The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-09-08
IRennebec Journal.l
Issues in the Election.

Occasionally we hear person say there are
no issues in this campaign worth mentioning;
that both parties occupy nearly the same
ground on National and State questions; and
that it is of but little consequence what ticket
men vote in the election.
Persons who make remarks like these must
be ignorant in politics or inclined to shirk the
duty which every man who is voter owes to
our country and its institutions. Certainly no
man who is capable of reading and understand
ing and who has the interest which he ought to
have In politics, can truthfully say that there
are no issues before the voters in the coming
a,ection. and that the contest is only to see
who shall hold office.
In our Judgment there has not been an cleo
tion since Maine became State, at which
more important issues were presented than
those pending in the approaching election.
They are both of State and National interest,
and include many subjects of the deepest inn
portance. Let us notice some of them.
A fair and free ballot and an honest count
The Republican party favors this, the Demo
cratic party opposes it, In every State which
the Democrats hold, ballot-box stuffing, re peat
ing. intimidation, double-voting, and fraudu-
lent counts and returns, are practced and up
held by the party, and Democratic members of
Congress have obtained seats in that body by
such infamous means and held them by the
mower of Democratic majority.
Protection against Free Trade. The Repub-
lican party favors the protection of American
industries and American labor The Demo-
cratic party favors free trade to the breaking
down of American industries and the pauper-
zing of American laborers. Their allies in
this work are English capitalists and manufac-
turers, who aspire to a complete monopoly for
their goods and wares in every country.
A sound and safe currency. The Repub-
cans favor currency OF gold and silver, with
bank notes thoroughly secured, convertible in
to specie on demand and the banks under the
management of the people, with vigilant gov
eminent inspection. The Democratic party is
in favor of United States banks such as An
drew jackson destroyed, under the control OF
politicians and dangerous TO the government.
Civil Service Reform. The Republican par
ty is in favor of making reforms in the civil
service in q judicious manner. All reform in
this direction so far made has been accom-
plished under Republican administrations, aud
upon that party the country must depend for
| future reform of the service The Democratic
party was the author of the spoiis system holds
to it now tenaeiously wherever it has the con-
troll and will carry it QUO in full vigor in ma
tional concerns whenever II has the opportu-
nifty.
Educating the People. The Republican
party favor the education of the people in or
der that they may intelligently exercise all the
rights and privileges and perform the duties Of
| American citizens under government Tor the
| people and by the people. The Democratic
| party is not in favor of generously educating
| the masses of the people, and especially is OPP
| posed to educational privileges such as are en-
| loved in the Northern States.
Monopolies. The Republican party had its
birth in opposition to slave-holding, the worst
| form OF monopoly, aristocracy and caste known
| to the civilized world 1t can be trusted to
| deal with dangerous monopolies much more
safely and surely than the Democratic party,
which upheld slavery as long as it existed and
now laments the downfall of the wicked insti-
tuition.
Prohibition. The prohibitory laws of Maine
are and have been supported by the Republic
| can party. For the success which they have
achieved credit is due to the Republican party.
| The Democratic party has been and is opposed
| to prohibition in Maine as much as in OHIO,
| where the brewers have paid over to the DEM
ocratic State committee 100000 to assist in the
| present campaign IN that State.
Respect for the Constitution and Laws. The
| Republican party holds in respect the con-
| stitution and laws which have been provided
| for the government of the State, and the dec1-
sions and opinions of the Supreme Court in re-
gard to them. The present candidate OF the
| Democratic party in Maine, Harris NJ, Plaisted
is in rebellion against the constitution and laws
of the State, and setting an example OF lawless-
| ness in his defiance of the Supreme Court
which if persisted in would lead to anarchy
and civil war. He is also defender of the
State Steal under Garcelon, by which thirty
seven men lawfully elected to the Legislature
were counted cut of their seats and thirty-sev-
en- other men who were not elected were count
ed into seats which did not belong to them.
An Independent Judiciary. The Republic
can party insists that an honest, upright, able
Justice of the Supreme Court shall not be
| stricken down because he gave an honest, i'm
partial opinion in an important case, but not in
conformity to the wishes of Gov. Plaisted.
They maintain the independence of the J1uic-
iary, without which the Court is of no value
and cannot be respected. Governor Paisted
and those who vote for him will cast their in
fuence to trample the independence of the Ju-
dietary under foot, making 1t the mere tool OF
the Governor, and endangeriDg every right
which belongs to the people under the consti-
tuition and laws.
There are many other issues which enter in
to this election, but we have mentioned some
of the most important. and enough to convince
any person of common intelligence that there
are issues of the greatest importance to be de-
cded at the polls next Monday. Four Con-
gressmen and a Legislature that will choose
United States Senator will be ballotted for.
The election may decide whether the majority
in the Senate of the United States, also in the
national House of Representatives shall b Re-
publican or Democratic. The Republicans at
present have not majority in either branch
of Congress. They must gain members in the
Fall elections if they would have majority.
A Governor to hold office two years must be
elected; Robbie or Plaisted will be the man.
During his term of Office five Judges Of the Su-
preme Court will have to be appointed Should
Plaisted be elected the Supreme Court would
be remodeled to suit Democratic ideas, and if
the Democrats could secure the Legislature al
so, not only would Democratic United States
Senator be elected but every member of the
present Supreme Court would be legislated
from the Bench.