Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-24
Letter from M. Blaine.
III. Position on the senator.hIp Quests
AUGUSTA, Nov. II, 1874.
10 Jbe E,IjIoy nj me Press:

AUGUSTA, NOV. II, 1919
10 The Editor Of he Press:
A paragraph originating. | believe. IN
your paper, has gained considerable cur
rency. to the effect thai ! am in some way
attempting to be Mr.. llamln's successor
In the u. 5. Senate. Permit me To say
through your columns that such Is not
The fact. Ihave engaged, by m accepted
candidacy aud election, to serve the peo'
ple OF the Kennebec district as Repre-
sentative oil the 44lh Congress. and from
hat duty | could mol he turned, even
were the Senalorship otferedtme, aud OF
that have seen no Indication.
In making this correction you will
allow me to add than an impression pre-
walls Gin which | canuot sharc) that IN
your opposition TO the election OF MIR.
Hamlin YOU are ready TO counsel AN
abandonment OF the time honored usage
OF the Republican party, by which It's
nominations for Office have been settled
Ly majority vote in - free, fair, aud open
caucus. ] cannot believe this is true, and
yet | think you owe II TO tho party oi
whose principles you have long been an
honorable and able exponent, 10 make a
frank declaration on the subject.
Mr.. HamIn has been many years III
public lie. lie has served his State with
zeal, discretion and devotion that has
never been surpassed - and rarely
equaled. He has never given vote
that was not in harmony with Names
best interests; he has never swcryed
from the strctest line el principle; he
has reycr failed in any emergency TO be
present at the post OF duty he has never
proved false 10 any obligations; he has
never been touched even by the shadow
Of a suspicion of his high personal honor
and purify. Ip his parIy relations, from
the hunr OF his brilliant triumph III The
Gubernatorii campaign OF 1870. Ny
which Republcanism WAS lirmly cs.ab'
lished in Maine, he has been, at home and
abroad. in the national and state councils.
in peace and in war, in prosperity ana IN
adversely. very tower OF strength 10
the good cause. To deny 10 such u man
the ordinary courtcsies and usages oil the
uarly he has done so much 10 strengthen
and maintain, would he TO proclaim the
end Of oil party organization among
Maine Republicans and 10 hand over The
State to our opponents. | refuse 10 be.
lieyc Tor one moment that YOU could
couutenance snch destructive course.
Do not understand that ! am question
ing, in the remolest degree, your perfect
righ, as a Republican 10 oppose MIR. ham.
Inns return TO the Senate. That Is inir
subject for the exercise OF discretion. and
il you prefer any one OF the excellent
and honorable gentlemen who have been
named for the place. II is not only your
right, but Your duty, 10 advocate his
election. For myself, aud Tor all good
Republicans with whose views am
acqnairted, can frankly say that II any
one Of the aLlc gentlemen mentioned rs
Alr. iamliu's competitors should be
designated by tue Republican, Legislative
caucus. it will not only be my highest
duty, but my gIealest pleasure, 10 urge
his election.
A great deal has been said in certain
papers about Mr.. iiamin being lhe-can
didale of the office .holders--implying
that he Is TO be forced, by some iudetinitv
power upon the people of Maine against
their will. [ DO not pretend TO speak
with absolute accuracy, but have The
impression that, ii not In numbers. yet
certainly in emolument, the majority oil
office holding influence in Maine TO day
is against Mr.. Hamlin. The federal
officers in my district ale few in number.
and there is not one OF them Of any grade
from whom the slightest duty or labor in
regard to the Senatorship has been eN-
acted. nor is there one " hU does MOI feel
perfectly tree TO 90 for or against Mr. Ham.
lin us he chooses. without in any way
endangeling his tenure oil office. Several
of The ID are known 10 me 10 be opposed
10 Mr. Hamlin-two OF them, holding
lucrative places, are conspicuously So
But into This subject DO not care TO 60
at any length. because my knowledge OF
the people OF Maine has given me
a very high estimate OF their In
telligence, their manhood anG inde-
pendence, and | am confident that
the custom house officers, revenue agents
and postal clerks, ranged on the one side
or the other. will not be very large
element in deciding the choice OF |. ).
Senator.
But think the efforts and interference
of these officers may have been greatly
exaggerated. Judge so because in the
same papers that parade il and denounce
it, | constantly see myself mentioned as
engaged in desperate efforts TO manipu'
votes Tor Mr. Hamlin. 4 casual reader
would inler from these papers that since
my return from Washington, ! have been
engaged in little else except plotting and
planning TO promote MI. Hamlin's re.
election And yet, rs matter OF
simple fact. have, up 10 this day and
hour, spoken on the subject 10 but two
members OF the Legislature, and to them
only by chance meeting, nor have
written to a single one, nor sent word or
message of any kind TO one. have not
even spoken TO my near neighbOr aud old
friend, Hon. James W. North. and 10
not at this moment know what his views
on the Senator question are, nor how he
will vote in The Legislative caucus. At
the same time | have never concealed.
nor on proper occasions failed to frankly
express my deliberate judgment. here and
now repeated. that Maine would best con-
suit her higest interest and honor by le-
turning Mr. Hamlin to the Senate. And
/ see nothing in the recent political re-
verses elsewhere 10 weaken that conclu'
sion, but much to strengthen aud confirm
it. Very truly YOURS.
J. G.. BLAINE.
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