The Portland daily press., 1870-09-21


in Cumberland, without regard to the fitness
OF the incumbent or the situation of public
affairs.
Massachusetts Politics.
Warrington of the Springfield Republican
discourseth of Massachusetts politics in this
wise:
Some of the leading Roxbury Republicans
are making determined effort to get rid of
Twitchell. They !loudly proclaim that he
cannot possibly be chosen, and they ayow
themselves in favor OF nominating William
Castor, who can. When it is suggested to
them that Mr. Gaston's political position is
that OF Democrat, they say he would prefer
TO be Republican, and would accept the Re-
publican nomination. But nothing has been
heard from Mr.. Gastonhimself to this effect.
II he is Republican, and supporter of the
administration, Why doesen't he say so?. He
Is certainly an able lawyer, good debater,
and an estimable man ,and could make good
representative. 1t he desires seat in Con-
Sress, it is natural enough that he should pre-
Ter TO be in position where he could obtain
ana maintain reputation, and the House of
Representatives is so controlled by rules
which have destroyed ITS character as a delib-
efatlve BODY That no man of the minority, un-
less he have long experience or prcdomina-
ting ability, can obtain any reputation. 1t is
credltabe to MIR. CASTOR that he desires TO
support the administration, but why not OPEN
ly take possession? He need not be a fanatic
nor hack; but it can hardly be supposed
that the Republicans will enthusiastically
: nominate man who is believed to be willing
to take Democratic nomination if he cannot
get their own. But the Objections to Mr..
Gaston personally are slight compared with
those which Mr.. Twitchers friends are likely
to Ippl 9olInst tho Rnyburu ubo
ON this method of getting rid oihim. There
is not member OF Congress who might not
be driven from the field, provided that his dis
trust were at all close, il a 1minority were de-
termined to insist that he could not IA. e.
should not) be chosen, and if the majority
should see fit to yield to them. am not
sure but it would be better for Mr.. Twitchell's
irlends to try conclusions with the other side,
and let the result be what it might. The diff
ference between William CASTOR, Democrat,
and William CASTOR, Republican, is not sui
ficient to Justify sacrifice of all manlness
and fair dealing. A Republican elected by
Democratic votes is good thing in himself;
and he brings good result, Generalization to
those who elected him; and if there is to be
generalization, why not let the opponents
have it? This spirit OF dictation and ''rule OF
ruin" is not likely to lead Mr.. Gaston's nom-
ination unless he takes position as a sup
porter OF the administration.
THE DEMOCRATS.
The Democrats seem to be in a worse con-
dition than the Republicans, as far as guber-
material candidate is concerned. There con-
tlnue to be rumors that DR.. Lorings friends
will use what machinery they can for the pur-
pose OF getting votes for him. But find
nobody who doubts that Gov. Claflin will be
re-nominated, and there is still less doubt OF
h l,a ;.
position, however, are in some doubt. Mr..
Adams has got sick of them, or sick of be-
ing their candidate, to say the least. He is
one OF the Jack-at-a-Pinch nominations,
caught up in an emergency IN 1867, and, the
liquor issue having died out, he does not now
represent anything in the party. Nothing
justifes such departure from the Democratic
traditions except success; and Mr.. Adams,
though he has run well, has not succeeded.
He has wholesome contempt tor everybody
FATHER too much of it, in fact, and it is i'm.
possible to make Democrat OF him; though
he is anti-Repubiican enough. No wonder
he wants to get rid Of the honor of fourth
campaign. Next comes Mr.. Sweetser, who
has the recommendation of the Post, and
who was the candidate before Mr.. Adams.
MIR. Sweetser is a lawyer and one of the best;
not specially a student of politics like MIR.
Adams, but capable of studying it. He has
no more belief in human nature than Mr..
Adams; probably not so much, but is good
deal more in earnest in any enterprise he en-
cages IN. He, too, is no Democrat. He was
IN the Chicago convention OF 1860, led there
Dy his hatred Of Gov. Banks, of whom there
was then some tear.4lHe soon, this danger
over, relapsed into hunkerism, which is his
native element He is an able, contemptu-
Gus, independent, fearless man, but would not
do as candidate, and would be poor gov
ernor on coed many accounts. Ills on
slsusht on the labor men last winter renders
him not available ,his year. Though the
Democrats care nothing lor the labor party,
there will be enough shrewdness in the lead
eTs to keep them from an unnecessary flying
in the face OF that organization. There is
no reason to suppose tEat Mr.. William w.
Warren of Brighton will be candidate, un-
less all other persons iai- He is smart
young lawyer,in good practice, and personally
clever, but is not known widely enough to
make HIM strong candidate. 1t seems TO
me that Charles Levi Woodbury. is as good a
man as the Democrats can run. He IS a man
OF the world, a reader and scholar, good
speaker, Who is invariably listened to with in
terest. lie is not perhaps man of strong
CONVICTIONS as to principles Though in this
think he has tho advantage of the other men
l have named, for he argued the Sunday libra
ry and the reading aad writing questions like
man who thoroughly believed what-he said,
and be argued them also with skill and abtii-
ty), but he has the advantage of being strict
party man. He believes the Democratic ira
dltions. This is very much better than to be-
lieve in nothing. A party man generally has
a sense of responsibility to his organization,
and his party, if national, is always respecta-
BILE, and represents widely popular feeling
and impulse. He is kept by this sense OF re-
sponsibility at his work, and makes better
executive or legislative officer than if he were
at loose ends and floating about. If man
is not great genius and capable of con-
structing and leading party, he had better
quietly follow it and do the best he cam Mr.
Woodbury. would make a respectable repre-
sentative candidate, ard not, as Choate said,
of the harness, a good, sound, substantial,
secondhand one," either; for he is fresh, new
er having held an elective Office until last win
ter.