The Portland daily press., 1884-02-26
The Republican State Convention.

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The call for the Republican State conven-
ton 10 addressed to ali the electors of Maine.
without regard to past political differences,
"who are in favor of eevating and dignity
ing American labor; protecting and extend-
ing home industries; giving free popular ed
ucation to the masses of the people; secur-
ing free suffrage and an honest counting of
ballots; effectually protecting all human
rights In every section of our common coun-
try; of effective measures for the encourage
ment of American shipping and ship build
ing; Of temperance; of an economical. just
and efficient administration Of public affairs;
and who desire to promote friendly feeling
and permanent harmony throughout the
land, by maintaining national government
pledged to these objects and principles
To the majority of these declarations near
ly every voter of Maine can probably consci-
entiously snbscribe. The differences of opin-
ion will arise chiefly over the declarations In
favor of protecting home industries and Sc
curing free ballot and fair count. The
former will not be accepted BY the men who
believe in the free trade theory, and the lat
ter will be rejected practically, though they
may profess belief In ita theory, ny the n en-
who have looked on with indifference, II not
with approval, while the Bourbons have
made the South solid for the Democratic
party by force and fraud. The emily classss
of any considerable number, therefore,
xuhi Oh fIa oil Ind L. -hn M
not believe in protecting homo labor and
the men who do not believe in securing to
the voter the rights which the constitution Of
his country guarantees him.
The former of these two classes, We be-
lieve, is very small in numbers. A very
large per cent. of the voters Of both parties
in Maine believe In protection of home In
dustriss. The second class 10 much more
numerous and includes probably the bulk Of
the Democratic voters. Theoretically they
believe in free ballot AMI the protection Of
human rights all over the country, but only
in theory. In practice they wink at ballot box
stuftng and the various forms Of bulldosing
oy which the colored man is kept from the
poiis3 auu i~eisb cVoly &ttc1pt w eoSuio w
him the rights which the law gives him.
The Republican party which believes I'm
equal rights for all men, does not invite this
class to participate in its convention. But
to all men who believe In protecting hum an
rights and home labor, in educating the
masses and promoting temperance, 1t sx-
tends cordial invitation to attend the con-
vention at Bangor and take part in the NOM
ination of q candidate for governor and the
selection of delegates to the National Con-
vention at Chicago.
There 10 another principle Of the Republi.
can party, distinctly asserted in the last two
National convention platforms and which
must he reasserted In earnestness If the par
ty expects to succeed this year, to which We
regret to see the State committee appears
to be Indifferent. We question If the Re-
publican party of Maine will gain any sub
stantial advantage at home, or strengthen its
influence in the nation, by longer ignoring
the fact that the party is as fully com mitted
by declaration and action TO the principles
and policy of civil service reform - to
equal rights. or protective tariff, or general
education. or the encouragement of ship
building. Has not the party here persisted
In lite singulsrity long snoughs We trust
the convention will take care to place 1t In
line with the progressive Republicans Of
ether great States, Of New York and Psas.
sylvaaia, Ohio and Massachusetts,