The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-17
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.
From the Springfield Republican
As to Mr.. HamIin.

There is still another gentleman who is desi-
rous of serving his country a while longer in
that very comfortable article which some of our
contemporaries, who have had the advantage of
liberal education, are wont to allude to as
"the curule chair" His respectable name is
Hannibal Hamlin. We are not aware that
Mr.. Hamlln wants to be vindicated against
anybody in particular; but he likes the berth
and thinks he sees his way clear to keeping it.
1t may be case of optical illusion, however.
AT the time of his last election, he was under
stood to distinctly and solemnly promise that
he would not again be candidate. Under
these circumstances, his temperance has nat
urally created some surprise and some disgust
more disgust, we should say, than surprise.
There has been feeling among the better class
of Maine Republicans for many years past that
MIR. Hamlin was load upon the party which
it could not afford to carry much further This
feeling, hitherto mute and undemonstrative for
the most part, is now articulate, outspoken,
menaciDg. There is something very like open
revolt. The Portland PRESS journal whose
word carries weight with Maine Republicans, is
making the greatest fight of its history against
this reelection; and it has avowed allies and
secret sympathizers in every county OF the
state. 1t is not so much what Mr. Hsmlin is
as what he is not what he has done as what he
has left undone, that is damaging him in this
canvass. Conceding to him personal integrity
and amiability, his opponents urge that he has
neither the intellectual ability nor the moral
courage that should go to the composition of
senator of the United States in sHch an era
as this; that, his amiability is a positive dis
qualification; that, either from this same good
natured unwillingness to give offense, or from
timidity, or from the dullDess of bis moral aud
political perceptions; he has acguiesced in the
entire series of criminal blunders which have
brought the Republican party to deaths door;
that he has become the head center of the Of
e-hodng rings which furnish the Maine ar
ticle of "Butlerism;" that his candidature, un-
der the circumstances. is ami INSULT and a peril;
that his reelection will bea case Of party sui
eide.
The Press aud other journals are putting
these and the like considerations, day after day,
with an earnestness and vigor that must, one
would say, give the Republican legislators
pause. 1t is true, the fact of incumbency and
the possession of the machine give Mr.. Hamlin
a certain advantage over the opposition. As
the PRESS says: sit Is like q small force of
regulars against great body of unorganized
volunteers like the Swiss mercenares COR
fronted with the French people. The fight of
numbers and en- thusiasm against discipline and
selfiuteres st is hard, but BY no means hope
less one." 1t is true, also, that the members of
the congressional delegation have come to the
rescue, and that Mr. Blame, who is power in
Maine politics, has written Hamlin letter.
But here again we may quote sentence or two
biased and with full knowledge of the facts,
would be of great value. Mr.. Blaine's utter
ances, complicated by personal feeling and per-
sonal danger, may be of very little value Be
sides this, Mr.. Blaine. surrounded by fatterers
and mised by parasites, is in no position to
comprehend the true state of public feeling and
of public desire" There certainly seems TO be
a rising tide of opinion and feeliDg-quite as
much the latter as I he former-whch bodies Mr.
Hamlin no good. The recent letter Of ex-Gov.
MOrrilI-in ron1v In Mr. Rlaf0Q-ia
very significant straw. In spite of the brag of
Mr. Hamlin's Office holders, It turns out that
majority of the Legislature are as yet unpledged.
To outside observers, it looks as though his
chance lay in persuading or coercing the Repuh-
lcan members into a caucus. Ii athe amt
papers and leaders of the party choose to take
the risk and meet him OF his own ground, 1t is
their funeral and not ours. But it would seem
better politics not to take an unnecessary risk
in such a contest, where the enemy already has,
confessedly, the advantages of position. With
the caucus, the result is doubtful. Without il,
the result ought to be certain. 1t can be made
absolutely certain, if the right man can be per-
suaded to enter the lists against Mr.. Hamlin.
The name of this man is John A. Peters.