The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-11-19
The Senatorial Battle.

The Portland Press publishes a letter
from Speaker Blaine, in which he takes
occasion to deny the report that he seeks
to become MIR. Hamlin's successor in the
L. S. Senate. At the same time he declares
that he is mreservedly for Hamlin's re-
election, and enlarges upon the Senator's
long and faithful service as deserving that
honor.
The Press in commenting upon the letter
with its usual ability, dissents entirely
from the position of Mr. Blaine In snort,
it opposes the reelection Of the Senator,
under any circumstances While conced-
ing to Mr. Iamlin an excellent record,
the Press says
The objection to him is not for what he has
done but for what he has not done. He has sat
in his place in the Senate and seen the Credit
Mobilier operations, the back pay enormity and
all the rest Of the bad legislative action, whose
record is breaking the back of the Republican
party and running the good name of the nation,
pass unchaenged, With his vast experience
in public affairs, his high personal character
and his eminent ability, it was in his power to
make Il manly protest against ali these things
have impaired infinitely more llstre to his name
than the passive virtue which Mr. Blaine com
mends, The man who. good himself. permits
the bad is not the man the times demand. The
ideal Senator is OF "A more heroic mould and
attempts to remedy evils. not content with Il
lazy abstinence from participation in them. We
may not be able TO attain the ideal, but should
try for an approximations which Mr.. Hamltn
certainly is not. We would not pluck a single
| sprig from the laurels which he has won in pub
| hut # tanyr fort A,lI
service, neglect to make fair discussion OF
his points would be dereliction in journalistic
| duty. Without favor and without prejudice the
| legislature should enquire what his course IN
| the Senate for the past six years Indicates a
| 10 his probable action for the next six.
! This is back handed blow at the Ven
cradle Senator that has uncommon force
in it, The inquiry why the declared re
preventative Of the Intelligent and upright
state Of Maine sat dumb and acquiescine
through this iniquity, thrusts at Messrs
Hamlin and Blaf1lea very ugly inrelToga
ton point
Having laid the rule and plummct tC
| the Senator'S course i'll reference to mora
honesty, the Press next considers It's effect
upon the fortunes Of the party, and says
| However respectable and estmable gentle
man he may be himscli'-and we have no unhint
| word 10 say of hnl-he is conspicuouSly the
| center and cohesive force of Il set of men OBJ
| noNlous to the people. and his election mean,
| the psrpetuaton Of this sort of thing. which i
| the Maine form of Butlersm. 1t is precisely
| the thing against which the late elections were
| a protest, and unless we take the lesson and
| govern our conduct by it we shall meet the fate
| elsewhere We 1
! shut our eyes 10 patent facts and drift to de-
| structlon which may he ayerted. This set OF
| men. whose performances in Mr.. Hanln's be
| halt throughout the state during the current
campaign have been notorious to all men. Mr..
| Blaine to the contrary Notwithstanding. have
| their hands upon the throat of the organization
in this state and will choke the life out Of ii I'M
/ less they are torn away. They cannot be direct
| " reached as they derive their importance from
| federal appointments secured to them by Mr.
| Hamlin. The only way to destroy these para
| sites Is to cut down the tree which ststaln>
| them. If this Objectionable system OF things
/ be not corrected the disgust and dissatisfaction
which are abundantlv manifest i'll all parts OF
! the state, will seek other and radical remedies
| It requires no prophetic ken to perceive that il
| Hannibal IIamln be returned TO the United
States Senate, there is likely to be in this state
| the same overturn which has visited Massachu.
sets and New York. and Maine will probably
i'll 1870, fail for the first time to lead the Repuh
| llcan column.
This Is avery pretty quarrel as it stands
and it will be q pity il anything happens
to stop it. The chances now are that mex
winter will develope at Augusta one of the
liveliest times ever witnessed at the CAPT
tai, in which the strife over Nh Hamlir
may have to yield to the necessity Of get
ting some republican Senator before the
state passes into democratic control.