Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-02

spec,s a secret ballot, still i, has not abou, il
the safeguards of this bill which 10 the result
of the experiences Of the times. He be-
heved the responsibility of giving the people
some relief in this matter was upon the re-
publican party. And what is the position OF
tina, party upon III One year ago sabs,an-
TALLY this bill vas passed by the republi,
can legislature OF New York, and
the republican press of New York
endorsed il. Ii went TO Governor
I Hin and vas vetoed. In the last campaign
all of the republican press of this Stale,
even the newspapers that are barking at the
heels of this bill today, condemned Governor
| Hill for his veto and denounced him Ss an
enemy of the purity OF the ballot. In there
enc rule Of politics for New York and an
other for Maine: Are we in Maine TO be-
come Governor Hills upon this question
/ What is the attitude of the press of this
State: In York county both daily political
papers urge the passage of the bill. The
Portland Press, Portland Argus and Port
| land Advertiser are emphatieslly in its favor,
The Portland Evening Express is naturally
| opposed 10 il. The Lewiston Journal and
Auburn Gazette both favor it. The kenns-
bee Journal in his own city emphatically ia
vors il, and as might have been expected the
\ Bangor Wing 10 opposed 10 IL. That could
! have been foretold He submitted that it
was the duty of the republican party to re-
1 spect this sentiment II Was proper To consid-
er that while large part of the the opposi-
ton came from gentlemen honestly opposed,
still there is strong and powerful opposi-
ton from those who are nothing but pro
fessional politicians who are so anxious that
/ fhara il hnrrNin, IN and fro the dark
hours of the night for fear that the bill may
pass. When meu that live and move and
have their being in politics solely by the cor
rupt useof money fear the passage of this bill
it is an important consideration addressed To
the consciences of members whether they
hadn't better at least investigate. Ii came
home TO him with tremendous force whether
il would not be well TO try il in those local-
ties where NO man dares rise here and respon-
sible 10 his God and his conscience, deny that
the corrupt use of money is the controlling
force in the politics of those cities.
Funds are gathered in from heaven knows
where and in amounts that no man knows,
for he believed that the expense accounts
were never audited. No man knows from
whence the rivnlets flow, no man knows the
quantity that comes but like the showers Of
heaven they descend at the pro-
per time, coming in quantities a.
may he needed. Even as inI
the coming and gong of the seasons, there
is always the necessary amount of rain fall.
Whence it cometh and whittier it goeth no
man knows. Laughter, Whether all of
il be used or not no man knowetV. Will any
man deny that within the last 20 years there
has crept into both political parties cor
ruption fund that is rolling up in volume and
l.... -
sumed vast and alarming proportions! Ii 10
a matter of history that in 1880 the republi
can party in this State was swept out of
power by vast corruption fund. Ii would
not be denied that since then sums of
money have been poured into our politics
that none care to state lie did not be-
lieve that ii was necessary for
the great republican party to live for mo-
ment in alliance with anything corrupt IN
politics. He believed the State of Maine |
grandly and goriously republican with
out the corrupt use of SIN |
gle dollar. lie believed the money
used was not for the advancement of the
republican party and ts principles, but for
the personal aggrandizment of the machine
that handles it. If not one single dollar had
been used corruptly in the last election the
party would have triumphed even as IT had
for the last quarter of a century. What an
anomaly that a party that had its birth in
the c0nscieDces OF the people should even
for a moment set up even the possibility that
it may be necessary for them to purchase a
single vote in Maine to hold its power.
MIR. Heath continuing, said he might have
spoken earnestly, but if he had told the truth
no man could be offended. If in telling
the truth he had offended any man. then let
hit,,h l.I II. lr Son 10
to give some relief to the oppressed cities of
the State of Maine; that it would permit
consciences instead Of gold to rule the cities
that it w)uld pass bill that would remove a
stain from the escutcheon of the republican
party in the cities of this State that would give
such a system of voting in the cities of the |
State that no man hereafter shall even have |
a chance TO assert with the color of truth |
that there is an alliance between the same
machine that handles the corrupt political |
funds of the State and the liquor traffic in
the cities OF the State. This charge had
been made and repea.ed with emphasis. 1t
is an Indictment against us that has never
been tried out. He did not say the fact ex-
lists, but that it would be impossible to make
the charge under the operation OF the bill.
No man has ever dared to charge that there
has ever been an alliance between the repub-
lican party and the liquor dealers fer. thank
God, the machine is not the republican par
ty. There are eighty thousand unorganized
republicans in the State who believe that the
republican party is one of principle and
progress, who If they could but know the
facts, would sweep from existence the bri-
gands who have seized upon the rule of the
party, and who, behind the walls and the
rampant of an immense political corruption
fund, are absolutely unattackable until
money is driven out of politics. They laugh
to scorn the attempt even TO cross their path,
They look with contempt upon the con-
sciences of the people, and well they may
because the hand that holds the purse strings
in politics is hand that, when it gets upon
never be dislodged until you paralyze
of money which is it's power.
Give to the cities of the State the opportun-
1t, to be republican in principle, to be free in
politics. Give them the opportunity to shake
vh the the rule of that despotism that is
driving the republican party over the preci-
pice.. of ruin and disaster. Give TO the peo-
pie of the cities the opportunity to shake off
this incubus and to let them be republicans
even as were our fathers when % and 80
years ago they gave their lives, their con-
sciences, their everything for their country.
Applause
Mr.. Wright secured the floor in opposition
to the notion but gave way for a motion to
adjourn.
Adjourned until o'clock 2. NJ
Afternoon Session.