Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-21
WORCESTER
MONDAY. AUGUST 81. 1871.
Th. Caudidntes for Governor.

canvass has become active in several parts of
the state, and this activity is likely to increase
and become more general, during the next four
weeks. 1t can be seen that two Of the cand-
dates have the prospect of considerable support;
but il is too early for any one to predict the re-
suit. Five candidates have been named by
their friends or by themselves Hon. VIM. b.
Washburne Hon, Harvey Jewell, Hon. A. H.
Rice, DIR. George B. Loring, and Hon. B. F. But
ler We hear of no other candidate for the
nomination Gov. Claflin would certainly receive
it with but little opposition, if he had allowed
his friends to bring him forward again. As it is,
we suppose the selection will be made from the
five gentlemen we have named.
Gen. Butler appears to be actively supported
by some of the labor reiormers, and, also, by
some of the prohibitionists who voted, las.
year. for Wendell Phillips. Mr.. Phillips is for
him: and so is Mr.. Trask, of Springfield, who
was one of the independent prohibition candi-
dates, last year, Mr.. Trask has invited him to
deliver speech in Springfield, and he will do
so, it is said. 1t is not yet apparent that Gen.
Butler has much support within the republican
party. If outsiders were authorized TO make
republican nominations, his prospect of success
would be fair DIR. Loring has friends scat
tered about the state, who are inclined to sup
port him because they know him personally,
and regard him as an agreeable gentleman.
How numerous they are, it is impossible to say.
1t is unfortunate for him, so far as concerns the
support OF some of these friends, that two or
three of the principal managers of the last
state house lobby, are active in his behalf. The
people generally desire to have governor who
will be under no obligation whatever to this no.
torious lobby, but, on the contrary, will be sure
to turn his whole influence against it.
Mr. Jewell would make an excellent governor
and be ought to have the unanimous support
Of republicans in and around Boston. As a re-
publican, he has an irreproachable record. As
q member of the legislature, he has done admit
able service and shown himselfsuperior to every
corrupt influence of the detestible lobby. He
has sound Judgment, irreproachabe character,
and peculiar fitness for the office of governor.
His position in the legislature has made him
known throughout the state, and he must have
friends in all the towns. What is likely to be
done TO bring him forward as a candidate for
nomination, we are unable to say; but he has
friends who are at work. The canvass in his
behalf is embarrassed by the circumstance that
the Boston republicans are supporting another
man, Hon. A. Il. Rice. Mr.. Rice is an cstimablC
gentleman, but he is not well known away from
Boston and its immediate neighborhood, and
unlike Mr.. Jewell, he has not been thoroughly
tested amid the influences, which, of late, have
operated at the state house. He is irreproach-
able in personal character, and has an honorable
record as a republican. 1t appears now that
MIR. Rice will be fully supported by our republ.
can friends in and around Boston, and they will
do what they can to get for him other support
which, with four other candidates in the field, is
not likely to be very large.
If present appearances may be trusted, Hon.
VIM. B. Washburne will go into the convention
with much larger array of supporters than
some of onr Boston contemporaries expect.
His friends are actively at work, and it appears
to be already conceded that he will have the
nearly solid support of the four western coun-
ties. He will bevery strongly supported in this
county, and if the people in the eastern part of
the state were generally aware of his admirable
fitness for the office of governor, he would very
soon distance all competitors. His very superior
qualifications for the Office are admitted by all
who know him we'll No man can be thought of
who more deserves public confidence, and none,
certainly, who is better fitted to look after the
finances Of the state and deal with the questions
which the next governor of Massachusetts will
find demanding attention.
Mr.. Washburne is one of those quiet, unobtru-
sive, self-respecting men, who never go forth
into the market places, to challenge public OBJ
servation aud bid themselves off at fancy prices.
Were this otherwise, he would now be much
better known in every part of the state, and
much less worth knowing anywhere. We know
him well and have had abundant opportunity to
study his character and ability; and we regard
him as the fittest man that can be named for the
office of governor of Massachusetts, at the pres
ent time; the surest to understand the situation
accurately, and to perform the duties of the Of
flee firmly, thoroughly, and with steady view
TO the honor and welfare of the commonwealth.
His mind is naturally strong, clear and active,
and its readiness and force have been heightened
by careful culture, His judgment is sound,
cool and deliberate; and when he has made up
his mind in regard to what he ought to do on
any important question, he can neither be
coaxed, driven, or bought to do otherwise He
is one of the most irrepr oachabe and incor-
ruptible of men, and he has force and 6rmness
OF character, which may be trusted under all
circumstances. He has just that style Of char
acter which we delight TO honor, in our tradi-
tional respect for the best governors Of Massa-
chusetts. Mr.. Washburne is about fifty years
old, and is native of Winchendon. He was
graduated in 1874, at Yale college, where he
ranked as one of the best scholars in his class /;
and the culture so begun has not ceased, al
though bis life, since leaving college, has been
chiefly that OF an active, capable, and successful
business man, his unusual faculty for business
having found scope in his position as president
of the Greenfield bank, as well as in his own
private affairs. He has served in both branches
of our legislature, and is now in his fifth term
as member of congress. He was a whig un-
I'll the republican party was formed. From the
organization of the republican party to the pres
ent time, his republican record has been un.
stained and every way admirable.
As we are approaching the time when dele.
gates for the state convention must be chosen.
it seems proper to give some account of the can
didates proposed for the office of governor. We
speak freely of Mr.. Washbulne, because he il
not as well known in some parts OF the state as
he ought to be, and because we know very vel
that 1t is not his habit to court public attention
VINO VIII be nominated can be told after the
convention has done its work, and may begin tc
appear as the canvass goes on. Those who de
sire for governor man of high character and
very superior executive faculty, who will be lu.
dicious, firm, and resolute, in dscborging the
dnties Of his office, can not afford to overlook
Mr.. Washburne. Most people, we suppose. nm.
derstald the difference between destinations an
dacity and that quiet, resolute, and persistent
determination, which no appliances of opposi
tion can scare, coax, or deprive of self posses
sion. In the style Of character implied by intel
ligent, conscientious, and courageous irmness
without offensive audacity, Mr.. Washburne ha
no superior and few equals among those VIII
can be thought of as candidates for governor
Frank Blair, who is politician of extremel
devious and unaccountable genius, proposes I
make Gratz Brown the democratic candidate ia