New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-24

1t was the finger of Mepbistophees that lay
on the knee of Mr.. Henry l.. Dawes on an
occasion not long passed. but it was the voice
of q person not unfamiliar in Massachusetts,
Republican Conventions that said in winning
tones: "Now, Dawes, what do you want to be
interfering in this matter fOr9 You do mt
"want to be Governor, and do. Ii does you
"no good TO oppose me. You are not called
"upon to interfere. They've no right TO ask
"you to. You re mistaken about one thing.
81 do MT want to be United States Senator
"You do | can help you. | want to be
Governor and mean to be. Now you just
keep hands off in this matter and you can be
Senator without any trouble
Doubtless Mr. Dawes had no confidence in
the intentions of the person who addressed
we are not certain but that in his inmost soul
he put away the temptation and despiscd the
tempter. And yet-and yet-will any citizen
of Massachusetts, who has largo confidence in
MIR. Dawes and none whatever in MIR. Butler.
be good enough to count up on his fingers
say of one hand-the number of men
in Congress who could sit down in
front of Mr.. b. F. Butler, having no open
personal quarrel with him, and knowing that
he divided the Republican party in Massacbu-
sets pretty nearly in the middle, and say any
thing unkind in response to such an offer
How many are there who, having cast visit
full glance at a seat in the Senate Chamber,
could listen to the proposition without at least
turning it over between thumb and finger very
curiousyi Mr.. Dawes is presumed to be
human. He probably thought of 1T afterward.
1t was a great Offer The price was ex-
ceedingly small. Only to keep hands Off.
And really there was good sense in
the suggestion. Why should he interfere with
Mr. Buffers plansf He had only done other
peoples work when he had opposed him be-
FORE and received small thanks for it. And
Mr.. Dawes was tired. He did not listen to
the tempter; he put the temptation away; of
course everybody who knows him knows that;
but he did make up his mind to attend to his
own business and forget that the finger of
Mephistopheles had ever lain upon his knee.
Mr.. Dawes is ahead in the race for Senator
Summers seat. Mr.. Butler and Mr. Buffers
friends are pushing him with great eagerness.
There is no bargain between them, of course.
No one would suspect Mr.. Dawes of intriguing
with the Essex statesman But there IS reason
TO believe that Mr.. Butler is deceiving himself
with the notion that there is; and there are
great many honest people in Massachusetts, who
hate to see Mr.. Butler deceived. Indeed we fear
that if MIR. Dawes should be elected Senator
to-day by the Massachusetts Legislature, the
very erroneous impression would gain ground
that although the proposition of Mephistoph-
eles was scorned by the Berkshire representa-
tive. there was fatal magnetism in that
finger Oh his knee which communicated
unwOnted &eariness and great distaste for
active interference in matters that did not
personally concern him.
The interesting letter of our Boston CORE
spondent published herewith gives fair sur
vey of the field, in which Mr.. Dawes seems
the leading competitor Behind him are
Judge Hoar and Charles Francis Adams 1t
is q strange complication that brings Mr.
Dawes to the front as Buffers candidate, but
stranger things have happened in politics, and
possibly more unaccountable still are In store.
The fact as stated by our correspondent that
Judge Hoar's chances arc weakened by the
prevailing impression that he is Grants can
didate. is another remarkable indication of a
change of relations and something Of a revo-
luton in public opinion in Massachusetts.
The election comes off, or begins to come Off
for it is hardly probable a result will be
reached-to day. No one disputes the superior
| capacity and fitness of Mr.. Adams; no one de-
MES that he of all others is the man who would
most honor Massachusetts in the seat of
Charles Sumner. The men who will to-day
deliberately vote for another candidate must
admit it. And yet it is the mischief and the
misery of our politics and of the low standards
of political life, that of all the candidates
named, the worthiest and fttest stands lowest
on the list, while the representative of what is
worst and wickedest leads the poll. 1t will
DO worse for Mr.. Dawes 10 be elected than TO