Year: 1876

The great political contest is pressing rapidly
upon us. This Centennial Year of the Nation is
to decide whether the principles of l776, of the
administrations of George Washington and of
Abraham Lincoln, are to be maintained, or wheth-
er counter revolution representing the political
doctrines Of John {. Calhoun, Jefferson Davis,
and the Confederate Democracy, shall prevail, and
thus in large degree undo the best results of the
war for the Union, which cost so much treasure
and so much precons blood. For the first time
since the flames of civil war were lighted by the


leaders of the Democratic party, that political or
ganzation has now the control of the National
House of Representatives, and the prevailing ami
mus and drift of the majority of that body well may


fill the patriots of the Union with alarm. 1t is clear


ly obvious that all the worst elements which have
opposed the principles and objects of the RepublI-
can party the last fifteen years, have combined
with the determination by fair means or foul, by
fraud or force, to obtain control of the National
Government and put 1t on the track IN which 1t
moved in the days of Pierce, Davis, Mason, and
Sllden. The party which is in this aggressive at
tltude towards the tried friends of Liberty, the
Union, and National Faith, is under the complete
control of the Southern Confederates and Tam
many Hall. Hill, Lamar, and Beck Of the South
ern Democracy, and Eaton, Tilden, and Hendricks
OF the Northern Democracy, represent the identi-
cal political dogmas of the National administra-
tons of the eight years Immediately prior to the
Rebellion. The success of the Democratic party
in 1876 would be to place the National Govern
ment under the absolute control of the Confeder
ate politicians and the Chiefs of Tammany Hall.
Never more dangerous and insolent combination
| tlouted before the American people. This threat
ened revolutionary reaction must be met by all the
patriotic and vigorous determination which ear
nest and resoute freemen know how to call into
action. Not only must all the results of the war
be maintained-a rescued and reconstructed ma
ton and emancipated race-but the plighted
faith of the Republic as to our National bonds and
specie currency, must be preserved against all
assaults, come from whatever quarter they may.
Our circulating medium at the earliest practicable
period must be brought to the par of god no
backward steps must be taken, but FORWARD must
be the signal word of all friends of the country,
for Treason, and National Dishonor in respect to
our Finances, belong only to the vocabulary of
thoughtless and unprincipled men.


To counteract these pernicious dogmas of the
enemy, to the zeal and inspire the efforts of
all true friends of the Union and National Justice
throughout the State, there should be at once a
more general and liberal circulation of Republi-
can newspapers. 1t is the purpose Of the pro-
prietors of the kennebec journal to make it re-
spond to the demand for earnest and uncom-
promising discussion of the political issues and
duties of the pending campaign. The assistance Of
some of the ables political writers of the State has
been secured, and the Republicans of Maine may
calculate there will be vigorous pushing" all along
the line" of whatever will fairly tend to splendid
triumph in September and November. The voice
of Maine, in this great contest, will be potential,
and it must he emphatically pronounced on the
one of the first to speak. Let her voice be of
substantial encouragement to her sister States en-
gagged in the same great struggle.


In order to aid as much possible in dissent
mating sound political information on the issues
before the country, the undersigned will publish a