Year: 1877

care things what they seem or is visions
about?" The extraordinary and bewilder-
ing spectacle is presented of Democratic
protest in this State against bargain made
by Democratic leaders with disafected Re-
puhlicans. Somerset Democrats actually
denounce the action of their con-
vention in forming an alliance with
the Greenbackers and in adopting the Green
back candidates as their own. What can
this mean? Whence come these fastidious
Democrats? A refusal to make trade with
disafected men of the opposing party is ut
tery opposed to Democratic practices for The
last twenty years. In fact intrigue has been
the only policy Of the Democracy during that
time, and Democrats have ever been ready to
shape their declarations of principles to suit
the deserters from the opposition camp. For
a score of years the party has been busy skip
ping from one deserted Republican platform
to another, in hopes to secure the aid of those
laggards whom the Republican party
had left in its rapid progress be-
hind, but who, in spite of Democratic in
ducements for further delay, generally man
aged to catch up in time to vote on election
day. The Democratic chiefs have amused
themselves during all these years by iItrigu.
ing with Republicans whose claims for pro-
motion had been disregarded. And now, just
because their leaders desire to place them
upon platform which is not Of Republican
manufacture, the Somerset Democrats re
volt.


There is much good sense, it must be ac-
knowledged, in this action Of the Somerset
men; for all the old Republican platforms
were at one time good to stand
upon, and were only abandoned be-
cause they had become too mar
row for progressive party to occupy; they
were however pretty good footing for re-


dictionary party but the Greenback platform
was never good for anybody to stand upon,
it was built of rotten timber at the start.
Still we cannot but be amazed at the aban-
donment Of the old party tactics. Under the
astute generalship of the chairman of their
State committee the Democracy have been
ready to strike hands with any guerrilla force
that could harass the Republican ranks, or


with any band of plunderers that hung about
the enemy In hopes of stealing something


when the pickets we're incautiously with
drawn. But now all these years of intrigue,


of abasement, of surrender of principle have
gone for naught. A whole division of the
army refuses to follow the General at The
very moment when he believes his plan ol
campaign is about to be crowned with sue.
cess.


We cannot help entertaining very hearty
admiration for the honesty and pluck of the
Somerset Democrats. But they have been
guilty of fagrant breach of discipline and ol
course must be shot. Doubtless orders to
that effect have already gone out from head.
quarters. But there is no force large enough
to carry them out, for all the available troop:
are being concentrated in Penobscot county,
where formidable revolt, under the lead ol
the Bangor Commercial, has broken out. II
this thing goes on the number of insurgents
will be far greater than the number of thost


who still Loyalty rally round the standard, d,-ant
then what can be done? Will the Genera
be captured, his army scattered, and he de
posed from his high command? The imag
ination reels at the dread possibility.


The Bangor disaffection is merely because
Mr.. Williams, the Democratic candidate fol
governor, finds himself unable to accept the
| Portland resolutions as they read, and sc
construes them to suit himself His con.


struction is precisely contrary to the inten
tions of the men who made them, and com
pletely reverses the declared sentiment of tn,


convention. This is strategy, but the Pc


nobscot men uninfuenced by the large AM


varied teaching of the leader of the Demo


cratic organization in this state, call it trick


cry, and are in open revolt. The followin


is the manner in which the Bangor Consmer


ctdt addresses Mr.. Williams: mentioning


report that the Hon. J. G. Madigan was will


the candidate the day before the letter al


pears the lively and imaginative Bango


paper goes on to anticipate the scene had tn
offending passage been read to the Aroostool