Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-22
The Revision of FEELING.

writes, in substance:
1T seems to me that i'm order to
Dust the gang that are in the saddle
in this State, at this time, that we
must appeal to all the wholesome peO-
pie that we can, in all the places and
honorable ways that we can.
Whatever may have been the cause of
the Republican reverses in other
states. we that were in the Maine
mix-up know that Republicans elected
a Democratic governor. Hence the
necessity of winning back the Repub
licans, and with them those Demo-
Gratis who are Disguised with present
conditions and the determination of
Democratic leaders"
We agree with our correspondent
that Republicans elected the Demo-
Gratis, but we do not agree that it is
necessary for us to do any winning"
Democratic leaders themselves. are
sending the Republicans back and
with them thousands, we believe. of
the best Democratic citizens of Maine.
If thousands of conscientious Re-
publicans, two years ago were con-
WINGED that the Republican party had
become corrupt from long service.
were not enforcing the laws and were
grating in office. what, then. must be
the emotions of honest. law-loving
Democrats who witness the present
regime of notification and disorder?
If, in 1910. thousands of Republi
cans voted the Democratic ticket t,
correct supposedly bad conditions,
how many thousands of Democrats
may be expected to rebuke their party
in the coming election?
Exery day the outrageous contempt
of law is seen in every move. heard
in every expression, of those few sell
fish politicians who have taken II
upon themselves to make or break
the party on the gamble that the ma
joAiAS VI -hdiiAt NtItic are HUI diiN
weak and addicted to self indulgence
in intoxicants and other vices.
And every day these politically
perverted high assumers are not only
driving every spark of confidence, ev.
cry hope of rival party worthy of
consideration, from the minds of those
Republicans who turned to Democra-
cy for better things, but they are
alternating the very best citizenship,
the moral fiber and bed-r rock charac-
ter of Democracy from it's ranks.
To summarize A few Democratic
leaders are sending more good men
to Depublican ranks than all our ar
guments could win" Here are the
reasons;
Democratic leaders PROMISED
better conditions than were realized
under Republican administration
Mayor Plaisted dwelt upon the cor
ruption that had grown up in 80 years
continuous service He declared over
and over again. that had the Demo-
cratic party been in power for 80
years, 1t would have been too rotten
to live with And he spoke the truth
IN that sentence if ever he did
Before the Democratic party had
been in power ONE year its few self
approved leaders had infected the
whole moral standing of the party.
The liquor question was not allowed
TO stand as non-partisan issue. Gov
ernor Plaisted and Senator johnson
and others plastered it upon Demo-
cracy. regardless of the feelings of
thousands of those who opposed this
espousal of the rum trust cause.
Every promise made in the cam
paign. and which won thousands of
Republicans to the Democratic cause,
has been violated. No attempt has
been made to fulfill those promises.
What is worse, active encouragement
has been given to those law violators
who claim and attempt to prove that
the law cannot be inforced.
Not in the 80 years of Republican
incumbency have the people of Maine
seen and felt such depraved political
atmosphere as within the past II
months-and Democracy had not been
in mover LONG enough to hacn,aa oo,.
rupt.
That is why we have no winning"
to do-Democratic leaders are driving
men of character and common sense
into the Republican party We well
come them, whether they are Republic
cans once misled or Democrats who
at last have seen the true light.