Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-03

appeared In all the decisive states there
has been great uprising of the people.
Larger meetings have never been held.
Greater interest has never been manifested
in any previous contest since the war.
The old spirit is abroad. The march of
Mr. Blaine from the East to the West has
been like the triumphal progress of con-
queror. The speeches of General Logan.
day after day. have produced deep inn
preston. There is no longer tear of
apathy: no longer a doubt that the old re-
publican party is again ready to do its
utmost to maintain its principles which
have made the country so prosperous.
Third parties and side shows are sinking
into insignifcance. Governor Cleveland
is drifting out of the minds of men. like
the small man that he is. and even his dis
honest refusal to state his position on the
tariff question scarcely excites public
notice. 1t is felt everywhere that Cleve-
land is but tool. and Mr.. Blaine, grand
as is his personality. is only leader, and
that the struggle is between two great
parties, as before two hostile ideas which
contended four years with arms until vic
tory crowned the right at Appomattox.
and have been contending ever since. The
Union has been restored; republicans
helping. democrats resisting. The public
credit has been uplifted by republicans.
democrats resisting. The emancipated
labor of the South has been enfranchsed
for its protection, democrats still resisting.
The enfranchised labor has been driven
from the ballot box by democratic shot
guns. American citizenship has been
protected abroad as it never was during
fifty years under democratic rule. Amer
lean industry has been protected at home
by republican enactments, every one OF
which democrats have resisted.
For twenty-four years, the grandest part
of the history of the country, every for
ward step has been taken by the republic
can party after striking down democratic
existence. The question of to-day is still
whether the same obstinate, ignorant, an
cry resistance to justice and progress and
elevation of American citizenship shall
prevail. For five weeks more the argu-
ment will 90 on, ard in every part of the
country men will be challenged to decide
whether the northern or southern idea
shall prevail whether citizens shall be
defended in their rights at southern ballot
boxes. and in foreign prisons; whether
the splendid development of industry,
which the past twenty years have brought
shall here be arrested whether labor,
accustomed under republican policy to lib
eral wages aud comfortable homes, shall
be forced to compete on level terms with
the pauperized labor of other lands.
There ought to be no doubt of the result.
There would be none if there was free
vote or an honest count in southern States.
There would be none, even in spite of the
tremendous odds which a solid south gives
the democratic party, if there were not pos
sible corruption in northern towns, and per-
jury and forgery in that same democratic
committee-room from which the Morev
letter came. Against all these odds, the
tree people of the northern States, who
know what the republican policy is, and
what it has done for them, must contend.
They can make sure their success, and the
continued prosperity of the country. in one
way only-by swelling their majorities
wherever the voting is free and honest. so
greatly, that neither fraud, nor corruption
nor any form OF crime can overcome them.
- n. Y. T'ribnHe.