The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-25
Vote For Princinlas

The gentlemen who have issued the address
to the voters Of the First District, which was
referred to in Saturdays PRESS are all we'll
known citizens of Brunswick, with whom the
writer is acquainted and for whom he enter
tains the highest regard; and their opinions Or
dinarily would merit and receive grave con-
sderation.
But these eminent gentlemen misconceive
the situation, and the course which they have
adopted indicates willingness is not a desire
upon their part. to sacrifice their principles, to
defeat nominee, and In parting company with
their nominee, ALSO to part with their principles;
the two cannot be separated.
1t is mol the purpose of this article to discuss
the merits OF the controversy between these
gentlemen and Mr. Reed, In reference to his
action in the matter OF the Brunswick Post
Office; the address disclainas that as the &C.
casion of its issue, and alleges it to have been
merely the factor by which the attention of the
signers Of the address was attracted to the real
principles involved in their action. 1t would
be indeed incredible that such men as these
should adopt such course, merely because
their candidate was not successful.
After eight years of service, Mr.. Reed was
for the fifth time nominated, receiving all but
| twelve votes out of one hundred and forty-sey-
| en-. In his long term of service he has had
occasion to pass upon large number of SINH
lar matters, and yet he was supported with
comparative unanimity, and this is the only
matter which is now alleged against him.
| In the trial of cases in court, where the testi.
mony is conflicting, the jury are always in
structed that it is their duty to reconcile
the testimony where it can be done upon the
ground of an honest mistake, rather than to find
| that either witness has committed perjury It
would SEEM to be an equally wholesome rule
to assume that Mr. Reed had been lnisled by
others, or that he committed an honest errcr of
| Judgment, rather than that he committed
wilful violation of Lis political principles or
those OF the. party which he represents.
The only logical result of the action of these
| gentlemen and their associates, and that
which they seem to desire, is the defeat OF Mr..
| Reed and the election of Judge Cleaves.
This regult would reduce the Republican
majority, or increase that of the Democratic
party, enc vote; and possibly it would determ-
inc the political ascendancy, in the popular
branch OF the next Congress; these gentlemen
| latter will be the effect of their action, and
accomplish the following results:
l. The election of Democratic Sneaker.
2-The selection of Democratic chairman
and Democratic majority of all the commit
tees, thus giving the Democratic party full
control Of legislation.
3-The sacrifice of Republican principles to
Democratic doctrine.
Let us consider for moment the effect of
this upon the principles which these gentle
men profess to prefer to the nominee of their
party
They believe to the fullest extent, in the
principles OF civil service reform.
II one term as postmaster is qualification
for reappointment, what qualification does
eight years service in Congress afford a
Representative?
What are the practicestof the Democratic
party upon the subject of civil service reform?
For answer, examine the record of the last
house which turned out its Republican en-
ployees to make room for Democrats.
2-They quote the Statute OF the United
States which entities honorably discharged
soldiers to preference in appointments to office.
Mr.. Reed was q soldier, and although not
discharged on account of wounds received in
the service, still it must be remembered that
while he enlisted to fight for his country, his
opponent, Judge Clsaves. remained at home
aud supported the party whose platform de-
clared the war wrong in principle and failure
in results.
If the Grand Army Post were justified in
giving their support as an organization to Mr..
Crawford, how can they withhold 1t from Mr..
Reed aud tender it directly or indirectly to
Judge Cleaves?
While the Democratic party now profess
their love for, and admiration Of, the soldier,
its House at its recent session utterly refused
to consider the measures proposed by the
Senate for their benefit and relief.
3.-One of the cardinal principles of our Re-
publican institutions is that the will of the
majority shall prevail and this is one of the
principles which it is alleged we're violated by
Mr.. Reed; this principle however applies with
equal force to the action of the convention
which re-nominated Mr.. Reed, in which Mr..
Thompson participated as a member and the
town Of Brunswick was fully represented.