cause would be transferred, and last
utterances of last night may therefore. claim
attention as being the responsible words OF
great party asking for votes, and to mot mo-
msnt's consideration are they entitled for any
other reason. Judged by any standard of ora
tory, political sense or common sense, the
speakers and speeches were inane; ridiculous
preposterous. There is dissatisfaction here
with Republican management, there are many
men here ready for a change; but few meet
ings like that of last night will not make few
converts to orthodox Republicanism.
The Democratic leaders are disguised with
the performance, and it may bring them con-
dolence but not votes, when it is known that at
great Democratic rally not single Demo-
cratic speech was made. party cannot sue
ceed, even as a lecture bureau, when its only
oratorical attractions are, on the one
hand, men Impractical in public speech, and,
on the other, mon facile in noisy abuse. Brass
bands and the presence OF the Governor will
not beguile people into attendance upon great
many such entertainments as that at the City
Hall last evening. The motive of the Fusion
compact is apparent to dull man when a
body of gentlemen, members of the Democrat
ic party, will listen to the heresies of their po
litical partners with no protest except beneath
their breath and to their neighbor. On the
street the next morning they speak boldly-to
men not Grsenbackers.
The burden of the fusion appeal is to the
emotional natures of the Maine electors, the
poor man, the laboring man, the farmer,-
these are the phrases pronounced with sad and
sympathetic intonation He is made to dance
through a variety of roles; he is the final cause
of all things, the foundation stone of the re-
public. On his industry and bounty, the grow
er and provider, men depend. If he should
lay down the hoe and hang up the scythe. the
world would wait on an empty stomach for dis
solution. Treat him we'll, gentlemen, and po-
liticians, cut down his taxes, give him plenty
of money, send him to Congress,-or he'll
strikei "Behold,' says DIR. Congressman
Ladd, "the great republican party on its knees
before the poor man, laboring man, farmerl
Just for his convenisnce the party has kept
millions of greenbacks in circulation and the
New York syndicate takes silver certificates to
oblige him. The scene shifts. In the next act
the poor man no longer plays naughty power
contemplating great party in the attitude OF
prayer. The pauvre homme Is new seen pros
trate on the ground, his own probably. Over
his uI happy form the Republican bosses tread
This wretched man has been robbed and then
crushed by the iron heel of despotism, that
monopoists and capitalists may live in gilded
luxury by day and in club-housss by night.
have heard Candidate Thing several times. He
begins his speeches by illusions to his farm or
his hoe or the old oakon bucket, and to the
patent fact that he is plain man unused to
public speaking. What'does an audience care
what a man does when he is at home-be it
hoeing corn or hunting up titles. What has
he to say and can he say it? That is all they
care for. They will not forgive man for bor-
ing them simply because his hands are har-
dened by holding the plow, instead OF white
and soft from holding a pen. Ii farmers want
to 60 to Congress the invoking of pity on ac-
count of their calling will not elect thcm and
a farmsr-candidate, when he takes the stump,
has no more license to be dull and oppressive
in manner and matter than lawyer or minis
ter.