The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-11
Our Maine Correspondence.
PORTLAND. Nc. Sapt. 4

able and Industrious author. ALGOMA.
Our Maine Correspondence.
PORTLAND, Me- SPIT 4, 1854.
Maine .afairs-"Fusion" and Confusion
Radical Whiggery %. Conservative IHhig-
gery-Congression .Nominations-GoU
Kent's Letter" Rosc" at the Wh,g Meet
ing in acknowledgement Changes.
have been waiting to redeem my promise
to write you again previous to our election, in
the hope, but l can scarcely say the expecta-
lion, that something like order might come out
of the chaos that politics here present; but all
in vain, the confusion that has come Of the at
tempts at fusion getting worse with each sue
ceeding day. TIL, re never was any thing like
the mixed up NESS that the avenue now pre-
sents. It is regular mfi<e, and shows that
In politics, as in religion, when men once break
loose from their old ties, they drive on, reck-
less of where they are likely to fetch up It
would only he to cumber your useiully occu-
pied columns to endeavor to analyse all the
various ell ments that 60 to make up the great
whole of our political battle field; therefore,
instead of going into q minute account Of the
numerous candidates whose names crowd the
columns Of party papers, I shall beg to
etate what are the dominant ideas that
here exist, and which are made apparent
through all the anarchy that prevails. Men
ideas, when engaged in what may be called "a
row." as when proceeding in the most method
cal manner in the world. Confusion has its
laws, as well as order.
The first thing that strikes the observer here
is the separation that is going steadily on in the
whig party, and from which Che democrats
shou take comfort, as affording them the first
glimpse of CONSOLATION. 1t is the rift OF blue
that occasionally is seen through the storm
clouds that now lie between them and the
haven OF success. This separation once effect
ed-and there must be an end to all attempts
to form aunited anti-democratic party in Maine
ard the democracy, though for the time
largely reduced from what they were, will be
able to resume power In the State. The points
OF division are radicalsm aud conservatism
The radical wings are for coalescing with the
Morrill, democrats, ana with ali the rest of the
various parties that are opposed to the national
office-holdjng faction. Their views are very
clearly set forth in o letter written by ex-
Gov ernor Kent to the editor of the Kennebeck
Journal, aud published in that paper Of Sept
l. Taking hostility to the Nebraska bill as
the basis Of his policy, Mr. Kent proceeds to
support the g fusion" Or coalition, doctrine to
the fullest possible extent He says, that ua-
der all the circumstances past and present, he
was in favor Of uniting all the anti-administra-
ticn parties in support Of NJ Morrill, for GO
werner. He speaks with utter contempt of
what he calls " this half and halt sort of union,
which urge concert in one breath, and on one
and a fnf and trail
those who would consistently carry out the
idea tally" Taking for granted that it is right
TO torn any coalition, Governor Kents pO-
sition il unasssilable; but there are wings
and especis ~ those who are not likely, as they
think, 70 make 70 much out OF the coalition as
they believe themselves entitled to-who are
ec,ively engaged in doing all that they can to
promote such course Of action ss mast throw
the State into the hands OF the Paris demo-
Gratis They found their appeals on that con-
tervative element which permeates the whig
party, making il 80 conservative, and ena-
bling it to bold itself together in the face
OF 70 many and so bitter defeats.
Such appeals, by whomsoever made, are
very sure to be responded TO by the steady
going higs, men who have no other object in
viz. tran the good of their country, as they
understand it. This iniexibility Of the wings
on point of so much consequence, has ia this
instance been outdoDe by their hostility to
slavery in many quarters; hut there are still
enough Of their number left TO do homage to
the ,rty's fundamental idea, to cause the lead
ing ., siition wings much slarm-n0t, perhaps,
for what may happen Ihis year from their very
announcement reverence for principle. rs for the
future, wbeo this conservative le sven may have
operated ON the grta mass Of the party. Now
1t il with reference to the future, ss explained
il ny last, that our wbg leaders are acting, as
much ss for the present, though they are far
from desl Using the present, with its Governor,
members Of Con gres-, State Senators, &c DC.
affordiDg very agreeable and diversified col
lection Of spoils. The subject is beset
with doubts but things have gone too far
to admit OF the de mocrats gaining much
out Of the dissensions that are now
happening among the whigs-they will make
more out If them by and bye, unless President
Pierce should contrive to do something that
sLal still further Distract the democratic party.
He II sort Of Providence to the wings, and
get them out of very bad scrapes.
In the third district, the conservative wings
put mp Mr. Farley for Congress, though, rs pre-.
vionsly mentioned, portion Of tne wings had
united with the wo0lly head democrats, free
solers DC, In support of Mr. KnowIton. Mr..
Farley was not abandoned by the Knowlton
Ell, but abandoned them. His refusal to sar
tisfy them on the slavery question WAS the first
overt act. on clear scale. that marked the
pr cess Of disinte q alton, and their refusal to
nominate m was not the cau>c of the rupture
tlal took place, but the effect thereos-the evi.
dence that the coalition was, AZ far rs that dis
tJict WAS concerned, at an end. The various
parties were anxious 10 nominate him, but be
in effect dsfed them, without being strong
enough 10 make bis dehauce good. II Is
turpostd that the democrats will carry the dis
trct, though it is by no means certain that
thy will
~ IT.11 - ~
can, idate, has Withdrawn from the contest,
which gives Judge Wells q tolerably good
chance Of success particularly because 1t Is
thought that some Of the conservative wings
will vote for him, in consequence Of their dis
Ike Of the Portland ,ddseyfiser, which u own