The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-05-16
Senatorial BugabonS.

Of all human idiosyncrasies, the DISPOSE
ton to find supernatural causes and concomit
ants for everything, which is not fully an,
readily seen and comprehended, is one of til,
most common and curious. This disposition
was much more prevalent in the earlier his
tory of humanity than in modern times and
now obtains chiefly among very young per-
sons, those of immature minds and those OF
strong supersitious turn. 1t is OF the
same kind of fancy which invests black
stump, seen dimly in the twilight, with all
the yivacious activity and dangerous thirst
for blood of bear and leads the youthful rus
tic to scui for the protecting household shell
ter with rapid feet and a palpitating heart
It inTes.3 a strip of moonlight against dark
wall with oil the blood curdling characters
tics of sheeted ghost and sends the spectre
creating head under the bed clothes for safe
ty. Bulwer's Strange Story stimulates this
fancy to such extent that the victim scarcely
dares remain in solitude for a moment at
night lest the dread Scin Laeca should blast
his vision. Of the real sufferings of those
whom natural disposition or tales Of the mar
vellous have afflicted with this superstitious
horror, nothing but experience, we fancy,
can give an adequate conception, and the suf-
feiers should always be treated in kindly
and forbearing spirit by those of stronger
minds and stouter hearts.
We are led into this train of reflection by
observing the same disposition in politics to
invest everything with mysterious signifi.
canoe, to assume that everything means
much more than appears and to metamor-
phose every plain, simple and inoffansive DO
htcal stump into rampant political bear.
AND now the present gubernatorial canvass
In this State is surrounded for such minds
with mysterious senatorial complications.
Men say with wise wags of the head, know
ing winks of the eye and an enormously sage
general aspect that "the movement in favor
ofDinglcy for Governor is part of the game
to make Perham senator" You may rea-
son with such persons, may tell them that
Mr. Dingley is man whose high apprecia-
ton Of the dignity and the prophecies of the
position would deter him from any participa-
ton in senatorial contest that he himself
honor to make no use of his office to further
any mans political SEPARATIONS and that he
should specially shun any interference in any
contest for the United States senatorship I;
but reason and argument are OF no avail with
your political seer-he knows the phantom is
there, and, whatever the real shape may be.
to him it is a veritable phantom
A still more fragrant and absurd use of this
political second sight is that which connects
the candidacy of Judge Kent with the SEN
atorial problem. There are actually men
who verify believe that he is candidate in the
interest of Senator Hamlin for reelection
and they tilt away at this illusion with as
much fervor, sincerity and earnestuess of pur-
pose as actuated their prototype Don Quix-
ote in his tilt at the windmill or his furious
onslaught upon the flock of sheep.
In point of fact the thorough in
dependence of all entangling affiliations, the
absence of any inducement to make inter-par-
ty alliances of any kind and the judicial inn
Partially, with which all political am
billions Of others would from the very nature
OF the case be viewed, were prime recon-
mendations of Judge Kent to those who have
50 heartily and spontaneously come to his
support. 1t is the fact that he can be pre-
scented to the public as man singularly free
nom all complications, which makes him so
available as candidate and brings to his sup
port Republicans Of all shades of belief and
feeling. Heis man outside of cliques and
rings and has dignity of nature and COLI
sentative habit of thought which carry him
above all intrigues and cabals.
The attempt to complicate the present GU
bernatorial situation with the senatorial
election of 1875 is the veriest claptrap, and the
bugaboo, which is thus shaken in the face of
the people, may serve to frighten children
but will fail to startle sensible men, who have
any knowledge of the facts. The question is
purely and simply, "Whom do we want for
Governor" We are to seek the man who
will most accurately represent the average
sentiment of the State, who will discharge
the duties of the position with an eve single
to the public interest, whose character and
qualities viii be most creditable, who will unite
In his support the largest number and who
will be most truly a Governor for the whole
State and will most impartially appreciate the
needs and serve the interests of the whole
people. The question of the Governorship,
pure and simple, is what concerns us now;
we can attend to the senatorial question when
the proper time arrives.