The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-01
MASSACHUSETTS POLITICS.


Whnt They Are and What They Propose to
Do-Attitude Of the Rough Hands md Slen-
der Purses-The Last New Phase of tho
Massachusetts Democrncy-The Scyiln and
Charybdis Of the Republican Party.
Boston, August 20, 1859.
The political situation In Massachusetts, Is rapidly
assuming shape and In few weeks the Dali VIII oe
IN motion The contest VIII be an exciting and tr-
angular one at all events-a repetition OF the 1857
campaign only little more So In fact, the canvass
win be one Of than ordinary interest," The DAY
of smooth republican victories IN this stare Is past
or at least until the social questions which have be-
come mixed with our politics are cast out and made
to remain in their proper sphere the liquor ques'
ton and the labor question act like so much yeast to
Keen both the political parties In continual erment
Neither party in the past has had the moral courage
70 suckle either of the tissues" ana nelthe :.
one nor the other interest has been or Is now sro 70
enough OF Itself 60 1t alone. The republican pa rty
being In o large majority-large enough to over
shadow everything in the shape OF political ppos
tlon-ought to have prevented all the fierce tre Of
conflicting interests now going on, instead OF playing
at the game OF shuttlecock, and If 1t couf expert
ence one good sound whipping tue m''ral eHect
upon Its members would be excellent.
A complete network OF secret organize tons covers
the State These are the ''Sons OF LID .rty the ''
L. LIZ the .sRepublican Union Leagus,n the various
organizations that give vitality to The prohibitory
party ana the labor organizations, chief among
which the Order Of ST. Crispin, The rs. o. L. Is
composed about equally OF republicans and demo-
Gratis The 'P. L. LII which made such sad havoc
In The ranks OF the dominant party in 1851 is sort
OF central body OF the anttprohtotory dea founded
on the principles OF license, and it affords life and
vitality to the as. U. Ln satellite. The Union
Republican League" is thorough repub
but composed OF men who always have
oeen true 10 the best interests OF that party II s
rather conservative than otherwise. In the address
OF the League" they say that the attempt OF the
leaders OF PROHIBITION to force on the republican
party the adoption OF prohibition" as part OF Its
platform not only meets with their unqualified dis
sent but the spirit Of that law is opposed to
human rights and should be removed from the
statute book The League" is mindful that the re-
enactine or the pronbltory law by strict party
vote in the last Legislature gives color TO the claim
that this measure Is now a part OF the republican
policy and therefore II is that they urge upon every
liberal and conservative repub lean to unite TO have
the dogma OF prohibition repudiated by the next
Republican State Convention. The temperance
people VIII attempt TO control the next republican
convention, ana thus 1t Is that the "U k. L. pro-
pose to offset that eor oy looking aiter Inc caucuses
This 'League' VIII be power In the large towns |
and cities where republican majorlties most do pre-
vail. In the small towns, where the farmers with |
their cider predominant, the secret organizations
designed 10 smash prohibition VIII be Of no &C.
count
The labor reform party IN Massachusetts is assum.
ing large proportions. Not only the men but the |
women are working in 1t and for IL; although the
latter cannot they have their organizations, and
must influence their husbands or male friends more |
or less IN the matter OF political action The leading
labor organization Is the Crispn. Good authority |
states that IT now numbers 5000 members-ampy
Sufficient TO hold the balance OF power II skilfully
managed Its leaders are intelligent and rising
men. They can talk as well as work. They can
plan and figure with all the shrewdness OF old poll
ticlans; but whether they Will use their power in
the right direction remains be seen. la the city
OF Lynn the Crspins are numerically strong enough
10 carry the city at an election. The same may be
said OF every other boot or shoe manufacturing
town OF any importance. And these Girls
pins have no particular love for either po-
ltical party though most OF them usually vote
the republican ticket upon national issues. They
hate Governor Claim, the king OF shoe dealers, be-
cause he sYppahized with the men at the state
House last winter who voted against giving them
charter Of Incorporation. 1t Is cardinal principle
with the Crispins that labor, as well as capital mas
right to DE Incorporated aud they intend to go
into the canvass on that issue and vote f0f 10 f0n
or men who are opposed to granting labor cOrpo-
are not up to their standard they will nominate men
from the workshop or vote for democrats.
The recent State Labor Reform Convention held
here Crspn movement from beginning to
end majority OF the delegates smeiled OF leather
majority OF the State Central Committee are Crs-
pms, ana this order, beng the strongest is evi.
IDENTITY designed Tor central point around which
the other trade organizations will revove The labor
movement IN Massachusetts Is so well organized
that there Is sort OF ireemasonry existing among
all trades that have any organization Tor political
purposes. But the experience OF the past has de-
InonsIfeted that the worklngmen generally one
ticket or the other instead OF voting on the side OF
party Of their own creation. This fall, however, II
VIII depend good deal upon the action OF the Re-
publican State convention at Worcester as TO how
The worKingmen vote, Tor they have had 30 many
meetings and so many conventions during the past
six months. and made 50 many threats and found 80
much fault with both the republicans and democrats
that seems as II they DO not mean boys play; they
VIII for once in their lives act ike men aud do as
they have resolved to do over and over again.
Inc democratic party Is hopeful. It's tenure upon
lie Is remarkable. Al The convention held at Wor-
cester the other day the young men OF the party got
the handling of II, while the old men were put Of by
being called Jewels" and politely requested to take
back seats, which they did. The party did Que
sensible thing, and one which it ought to have done
at the close OF the war-accepted the political
situation the Negroes status and all, instead OF fight
Ing over defeat. Some sagacious men IN the party
say that a mistake made IN holding the Conyen-
ton so early-tnat 1t should have been held alter
the Republican Convention. But 1t was urged that
a. the party only present the sooner
the Convention was held the better. The first ass
and only object OF the democrats is TO "smash the
pronibtory slate" And they threw sop to the
republican Cerberus to help them do IT. TIE repub-
licans only laughed at them for doing so-those
republicans who wouldn't vote a democratic ticket
any more than they would cut of their noses
mean, for there are scores OF republicans, LIBERAL
conservative men OF the party, who will vote for
John quincy Adams anu his associates If the ap-
preaching Republican State Convention directly or
by inference endorses the doctrine Of 'proniDlOn.m
They did so i'll 1867 and they Will do SO again. In
other words, they VIII vote the Prohibttory Liquor
Law ticket.
There are many democrats who are in favor OF
restricting the SAFE OF intoxicating liquors. but who
prefer from principle the license system TO prohbi-
ton. There are also scores OF republicans VINO be.
lleve the same way and they disposed TO frater
Dlze with anybody 10 get rid OF what they cali
obnoxious and unpopular law. There being no ma
tional issues at stake this year many republicans
very consistently argue that they can make bed
fellows OF democrats In assisting to 'smash the
prohbitory sate.u Mr.. Adams two years ago pooled
"a, 900 votes on the same issue that pre-
scented, reducing Governor Bulock's majority TO
about 27,0ou. which Is not the usual republican ma
lority in this State. Grants majority was between
10000 and $4,000. There Is q significance IN the
figures, and they show what change local issue
Will effect and how much greater change might be
effected from the same cause. ApropoS, the editor OF
leading republican journal in Boston remarked
day or two after the Democratic Convention was
held That he should not be surprised at ALL
Republican Convention should encourage the dogma.
OF prohibition as part OF its policy this year, IL It's
nominee for Governor would not have over 10, 900
majority III the state.
since the Democratic Convention was held there