Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-09-16
THE SENATOR QUESTION.

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In commenting upon the result of our
State election, the Boston Advertiser very
properly censures the measures set on foot
to secure the election of Governor Cham
berlain to the Senate, pronouncing them
unusual and 'injustifiable." In this
the Advertiser is clearly right, but when
it goes on in the same article to express
the idea that the Senatorial contest in this
State is simply on account of personal pre-
ference between two candidates, X mis-
represents the actual state of things, and
fails to give that importance and charac-
ter to the efforts to return Mr.. Morrill, to
the Senate which properly belong to them.
This is not the view which the republican
party of Maine take of the contest, nor the
basis upon which they act. Taught by
stubborn and painful facts they have come
to realize that this is not mere struggle
for personal supremacy between two can
didates of the same party, but contest
invoking the very life of the republican
party III AdiHc Ii trSHatot 4huiilii, VII"
all his personal popularity, stood leaning
upon the democrats, depending upon their
votes to elect him to the Senate, he would
be abandoned by his political friends at
once, and instead of being as he is to-day
and will be next winter, the almost unan-
imous choice of the republicans elected to
ha 7 Il La ,vo,,1L ha Il tint Of
republican support and sympathy as is now
his competitor 1t is not therefore ques-
ton of personal preference. 1t goes deep
er than that, to the foundation of the re-
publican organization. Governor Cham
berlain has many personal friends in the
republican party, but not one of them who
is true republican and means to maintain
an honorable foothold in the party will
hesitate, in the light of recent events, to
cast his influence for Mr.. Morrill,. The
article of the Advertiser is mainly so cor
rect that we copy the following to show
what outside and disin.erested observers
think of the "ChamberIain movement" so
called by its originators.
''We have no hesitation in saying that the
whole difficulty arose from the very unusual,
and. as we think, very unjustifable, m cas-
ures set on foot to secure the election of Gov
ernor Chamberlain to the Senate. We would
not be understood as expressing preference
as to whom the Maine legislature shall choose
to that position. 1t would be impairment fol
us to do so, as that is matter for the legisla
ture alone to decide without interference from
any one outside the State. But we do regart
il as a subject for criticism by all who arr
interested in the success of the republican
party, that the movement was originated in
such way that it could only be carried on,
by a coalition with democrats who openly
protested to be contented with the election OF
General Chamberlain, and in such way that
it was certain to cause split in the republi-
can party unless the friends of Senator Nor
rill should quietly yield the field to them. II
both sides have subsequently taken under
hand methods of attaining their object, and
have intrigued in an altogether unprecedented
way in their determination to win at all haz-
ards, the primary blame must rest upon the
originators of these tactics. The latter are
very fond of attributing the extraordinary
movement to the people as distinguished from
the politicians, but every one knows that this
is merely the cry always raised by the outs
when they wish to become ms. principles,
not ''men," is motto often adopted by par
ties and, we like to believe, usually acted
upon by the people. This was really con-
test of personal preference between two good
and deserving candidates, holding to nearly
identical principles, both honored and trusted
by the party; and yet it was waged with a bit
terness and a determination so great that one
wing at least preferred the triumph of the
democratic to defeat by the other wing of the