The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-03-28
THE MASSACHUSETTS, SENATORSHIP
From the New York Herald

Boston, March 23.-The question of who
shall succeed the late Charles Sumner in the
United States Senaee is still veXed and
perplexed one. The election takes place to-
morrow afternoon at half-past two o'clock,
and yet at this tardy and critical moment no
man dare predict the name of the successful
candidate. The republicans persistingly re-
fuse to harmonic, and now at the last
moment the confusion in their ranks is
worse COMPOUNDED" than at any previous
stage of the campaign. Mr. Dawes and Judge
H6ar are, of course, the leading Republican
aspirants, and their strength is indicated by
the order in which their names are mention
ed. In fact. it is everywhere admitted that
Mr.. Dawes will lead the Concord Con-
gresham in the Senate and possibly in the
House; but no one suppOses for moment
that choice will come out of the first bal
lot. General Butler is in Washington at
tending to his Congressional duties-a fact
which has given currency to rumOr that
he is like the woman who saw her husband
in fracas with bear, and coolly remarked
that she "didn't care which got the best Of
it," Indeed, he is credited with saying that
so long as it was fight between a dog and
a skunk he would be better pleased if the
skunk got whipped. His listener said that
was indefinite. "Well," added the General,
i" then if it IS fight between two skunks,
would like the one nearest me to be killed."
All of which means that he referred oAlr.
HOar.
As pleasantly this is all very well but
there is too much of Butler and anti
Butler on the surface to warrant the belief
that the Essex statesman is not interested in
the result of the contest. All his active
friends are in the field on the Dawes side,
and all his industrious opponents are on the
side of Mr.. Hoar. Efforts to persuade Mr..
Dawes to draw out of the contest have
brought~a reply that he prefers to be MUIR
dered rather than commit suicide. 1t is an
accepted fact that
THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE SITUATION;
and inasmuch as Judge Curtis, their nominee,
has not accepted the nomination, they are
not in duty bound to stick to him. In view
of this, it is not among the improbabilities
that they may amalgamate with one wing
or the other of the Republican party, proba-
bly, the Butterflies, and take up a man not
heretofore regarded as a leading candidate
This is one of the most reasonable of to-
nights rumors, and the man who will be
brought forward and carried in by default is
generally conceded to be Gen n. 2. Banks
who is now member Of the State Senate.
Next to him in chance is Speaker Sanford, of
the House. All speculation, however, may
The Boston Journal, in On editorial to-
night, indicates the uncertainty of uncer-
tain things in the following language:
We have not thought it worth while to
publish definite tables of strength of the
several candidates who are likely to come
before the Legislature, for the very good
reason that we have no faith in any OF them.
The senatorial contest resulting in the cleo
ton of Mr.. Boutwell, was far clearer than
this, and yet it will be remembered what
absurd estimates, as it afterwards appeared
were put forth by observers supposed to be
we'll informed. The element of uncertainty
is ten times as great now. In some respects
we are glad to see that so many members
are keeping their own counsel in this mat
ter 1t shows that they feel their response
bility and are preparing to discharge their
duty at the last moment according to their
honest convictions, unembarrassed by all
pledges or cOmmlttals.