The Portland daily press., 1874-11-19
The SonatOrShiD.

The position taken by the PRESS of Mon
day that the success of Mr.. Hamlin in his
candidacy for the United States Senate will
seriously imperil the continued ascenda ncy of
the party in this state attracts very general
attention. While many of Mr.. Hamlin's
friends and former supporters are compelled
70 reluctantly admit its truth and to recog-
nize the question, as distinctly defined be-
tween the party and Mr.. Hanlin, the Bangor
Wing makes the effort to sink this, which is a
great public question in the mud-puddle of
personal controversy. The only essential point
of its defense is the denial that Mr.. Hamlin
is candidate in Difference to the demands
of ofice-holders, and the assertion that be be-
came candidate from the strong urgency of
'large number of prominent Republicans of
the state" including the "editor of the PRESS
himself who eloquently pressed upon Mr..
Hamlin the imperative duty of yielding his
preference for retirement, to the interests of
the party and the public" We present this
point quite fully as it seems to be the Whig's
chief reliance. The purpose is obvious. 1t
is an attempt to obscure an important public
question by raising personal discussion and
to avoid an issue which cannot be successful
ly met. by the more c0ngenial and familiar
task of throwing dirt. But we do not pro-
pose to be beguled from the plain duty de-
volving upon the PRESS as Republican
journal, by any such device. There was a
time when the editor of this paper preferred
Mr.. Hamlin to the candidate who was then
prominent in the field and said so. But there
was never either urgency" or s'eloq uence"
on the subject, and Mr.. Hamlin will not say
that it was in consequence of our advice that
he became candidate for the Senatorship.
He well knows that his decision depended
upon the result Of FORMULATION of the
state, which was made by Mr.. S. S. Marble to
ascertain whether such candidacy could be
safely ventured or not. 1t is true that the
editor of this paper has always entertained,
and still has, a very strong feeling OF friend
ship and admiration for the truthfulness,
sincerity, kindness of heart and loyalty to
Facts HIGH distinguish Mr.. Hamlin, and this
feeling makes the necessity of opposition to
him particularly painful. But the Republi.
can party is of more consequence than any
man. We need not love Caesar less in order
to love Rome more. When the conviction is
forced home that journalists personal in
clinatiOns and duty are antagonistic there is
but one legitimate course to pursue, land duty
must be paramount. We do not question the
fact that many former supporters of Mr..
Hamlin can support him no longer, and we
freely concede TO the Wing all the advantage
which arises from that state of facts.
But of what practical consequence is it
what any man thought on this subject months
or years ago? The question is-What shall
be done now? We have just received SOL
emn and earnest warning that the Republi-
can party can no longer live on its past alone
glorious as that is-and that, if it expects
to survive, it must bring forth new men and
new measures. We must have for the high
position which is the subject of all this con-
troversy, some active, vig;lant man, whose
present deeds will help to give life to the Or
ganization. All that Mr.. Hamlin's age, ex-
perience and position could give, we have had
for the last six years; and yet the last six
years are the years of the Credit Mobier,
Salary Grab, Simmons, Sanborn and Jayne,
and OF all that vast accumulation of discon-
tent which has caused our overthrow in 9TH
err states and, unless we take good heed to
our steps, will produce like results here. All
= subterfuge, all attempts to Disguise the plain
issue by the introduction of collateral matter
and personal controversy serve only to more
strongly emphasize the popular conviction
that Mr.. Hamlin represents the obnoxious ell
ements of politics which have met such stern
rebuke elsewhere. Granting every word Of
Mr.. Blaine's eulogy to be true, the fact re-
mains unchanged. Mr.. Hamlin is much bet
ter than his surrounding, and it is against
the system in this state to which he gives life
and power, that the people protest. The
warning is fresh upon us that, unless this I'M
organized protest be needed by the men
whose diligence and experience have given
them control of the party machinery, then
the machinery will be broken, and good and
bad will 60 down together. Revolution is
the last resort of outraged humanity, but it is
asacred right and, in some cases, even duty.
1t is the most commonplace wisdom in rulers
to stop short of the last and fatal aggrava-
ton.
So hot partisan is the Wig that it can
not, or will not, see that there is wide
spread and intense discomfort in Maine; that
men are talking precisely as the Republicans
of Massachusetts, talked who preferred to
give their state for once to the opposition
rather than submit to the leadership of men
whom they distrusted and despised. Massa-
chusetts will hereafter be better Republic
can state than before; camp. followers will 90
to the rear where they belong and the leader.
ship will fall into more suitable and reputable
hands. The Massachusetts method of re-
form is hard one. We can accomplish tbe
same result here In Maine by easier methods
if we be wise; and the first step is to relieve
the party from the intermeddling and con-
troll of the men whose power as coherent
force depends upon Mr.. Hamlin's continued
occupancy of the Senatorship. The Wing
thinks-or rather says-that the PRESS rep
resents the views only Of coterie of men in
Portland. Could the Wing but see the let.