Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-01-18
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Augusta Friday HaF.lsx. Jan. ID.


Augusta Friday Morning, Jan. II.
Faded Greenback Luminas5es.
he grsenback party in this Stats il
dad and beyond resurrection. Living it
made quite . stir and did many strange
things which men who were nembers of
II would not wish to have repeated. The
great body Of the party were probably
honest in their sentiments, bat many of
he leaders and prominent men were mere
soldiers Of fortune. reckless, unprincipled
adventurers. who Joined the party solely
in the hope Of plumber.
There was Thomas B. Swan Of Minot,
what . dashing figure be was In the legis-
lature Of 1880. His greenback friends
who were present during that session
win never forget his eloquencs in de-
nunciasion Of ''bloatsd bondholders"
and "gilded psuper." or the fervor
and apparent honesty with which
he declared that an attempt had
besu mads TO bribe him 70 betrsy the
grsenbAek party. The next year he was
re-slsctsd 70 The legislature. and support
Cd BY Gov. Plaistsd's influence was the
greenback candidate for Speaker. In .
short time after the work Of the session
was fairly begun. Swan was one day
missed from his seat In the House. and
never seen there again. It turned out
that he had been engaged in swindling
farmers. factory girls and poor people
generally with bogus corn shelters. cheap
jswelry and other villainous devices. and
was also . defauIter 10 the town of Minot.
Of which he WAS treasurer; and. having
been detected In his swindling operations
had skipped out Of the State in hurry.
closely pursued by officers Of the law who
were seeking 70 arrest him. This was
the end Of Mr.. Swan - far - the State Of
Maine II concerned.
Another greenback sdventurer was Mr..
Thompson II. Murch. member of Con-
gress from the Fourth district in this
State. a great "anti-monopolist." poor
mans friend" ''reformer" ETC.. etc. The
most notable things which Mr.. Murch did
In Congress were to get some Of his near
relatives into soft positions at Washington
and make charges against government
officials which no failed to sustain. When
his term of Office in Congress closed. he
started . gildsd rum-shop in Boston. in
which he failed few weeks ago. and is
now hanging around Washington impor-
tuning the democratic members to give
him some little place at their disposal.
messenger. clerk. chore-boy. or almost
anything TO keep him from starvation.
The last one Of these specimen bricks
of greenback soldiers of fortune whom We
shall mention at this time Ii Mr.. Herbert
J. Banton. He was formerly the business
manager of Tho Freebooter" q green
back paper published and edited at Ban
gor by Governor PlAistsd. until il sus-
pended business. In another column of
this paper will be found some account of
this friend OF Gov. Plaisted and business
manager OF his paper. 1t seems that like
Swan he turned his attention to swindl-
ing gullible people. in which course he
continued until special agent Bigelow Of the
post Office department got upon his track.
stopped his depredations upon the public.
and had him arrested. Banton now lies
In Jail In Portland awaiting his trial At
the February torn Of court. Thus fades
another luminary Of the greenback party.
Il Il no wonder that the honest members
Of that party. Disguised with the dishon-
esty Of many Of their own leaders and tho
attempt of the democratic party to swal-
Low the whole concern. have abandoned
the organization TO destruction and enroll
cd themselves in the republican party
Not only former republicans but many
democrats have joined the republicans.
and the number that will do 30 this year
Will be greater than ever.