The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-11
The Fifth District.
RocKLANp, July sth, 1872.

RoCKLAND, July 9Th, 1877.
To the Editor Of the Press: III H
In the contest in this Congressional District
history has begun to repeat itself and we shall
soon see how far this process will continue. In
1866 Mr.. Pike who is now the animus of the
bolt against the eminently fair nomination of
Mr.. Hale, was for the fourth time q candidate
for denomination. Like Mr.. Hale, Mr.. Pike
had been an able congressman and true to the
convictions of the party that selected him, but
had made himself needlessly and even aggrs-
ystingly obnoxious to very respectable por-
ton of the party in the disposition of patron
age-the evil of all congressman and enc that
will always be stumbling block TO able and
faithful representatives so long as the present
system prevails. This is really, the secret of
the present hostility TO Mr.. Hale. He has
been an able and industrious member, credit
TO his district and the State-a fact that every
Republican admits; and is certainly as well en-
titled to n third nomination as was Mr.. Pike to
a fourth. Ed retr
The policy or non-policy of having the repre-
sentation in Congress divided among counties
which was the pretext for the Waldo bolt or
fiasco, is as fatal as foolish. BY it, Congress
would be robbed of all its useful members like
Mr.. Dawes, Judge Kelley and Speaker Blaine.
When Mr.. Pike was re-nominated in 1866,
the very Waldo men most jealous for his sue
cess for fourth nomination, were those who
raised this shallow objection in the Convention
in 1872 and left the Ellsworth Convention the
Goth inst Then they ridiculed the idea of coun-
ty lines. Now they are jealous of county rights.
They could support Mr.. Pike for fourth nomi-
nation while resident of county that had
boon honored with member of Congress for
nine consecutive terms against the candidate
of County that had never had candidate
since the organization of the party and not hon
ored with Congressman since 1876.
The cry is now raised that Waldo is over
looked and her rights disregarded; yet curious.
ly enough the few gentlemen that came out Of
the Convention were mostly agreed, 1t is said,
to slaughter the interests of Waldo and return
to Mr.. Pike!
In 1866, the opposition to Mr.. Pike was as
determined and even bitter before the Conven-
ton as it has been against Mr.. Hale. But il
was Republican opposition and when those
leading against his nomination found that he
was fairly nominated, they gave him unanimous
and hearty support even against candidate
who had for years been a Republican and was
then johnson man. Mr.. Pixies opponents
then were first and last Republicans. They
were satisfied with his general record, and as
Republicans they labored for his success afte,
| his nomination.
In the convention of 1866, everything was
done by Mr.. Pike that he could do to annoy
those whom he had defeated. His speech af
ter his nomination was replete with taunts and
jeers to the defeated opposition; nevertheless
they chung to principle and did good work fol
Mr.. Pike, who could not have succeeded with
out their aid ....r. It..-
Now the friends of Mr.. Hale ask Mr.. Pike
and those in his interest if they are as goot
Republicans as were those who opposed thai
gentlemen in 1866?
! Will those who have not entirely agreed witt