The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-17
The Peoples Movement.

We are in constant receipt of cOmmun ica-
tions from all parts of the state, not excepting
the city OF Bangor, expressing satisfaction as
to the course of the PRESS on the senatorial
question and giving assurance of the sympa-
thy generally prevalent among Republicans,
in the great fight of the party against the in
tTiyuers and spoilsmen whose conspicuous
ness and assumption of control are so dam
aging to the good name and future prospects
Of the party. Of course we can publish
only small portion Of these letters, but we
beg our friends not to desist from expression
because of the nOn-appearance of their good
words. They are useful and helpful because
they show that not only leaders, but the rank
and file of the party, the great body of honest
citizens, are with us, and they enable us to
know what men are willing to give assistance
and help in the fight. We shall make them
effective In the good work against the per-
nicious system which is expressing our polti-
cal action.
We have already published some communi-
cations and extracts, and expect to publish
others on this subject. Of course we do not
approve or sanction all that may be in them,
hut publish them as they are, that our read
ers may have them fresh from the people just
as they come to us. We publish also articles
from other papers, in the same spirit. in order
that it may be seen how deep an interest,
this contest for the life of the Republican
party excites everywhere.
The information which comes from the
counties and representative districts, indicates
that the extravagant claims of the Harlin
operators as to the number of men they had
"got' were impudent and baselesss assump-
tions. It seems that there have never been
more than forty.fve members whom they had
any right to claim, and that they have made
up their lists by taking all the unmarked
logs" many of which will not easily be
brought into the Hamlin boom. In this great
body of unpledged men lies the hope of the
party; upon them devolves the grave respon-
sbility ofrescuing the organization from the
perils upon which it has fallen and of refusing
to permit it to DRIFT to destruction in the face
of obvious danger. If there is a sufficient
care for the party welfare to lead to such an
expression of the popular will as to break the
bands which the professional politicians have
bound around the organization, we may look
for long career of usefulness and honor for
the party, about which clusters so many
heroic memories. The political body which
cannot save itself must fall. When there
arises an organization within the organiza-
tion, which gains absolute mastery of the
/ party machinery, by the industry and ad-
dress inspired by greed, the average citizen
outside the ring, finding that his attendance
upon caucuses means only to assist the man
ayers or to be defeated by them and his vote
at the polls is only a ratification of their
edicts, will be likely to get tired Of the party
and to decline to adorn further their trium-
phal professions. The fate of the Demo-
cratic party was sealed when it fell into
this condition during the Pierce and Buchan-
an administrations. Are we not drifting into
precisely the same condition? This question
merits the thoughtful consideration of the
Republican members of the Legislature in
whose bands is the power of cure.