Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-06-18
THE DEMOCRATS
Nominate Edward P. WinsIow
Of Portland, for Governor.
Party Shows Some Life and Gets Out
Half 7! cir delegates.
Plum Trust Given Black Eye in Choice OF
National Delegates.

Portland, June 1.-THE Democratic
state ~onventio was called to order
az noon, by George e. Hughes, chair
man of the State committe. who read
the call. He introduced as temDorary
chairman of the convention ..on
Charles r. johnson of W%aterville. who
spoke at considerable length. Mr..
J~ohnson's speech was very well re-
oeived. He said:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Con-
vention:
wish TO offer my grateful acknowledge
TnentS to the committee who have invited
me to act as your chairman, and to as
sure you that l fully appreciate the honor
when they have conferred. / feel that to
&c SsIected TO preside over a convention
oi me Democratic party in the State of
MAINE Is a distinction which might Wei
pc priced by any man. for l recognize the
aSvo,ion to principle and .%unwavering
essential to good government. which has
led 1t. though in the minority, to meet
year altcr year in convention to plight
anew IT'S faith to the principles Of Jeffer-
son and Jackson and to rekindle the fires
Cpon the altar of Democracy.
This decp-seated loyalty to party has
rs source In something besides conserva-
otyolIu HltIe OnStlndte
ciinSinS to false doctrines, in something
more than the struggle for office or the
sratlilcatlon of playing the role of OBJ
structioniSts. 1t is due to the fact that
the foundation upon which Democracy
was laid is broad and wide. and that the
truths enunciated by jefferson and Jack
son are as necessary to the preservation
OF our Republican institutions today as
ever; so that defeat never disheartens.
but serves only to strengthen our belief
IN 1heir wisdom and their justice.
upon these truths has chosen for its
foundation the solid rock, and the rain
may descend, and the hoods come. and
rs winds blow but the house of his po-
ii,lcal faith will not fall. Nowhere has
the ain descended harder or more fire.
iuentiy. or the floods come oftener. or the
WIND blown violently, than here: and yet
The Democratic party of Maine survives
and has it's supporters, because it's foun-
derS built not upon sand. but upon the
enduring granite of sound political econ
omy.
Though year by year the %disgruntled.
the cowardly, and the timorous have left
us, or attempted to escape the unpopu-
iarlty of their utilization with a minority
party by adopting the policy of non-re-
sistance and quiet submission, their de-
sertion or lukewarmness has made no
difference with the great army of Demo-
Gratis. Numbers have not counted. We
nave cast no looks of regret after those
VINO. failing to obtain offices in the Dem
ocratic households. have deserted their
principles for the glittering prizes which
seemed more plentiful among the enemy.
1t has meant something to be a Dem
ocrat in Maine. 1t costs something
everywhere to belong to the minority
party. 1t costs as much in Maine, to say
the least. as in any other State. 1t means
the sacrifice OF opportunities of a polit-
ical, social and business nature, and. in
some instances. venomous persecution.
1t means that no man is too pure to es-
cape Vituperation and abuse if he be d
Democrat. In a convention of men
whose party allegiance has been sub
lected to such tests. expediency will re-
ceive but little considerations; merit. and
worth will be the only weights used in
weighing matters of party policy.
-Four years ago, whom we m
upon a similar occasion. our hopes ran
high, courage was strong in every breast:
We felt that the tide had turned. against
which we had so long struggled. and was
bearing us upon its full flood into the
harbor where we should at last find the
realization of our hopes. We have seen
some who were with us then. when the
tide was full and the wind was fair. de-
sert us now that the ebb seems to have
begun, fearing that our anchors will not
hold. This We expected. Fair weather
sailors should not ship with us. We are
used to the storms as well as to the
sunshine, and have learned to battle
against the tide as well as to sail with it. |
Ii wind and tide are not SO favorable now
rs then. every Democrat will only pull
the harder.
10 you. veterans of Democracy. who, |
through all the long years which have |
passed since first you devoted yourselves
TO the principles of our party, have
found in them the surest safeguards of
individual and national freedom. and
have drawn from them inspiration and
courage which have sustained you,
though defeat followed defeat, and polit-
zeal prescription and, many times. perse-
cution have been you only reward;
whose honest hearts are still filled with |
the same warm love you have always
borne them, and who. 10Y that you have !
reached the crest and begun the descent |
of life's rugged hill, find in them the |
guide of your political faith-to you, II
render the homage due to your loyalty |
and devotion.
With you. young Democrats. l strike
hands i'll / solemn compact that we will /
remain thu to the precious inheritance in
which We share; that whether assaiIed
by foe from without or within, we will de-
ity as that with which it has been pre-
served. confident that by SO doing we
shall discharge the highest duties of good
citizenship.
AT the commencement of the present
administration, rejoicing for the first
time since the war, in a national govern
ment Democratic in every branch. the
government. We saw seated in the exec
utive chair at Washington the man who
was the idol of the Democracy of the
country to an extent that no one had
been since the days of Jackson.
With hearts beating high with expecta-
ton, we undertook to sail the ship of
State. She carried a valuable cargo. the
lives and destinies of millions were her
freight. We had helped build her sturdy
frame, and for several voyages her nav
igators were of our political faith: For
many years previous to the time when We
assumed command. with the excep-
ticn of one short voyage when a part
OF hen crew were Democrats. she mad
been sailed by others. and the last voyage
had been made with officers and crew
who were Republicans. She had reached
port in a hurricane. The skies even then
were black with threatening clouds and
the lightnings flashed across the heavens.
Though the good old ship bore evidences
of the storm she had met. We had no
time to place her in the dry dock ana
her condition. repair. her sails,
caulk her sides. or wen apply a fresh
coat of paint. But we were compelled TO
command of her as she YVES, with
saping seams in her sides. her sails torn,
the barnacles clinging to her keel.
When we did so. we found her stores
exhausted, and. worse than all, we
no money with which to pur-
chase others.
Her former officers had been divided
as to the course upon which she should
a sailed in the previous VOYAGE, ana, ;s