Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-01-26
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26th, 1871.
The Pike, Clifford and Hale Controversy.

Inc Pike, GIuoru anu II tio Con.roverSy.
1t is like rasing up a barred controversy
to allude to this affair but the kcnne5ec
Journal. with Mr.. liale'> letter. did no;
come TO hand until oar paper went to press
Last weak. 80 We are Obliged To SAY this
week. what we should have said last.
though the story may be stale.
Mr.. Pike. at the Senatorial caucus. in
announcing the name OF Senator Morrill,
as candidate of the party for the nominal
ton. alluded TO the complaints of Major
Robbie (who had preceded him. and who
had announced Gov. Chamberlain as a
| candidate of the party. also for the nomi-
nation.) at the treatment which the Cover
nor had received AT the hands of the Port
land Press. and the kenncbec journal.
remarking. that THE Major was an owner
in a newspaper which had called the
Governor murderer. and that he had not
seen 1T TO withdraw from the paper. or cut
the acquaintance of its editor" remarking
further. THAT ii was Of no consequence
what the newspapers had said.
The next day the Press came out with
column article. abusing Mr.. Pike. a. no
public man has ever been abused by any
paper OF any party, not excepting Coy.
Chamberlain. Ii was easy to see that What
| Mr.. Pike had said. was not the cause OF
the article. but the occasion for is publica-
ton. How long It had been In process Of
Incubation the public will never know.
H. 81. Il 4
stimulated. b. some one who i puli,i
cal enemy of both Mr.. Pike and Mr.. Hale.
j. quite certain or else the writer i a. dan
in politics. a the Great American Traveller
Daniel Pratt.
We know Mr.. Hale ia the past. la. had
no sympathy with the way the Press has
been in the habit OF dealing with political
men in the party whose views il did not
fellowship. but on the contrary has de-
nounced II; aud therefore. do not believe
now for an instant. that Nh. Hale would
counsel such brutal attack on Mr.
Pike. "a that of the Press wa. for il would
be no les than charging him with being a.
blind 10 his own Interests ~ he could well
Pike j. a power in this congressional di,-
/ trict. Mr.. Hale does. and that the Press ha,
not the power to squclch him. or hi,
friends. Therefore. the Press gun. a. abb
>eiueni events have clearly shown. bore
wide. and not only Kicked il omnrr .,rr.
but it has damaged another party. whom,
/ L should have lab ,r-l 10 assist ami
! strengthen. We have >v-a no more hii-
( Ions men. over the Press article. thln NJ
ilalc's warma>. al1 n-ltr,. frirld.. II
/ viii bc noticed that Mr.. Hale doe not
/ quote from the JiHr4ffS ai,h mia vrr.-
! ipn of the remarks. But bet the read r
judge for himself We. a well a, they.
I 'grrt the 'li>on. We quote from the
j hcnnebec journal of the l2.h:-
/ The convention then dissolved. and the
/ Senate retired.
Nj. RoBIE a. matter OF privilege ,aid
/ hc felt called upon to correct an error
I which he did not deem of sufficient imnor-
tance TO notice at the recent republican
sanen when ss NJ BON 2l c fSr the s,,o-
al articles in the Press against Gov. Cham
berlain. He had been informed repeatedly
| that there was a misunderstanding in re-
gard To his position. and he desired TO
make an explanation now. lie said that
the publishing of the articles. alluded to
by Mr.. Pike. was beyond his control. and
that the responsibility of other articles
which had occasioned so much comment
and the general editorial management Of
the Press was entirely beyond his iuri>dic-
ton; and that the editorial responsibility
rested in another direction. lie felt oblig-
ed 10 say so much By the advice OF friends
and that he might not occupy a wrong
position in regard to his friendship l., NJ
Chamberlain. and his relations 10 Mr..
| Pike.
Mr.. PIKE replied as follows:
II | am happy 10 hear in public. and on the
floor Of the House. from the gentleman
from Gorhanl. what he has assured me in
private. that he has no part. or lot. or fell
lowship in the editorial management of the
Portland Press: and must ask the House
the favor of being allowed supplement
tary word or two.
The House has s-cn the malicious attack
upon me in the Press. aud A. large ma
| jority OF the members were present II the
Senatorial Caucus. If i well known that
there was nothing IN what said, or in the
| mann,r OF saying IL. which can account
for il. Indeed. the writer himself states.
that when he made the attack he did not
know what had said L, il evident there
were other reasons.
But a. feel myself measurably respon-
sible 20 NV constituents for what | do mere
of public character. or leave undone
wish them TO know that | was in Portland
at the time this malicious publication was
made. and on enquiry was informed BY a
person connected with the Press establish
ment that the author of it-George Clifford
by name-was sick at home. The gan
creme of his disposition had struck in and
the foul abuse was issued from sick
chamber. | know nothing of him pcrso-
nally. never having seen him to nv know
ledge. but | was assured that there was
nothing robust about him except his NAL
lee. and that was in "A state OF constant aud
lively exercise.
IL has been suggested TO Inc by those
who have known the parties for a long
/ time. that the brutal outburst was deliber-
ately stimulated by rear connection of
Mr.. Gifford's. now in public life. wheth-
/, er this be 20 | know not. If 50 / hazard
n little ia saying that he has mistaken the
/ people of Maine and his own interests. if
he thinks they can be su5seryed by such
4 foul practices. We will wait and see.
4 On motion of Mr.. LAMB.
II Adjourned.