Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-07-31

We are inclined to think that whlle
our correspondents memory Is good as
to the wording of the poster, it has slip
ped one cog as to the time Of 1t, as 1t
was in 1853 that the county convention
to which he probably refers was held.
The political atmosphere in Maine was
getting decidedly sultry about that time,
as Is disclosed by an examination of the
| files of the Oxford Democrat. From
five to eight columns of the Democrat
each week was devoted to political edi-
torials and communications, and most OF
| it was emphatically shot stuff" such as
would find little favor in even the most
strenuous of modern campaigns.
Without going too much into the po-
litical history of the time, which it
might be difficult to give with accuracy
and fullness, it may be said that the split
In the Democratic party began in 1852,
over the action of Governor John Hub
bard on the liquor law. After the re-
nomination of Governor Hubbard by a
legislative convention in that year,
Democratic state convention was held in
Portland, presided over by Hon. Virgil
D. Paris, and Arson G.. Chandler was
nominated as an anti-Maine-law candi-
date. There was no choice, and William
G. Crosby, the Wing candidate, was
chosen governor by a combination In the
legislature.
In 1853 the Irregular" Democratic
state convention was held in Bangor,
and Albert Pillsbury was nominated for
governor. On the 4th of August a
Democratic mass state convention was
held in Portland, and Lot NJ. Morrill,
was nominated for governor. The Or
ganization formed at that convention
was perpetuated, and later became the
Republican organization of the state of
Maine. The call for this convention
was signed by Noah Prince as chairman
of the state committee, and read as fol-
lows:
DEMOCRATIC MASS STATE CONVENTION.
The Democratic Republicans Of the State Of
Maine, who are in favor OF sustaining and per-
petuating the principles Of Democracy as ex;
planned and administered by Jefferson and
Jackson. and who are opposed to the disgrace
recent Bangor Convention, at which Albert
Pillsbury was nominated for Governor, are
hereby notified TO meet In mass convention IN
the City Hall. In Portland, on Thursday the 4th
day Of August next. at 10 O'Clock In the fore.
noon, TO nominate candidate for Governor, to
be supported at the next ensuing September
election; and to transact all other business
which the exigencies of the times shall require
This call Is made agreeably TO q vote passed at
a meeting Of the Democratic Republicans, assem-.
bled from different parts OF the state, and holden
at Portland. on the eighth day of July. inst-at
which meeting q Democratic State Committee
was chosen for this purpose.
BY order Of said Democratic State Com,
NOAH PRINCE, Chairman.
This call was first published in the
Oxford Democrat, and really marks the
beginnings of the Republican party OF
Maine.
Two weeks before the Irregular" state
convention which nominated Pillsbury,
on the 18th of June, 1858, the Democrat
contained the first publication of the
call for that county convention which is
undoubtedly the one referred to by our
correspondent, and which was the be-
ginning of the Republican party of OK
ford County. The essential part OF this
call is as follows:
The Democratic Republicans of the County OF
Oxford who are In favor of sustaining the prin.
ciples and usages of the Democratic party, and
are opposed to the 'BOgus'-disorganizin Con.
venti0n held at Portland on the 18th OF June,
1852, at which A. G. Chandler was nominated
of the Democratic party. are hereby notified 70
meet In Convention by their Delegates at South
Paris on Tuesday the 10th day Of August next,
at ten O'Clock In the forenoon.
The basis of representation was the
Democratic vote in the preceding presi-
DENTAL election, one delegate for each
forty votes. The call was signed by
Robert A. Chapman, John j. Perry,
Thos. j. Whitehead, Alvan Bolster,
Ammi Cutter, Essec Fuller and B. Z. Nc
Keen, as Democratic County Committee.
The convention was duly held on the
10th of August at South Paris, and
nominations made. On the 18th of Au-
gust, a convention of the supporters of
Mr. Pillsbury was held at Paris Hill, and
a county ticket nominated. There was
no choice of senators on the popular
vote, in Oxford and in several other
counties of the state, and there was a
long wrangle when the legislature met
in January.
Much Of the large amount of space In
the papers occupied by fierce political
discussion in those times Is devoted to
the dispute as to which wing Of the
party represented the SimOn-pure De-
mocracy, neither being willing to be re-
garded as boilers.