Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-27
The Popocratic Situation.

The Popocratic situation is a pecu-
liar one. 1t is one calculated to in
spire the belief that whom the gods
would destroy they first make mad.
The silver mine owners sowed the
wind and are reaping the whirlwind.
They established months ago a bureau
of organization. Their literature went
over the land. Their influence went
into the districts and was in the
background of Democratic conven-
tons nominating delegates to St.
Louis Extremists were the tools ly
to their purposes But the extremists
took the bits in their teeth at Chicago.
Not only free silver must they have
but their antipathy to law and order
must have recognition and got it in
the plankS which would destroy the
right Of contract, would undermine
civil service reform. would give to
Dcbsism the greatest encouragement
possible save that of open endorsement
and would make the supreme court the
tool of politics. They nominated u
man on speech, which he had re-
hearsed for weeks and delivered sew
eral times, but which passed with that
convention as altogether impromptu.
Conservatism was thrown to the
winds. Tried Democratic leaders
were thrown down. any one of whom
could have told them that the nomina-
ton of Sewall would be milestone
about their necks That convention
in its delirium of ignorance and fanat-
icism was easily led TO believe that
Mr.. Sewall could actually carry Maine.
The new leaders who had assumed the
helm were captivated by the idea, an
idea that any one acquainted with ac-
tual conditions knows to be preposter-
Gus. Everything was carried through
on the supposition that the Populist
party would endorse the ticket.
No sooner had this most marvellous
aggregation dissolved than signs of
disruption filled the horizon. Lifelong
Democrats We're compelled to repudi-
ate the anomaly. The backbone of
the historic Democratic party was lit
orally torn from the organization that
ha1 Ia tod 40 a
populism and Altgeidism. Nothing
approaching such disaffection has been
known since 1860 Indeed it began to
dawn on the minds of the leaders that
Democratic disaffection would more
than offset the Populist acquisition
should that party come over to the
Popocratic ticket in a body and I'M
questioningly. This the PopuIists
have not done. although almost super
human efforts have been made to
bring that about. The so-called "sil-
yer convention" really. as the New
York Sun describes it. the incubator
convention was called at the same
time and place for the purpose of af-
fecting the deliberations of the other
Chairman Jones of the Popocratic
ticket and Senator Teller, the Republi-
can deserter and others of that cult
were on hand to advise. admonish and
-'inflooence." 1t was noticed that
there was a growing inclination on the
part of some of the leaders to gulr
Sewall. Stone and PETER and Simp-
son and Weaver and Allen and Kolh
and Butler began in some mysterious
way to show the effects of this Gin
hooence." But whatever this, in the
words of Scott,
1.-THE secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silken tie
| that was supposed to bind the boards
of the POpulists into halter and place
hot ho1t tn he h., ,,Is of lt,Nrn Il