The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-14
Reply to " Kenuebee.'
. Me Editor Of Tie Press:


to end, is vigorous arraisnmeut of Mr..
Speaker Blaine.
In fact, the careful reader OF this ex Iaor-
dnary communication cannot fail to see that
while the author deals heavy blows at Mr..
Hamlin, Mr.. Blaine is the man he Is really
after. While We feel it would be perfectly safe
to leave Mr.. Blaine to answer for himself,
both special and general, 10 the specifications
contained in this Informal indictment, We can
not forbear TO notice two or three extraordinary
allegations, prominently paraded before the
public with flourish of trumpets' 5, ldom
INDUCED in by this o!d war horse of the 'hernic
age" in Maine politics.
Mr. Blaine is charged with the heinous
offence of declaring himse'f friendly to the Ie-
election of Senator Min. And, really,-be-
. cause a man is elected te serve the ''peOp.e of
the Kepnebec district in the 44th Congress"-he
has no right to entertain an opinion, much less
to express it publicly When the contest was
betweeu Mr.. Hamlin aud Hon. Lot NJ. Norrll,it
was all right for Mr.. Blaine to shake off his
neutrality" and throw his influence in favor
of the latter; but now, when trio of eandi-
dates are in the field, running for luck" TO
defeat the "life-long Senator, why, Mr..
Blaine must assume an inofensive neutrality.
1t is quite clear, from the tenor of this letter,
that "Kennebec'' has not forgotten that the
senatorial term has its limitations; that like
another old war-hOrse of Scripture notOriety,
he "snelleth the battle afar off, and is clear
ing the way for another senatorial contest, two
years in advance. What else does he mean
when he says: During his (BIare's) present
engagement with the Kennebec district. and
near its close, successor TO hls neighbor,
Senator MorriIl, will be chosen. And would
not the veteran Senator, whose praise the
Speaker now pr0claims, remember his efforts.
and and and pay back in kind with usuTy? Is
it possible that Mr.. Blaine sees less clearly
within bis reach the tenancy of the White
House, and would cor sent to be made Senator
not nou, but whe he shall leave the kennebec
district in the 44th Congress?'
All! here's the rub. The November elections
have possibly" thrown such dark shadow
over Mr.. Blaine's prospective tenancy of the
White House" that he may be willing to be
come Mr.. MorriPs successor. That would be
''goring nay OK" therefore will blow such n
blast upon my "0ugle horn" as will scatter
Hamlin's ''henchmeu, samp-followers, and
sappers and miners into wild confusion and,
while am killing off Hamln in 1915, | will
prepare MIR. Blaine's ascension robes," aud
give him respectable laying OUT and burial
in 1867. This "bugle blast of "Kennebec''
is for the succession in 1877, and it is
writer points to Messrs. Hamn and Blaine,
as being in the way of the Hon. Lot NJ. Morrill,
as his own successor that this violent attack IL
made upon these two gentlemen.
And now few words in reply to the charges
made by "Kennebec" against Mr. Hamlin:
He is guilty of the offense OF having YARN
personal friends. This is true. and the fact is
very troublesome 10 those who are wOrSing
hard to defeat him. This is a very strange sc-
cusation TO bring against any man. Ii proves
tor ynnph and with farrihip fnrca n
its authors. In the same connection, he is ar
raigued, because he is true to his friends Ii
this is an offence, it is one of which any man
might be justly proud. What do these carpers
want? Do they desire Mr.. Hamlin to be tiise
to those who are true to him? Is this. the
high toned morality they would inausurate
among honorable men? 1t is also tue, that
Mr.. Hamin has been in bublic life long
series of years. and vet his enemies are forced
to admit, that his public and private record
are comparatively, without spot or blemish
tits further said, that the caucuses were
packed for his beuefit, by his friends. This
charge, SO far as it amounts TO anything, is an
allegation against the achole caucus system. To
aver that Mr. Hamlin, or his friends did any
thing to secure candidates favorable TO hrs
election, beyond what was done by the friends
of the other candidates, is charge that can
never be sustained. For proof, look at Cum
berland county, where the contest was mainly
between Messrs Washburn and DTummond.
Had the utter decentralization growing out of
the senatorial fight in this county, been ex-
tended into the other counties, the Republi-
cans would have lost the Legislature, and lost
the state.
