The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-05

anu more pracClCoi euucaClon, 10 well I'D apioA
and purer representatives in the federal and
State governments With the war came a
vast amount of decentralization. Now that we
are at peace let us apply the remedy. 1t
should be the destiny of the United States to
lead the world in moral progress as well as in
the solution Of social and political problems
The Republican Canvass I'm Massa-
chusetts-The Chances in tho state.
The speech of Congressman Hoar, at Wor-
cester, ON Wednesday evening last, would
seem to erect new barriers against any friendly
compromise at the approaching Massachu-
sets State Convention, and to foreshadow an
open division of the republican party and
double-headed nomination for Governor,
whichever of the two prominent candidates,
General Butler or Governor Washburn, may
succeed in securing majority of the regular
delegates. We say that this new contribution
to the bitter oratory of the campaign 'would
seem" to render a union of the discordant
elements impossible, because it is difficult to
understand how Mr.. Hoar and his friends
could, under any circumstances, bring them
selves to support for Governor Of the virtuous
and heightened State of Massachusetts man
bearing such o character as is ascribed by
them to General Butler, and the present
chances appear to strongly favor the latter
gentleman's success in the Convention. If
the fighting general of the political army is,
indeed, revengeful and quarrelsome; seeking
to deceive the people and tempt them to wrong;
unwse and unsafe; ready to use power to buy
friends and revenge himself on foes, regard
less of the public service; o ribald jester,
boaster and swaggerer; man who appeals to
what is low and base, denies virtue and morality
and favors swindling the public creditor,
nomination ever SO regular would not appear
to entitle him to the support Of honest citizens
for the important Office of Chief Executive of
State. But, although Mr.. Hoar thus
describes the candidate he desires to defeat,
we are so well accustomed to find a we'll
drilled political party unite in the support of q
regular nominee, Notwithstanding the abuse
that may have been previously heaped upon
him, that it would not surprise us to find the
Massachusetts republicans going wild with
enthusiasm over General Butler should he
really be successful at Worcester on the 10th
inst, or to behold Congressman Hoar himself
leading the congratulatory cheees in honor of
the hero of New Orleans.
We are not disposed to predict what will be
From the best accounts we can gather General
Butler appears to take the lead as the first
choice of the delegates. If the voice of the
majority should declare in his favor it will be
difficult and thankless task for the friends of
the rival aspirant for the nomination to refuse
their acquiescence in the decision of the Con-
vention General Butler has been in the same
position Governor Washburn would then
occupy, and his graceful yielding to the wishes
of the majority is yet in the memory of the
men of Massachusetts. 1t would not rebound
to Governor Washburn's honor if he should
refuse to act as generously as Gene
raj Butler acted ON former occa-
sion, should their positions now be
reversed. But if Mr. Hoar and his friends
should leave the Convention in the event
boiling republican candidate in the field, it
is interesting to examine what their chances
Of success would be, according to the test of
former elections. The legitimate republican
majority over the democracy in Massachusetts
has been in round numbers from 20, 900 to
80, 600, and there has been but little variation
from these figures. In 1864 the republican
majority on Governor was over 10000. In
1868 William Clafins majority over John
Quincy Adams was $4,000. In 1869 there
were three candidates for Governor Claflin,
Adams, and Chamberlain, boiling republican,
when ClaAn had $4,000 majority over Adams
and 1000 over all. In 1870 there were also
three candidates, Clafin, Adams, and Phillips,
boiling republican; Clafin leading Adams by
81 900 votes, and the field by 5000 In 1871
four candidates appeared in the canvass,
Washburn, Adams, Chamberlain, in the in
terest of labor reform, and Pitman, the cham
pion of prohibition. Here Washburn was
victorious, receiving $4,000 votes more than
Adams and leading all the candidates together
by 1000. Last year in a square canvass be-
tween Washburn and Bird, democrat, the ma
jority of the former rolled up again to IA, OOO
These figures are suggestive and afford scope
for interesting calculations. Taking the re-
publican candidate vote in the contests for
Governor in 1864, 1868 and 1872, it has been
steadily about 10000; 1850 in 1854
$4,000 in 1868, and $4,000 in 1872. In the
''off'' years, when there has been no Presiden-
tal contest tbe republican, G0yerpQr's Tote has