The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-09
Blaine as Protestant Democrat.
n. Y. SUM-


In The summer of 1875 there was
special election of a Congressman in the
Fourth district of Maine to fill the
vacancy occasioned by the death Of
Samuel F. Hersey of Bangor. This dis
trlct includes Aroostook county, where
there are large number of voters hold
ing the Roman Catholic faith One Of
these, the Hon. James G. Madigan, was
the Democratic candidate for Congress
The Republican candidate was Gen.
Harris NJ. Plaisted, who had been Attor.
ney-General of the State. The delega.
alton from Maine in the House Of Re.
representatives. was then solidly RepabH-
can, and the efforts of the manager, Of
the party were exerted in order 10 keep
it solid. Gen. Plaisted was elected by
about one thousand majority over Mad
lgan. 1t was not until after he had
served his term as Representative that
Gen. Plaisted became q Greenbacker
and was elected as Governor Of the State
Dy the Fusion vote.
At the time of the Madigan-Plaistod
contest in the Fourth district OF Maine.
there was extensively circulated in
Penobscot and Pscataquis counties a
campaign document bearing the frank
OF James q. Blaine Mr.. Blaine was at
chat time, as he had been for about q
dozen years, the Chairman Of the Re
publican State Committee, and the
brains, eyes, and hands OF the commit
tee.
We reprinted yesterday the circular
IN question. 1t was signed "a Protest
ant Democrat" and it was designed 70
overcome the sure Democratic majority
N Aristook county by appealing 10 the
religious prejudices of the voters in the
'ther two counties composing the DIS.
,rict: The argument of the circular j.
respectable in the extreme. No Demo
rat or Republican who is intellectually
honest, no fair-minded man of either
,arty, will attempt to excuse or defend
ms sort Of political warfare. The al
eyed Protestant Democrat" urged his
eiiow citizens to defeat Madigan solely
a the ground that Madigan was a mem
'Sr OF the Roman Catholic church
James z. Madigan," said the circular.
ls very Jealous Roman Catholic. Il
DelieVed by many that he is a lay
1emoer OF the secret order of Jesuits."
Ane faPists everywhere continued
1e author Of the circular, "are watch.
az the results of..Madigans campaign IN
4. lls district, and It will be hailed every
.nele as q great triumph for the Catho
y; II New England Protestant dis.
~ SENDS a Roman Catholic to repre-
~. y. ~ IN Congress" SRemember"-t0
uote further from the circnlar -"tbat
~ - owe more to religious sentiments
.an you DO to your party; and the
.opeI feDuke to your party for asking
~ 70 vote for a Roman CatboIic is to
lpPort Ten. Common for Governor and
e. Plaisted for Congress. ''' "''
Ihs candidate ia whose bsbo,f this
appeal to religiops nra;nd ~,
Is circulated has comn1nni.staS az aui ~
! .a'or y tne Albany Argur the fact thai
4 autn t.1 Of the document. the nre.
naea Protestant Democrat 80 N.
anne himself. Gen. Plaisted ssvs H. L.
was with Mr.. Blaine when H. ma. ma
iiar was written; he saw Mr.. Blaine
we commend Gen. Plaisted,s ,,o,.
ent to the consideration of IA hnnas,
items no matter W hat theft reIie;ons
INJECTIONS !, may be. The record Of the
thor Of the Madigan cfrcnlsr vii; m she
lrened IN vain for a more disgrseefnl