Whether the Republican party was inaugnr-
ated by the aid-Or in spite of "King Caucus -
has nothing to do with the issue raised by Ken
nebec." The caucus system has beena part OF
the machinery of the Republican party ever
since its organization. and has been acquiesced
in by all claiming membership in the party. The
clsmor recently raised by Mr.. Hamiin's op-
pOnents, about "packing caucuses," is simply
the old sta.e cry Of "tbies, stop thief.
In reply to what Kennebec says. about dis
graceful scenes around the capital" when Mr..
Hamn was elected the "last time" l have on
ly to remark that the men who engineered the
fight for Mr.. Morrill, will gain nothing By COM
pairing notes in relation to what really took
place around the capital during that contest.
Has "Kennebec" forgotten that after both
parties unanimously agreed to abide the result
of legislative caucus, and Mr.. Hamlin was
fairly nominated, that it has been charged aud
not denied to my knowledge that many of the
leaders among Mr. MorrllPs friends counsel ed
a bolt and recommended a coalition toith the
Democrats to defeat him? And did not the plot
fail only because certain members OF the Ken
nebec delegation refused to countenance the
scheme. and would not bs transferred over to
the enemy?
And, notwithstanding all this, when Mr..
Morrill, was elected the "last time." after
majority of the men (outside OF kenDebec
county, W o supported him against MIR. Ham,
lin, had deserted him aod gone over TO Gen.
Chamberlain, the friends of Mr. Hamlin raj
lied around him and saved him from defeat.
The statement of "Kennebec" relative to the
organization of the Republican party and its
history up TO 1856 is substantially correct, but
in what follows he does Mr.. Hamlin great in
justice. 1t will be remembered that the year
1856 found Samuel Wells Governor and every
department of the state government in the
hands of the Democrats.
A great and important Presidential election
was pending, and Maine, was to lead off in the
fight To find man for standard bearer. who
could lead the Republican hosts to victory, was
the great question of the hour. All eyes were
turned to Hannibal Hamlin. Like Silas Wright,
David Wilmot, Preston King and Gen. Dix,
he had dltgdys been true to freedom and more
than this, he had long before this time, fully
decided TO leave the old Hunker trip, with
whose crew. he had no sympathles, or affia-
tions, and fight in the Republican ranks. The
state convention which nominated him, was
grand ovation TO his ability and honesty; and
| The great campaign led by him that year,
which resulted in his triumphant election by
about 20, 900, will long be remembered, as one
of the most brilliant political campaigns, ever
had iU this country.
The senatorship was most deservedly cou-
ceded to Mr.. Hamlin, and he was reelected
without dissenting voice in the party. And
vet ''Kennebec'' well knowing all these facts,
| in sarcastic, sneering language, broadly asserts
| that Mr. Hauiln ndu no niRner nOtlNe, lu COu-
Meeting himself with the Republican party,
| than natural love for the ''oaves and fishes.
Ilea7e the author OF this scurrlous attack, to
proudly wear all the laures he can win, by
this guerrilla mode of warfare.
Prior to the last state election, the question
of United States senatorship, was freely and
openly discussed in social circles, in public
meetings and in the newspaper press Caudi-
dates for Senators and Representatives were
elected with direct reference TO this issue, and
the result clearly indicated decided majority
| in favor of the re election of MIR. Hamlin SO
| decided was this expression OF the popular
voice. that Mr.. Hamlin's return was everywhere
| conceeed. After the November elections Mr..
| Hamlin's enemies in Older to make the greater
noise' distributed themselves into different
sectiops of the state, and since that time, have
shouted themselves hoarse in one oriant
| chorus that "HdnaliR must be defeated or the
| PepubHcan party is ruined"
The dogs of war have been let loose from
their kennels, and followingiupon the tracks of
every Senator and Representative elect, are
loudly re-echoing the same dOleful strains, and
it remains to be seen whether these members
elect will honorably carry out the W Il of their
constituents, or listen to the mad d-dog-cry o.
'.Down with. .Eamlin." 1T is matter of Derti-
neut inauiry-who these dsorganizers propose
to elect? Inquire of one of them, and the only
response is, "Anybody but Hdmlin." Do they
not know that if Mr.. Hamlin should be with