New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-12
MASSACHUSETTS, POLITICS.

OF POWER
lFRoN REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
BOsTON, March 9.-The mortality among Mas
sachusetts members OF Congress during the past two
years has been remarkable. Besides the irreparaole
loss Of Senator Sumner, three out OF the eleven
members elected to the House OF representatives
In 1872 now in their graves Avian CROKER anu
Samuel Hooper died during the Winter session lust over
and James BufDton has followed them TO the tomb
Mr. Bufintons term OF service longer than that OF
any his colleagues lie elected originally In the
| celebrated campaign when the Know-NothinRs TOOK
OF all the State Offices OF the entire delegation
In Congress. and OF every member Of the Legislature
save two. This In 1854 Mr.. Dawes was chosen two
| years later. He had the advantage In continuous
service Mr. Buuton left ont four years by change
his district; but his popularity enabled him TO sue
coed Thomas d. Eliot ut tho end OF that period, ana
again entered upon term OF service that nothing
put his life would have been likely to end. He mover
made speeches but he attended very care
fully to the interests OF his constituents. and was re-
! garded by them an invaluable member he took no
part the politics Of the State outside hi, district
Several men talked OF as his successor Much the
ablest Of thom all is the Hon. Robert c. Pitman OF New
Bedford, at present Judge OF tho Superior Court
Judge Pman of the purest character OF refined
tastes and scholarly temperament. He has had much
experience In the State Legislature. and as debater
has few superiors He is not especially popular with
the politicians, however. and has made himself OBJ
|
advocacy Of the Prohbitory Liquor law He is without
doubt a sound enough Republican National issues.
and Is cool and conservative lawyer that he would
not be likely to be carried captive by The Butler policy
which the weaker of the members have Just yielded
| to-
The position Of Representative Pierce Of the lid Dis
trct the closing days OF Congress has considerably
exercised the average partisan mind among his con-
stituens. He has nontet Butler, and done his best to
| bring to naught all that wOrthys works He has put
himself in opposition to the policy OF the White House
as well. OF the Republican newspapers here The Aduer-
User which much OF tho time independent in Its lean
| ings warmly commends his course The "organs," OF
course view the subject very differently But none OF
them have ventured yet to assa Mr. Pierce. He Is
| very strong In his district, which Is close one. AMI
went Democratic on the vote on Governor last Novem
ber The leading Of higher character In the HepuD
lican party almost all with him. paper inviting
him public dinner that has been IN circulation Tor
several days past, signed by all those. without
exception, TO whom offered Mr. Pierce. IL Is un
derstood declines this dinner partly because OF dsin
clinaton to be made conspicuous and partly De-
sails for Europe and needs the short time
that Is left him to devote his business affairs The
reception that his has met Is very Significant OF
the state OF opinion here. Outside the Customhouse
and the ranks Of that rapidly lessening number who
| think there limits to what Is to be
borne for the sake OF keeping the party
together, the Administration has supporters in B0s
This Is the literal truth. and one fnds proof OF
1t on every hand. 1t Is admitted that purely as matter
OF policy Mr.. Pierce coud have pursued no shrewder
course than that he has taken. II not matter OF
policy with him, however. He Of the earliest,
! and was always one of the most faithful friends Of
Charles Sumner. whose spirit Of Independence he has
shared to great degree. Butler is probably more bitter
against Mr. Pierce than against ANYBODY else IN tho
ns Th
his grudge Also growing out OF the fact that MI
steadily refused since ask favcrs at his hands Hs
| gratiles this and pleases his patron by making the
| Mr. Pierce's district. The adherents OF Butler
| spared bat the AK has fallen heavily upon those in
whom Mr. Pierce is presumed TO be interested Some OF
the most efficient the service have been lost to
the Government In this way, while some Of the most
except that OF annoyance Mr. Pierce is SIRE
tanning his district rs Butler Is or being defeated Gown
| the people there again
PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.
We are too far from election just now to Invoke
anything more than unierhand movements in politics
Gen Butler has probably not made up his mind as to
be his in the next State election 1t Is
safe say that he Is unpopular than when
he received his scathing rebuke OF last Autumn. The
tho State contest here will depend much
upon action of the Legislature the liquor qies-
ton. 1t that which really caused the Republican
defeat las year The state constabuary has been abo
shed and thus the obnoxious execution OF the Pr0hbi
tory law at end; but there Is great dicuty IN
statute. II Is OF much DOUBT ii anything Is to
be accomplished in this direction. Meantime the Dem
successul administrator IN other respects He is taking
such amoderate and udeous course upon suect, tnat
ference between himself and the unanimous
Republican Council with which he 1,
his appointments with readiness. Ia the Legislature
too has made an exceedingly favorable impression,
and there is as much harmony at the State House as
has been known there at any time OF late years 10 viii
be tue easiest Thing 10 tne word TO reeecI 'U
their candidate and the issues they put before the
what form the canvass nil the liquor question:
is disposed Of and II may be several mon1s before TINS
G as @ T@s last & up
again their candidate. and may thank their star
that they have 50 good man to run. The Republican
Roe of Boston the Hon John f. Sanford tho pres
ent Speaker OF the State House Of Representatives, Mr.
Rice would be excellent Governor. and tho Repuo-
leans have made a mistake in putting him in nomi-
nation on more than one occasion since Gov Andrew
left the Office. The Hon. Geo. b. Lorng, it may be- 10
again candidate, but there reasons to believe
| IN his success more convincing tnan at other times
when he has been repeatedly defeated in the conven
| tons OF the party.
POLITICAL CHANGES.
There has been unusual number OF contested cleo
tions in Legislature this year. and 1t Is a notable
fact that enough them have decided against
Republican ncumbents annihilao the meager major
| ity by which Mr.. Dawes chosen to the United
States Senate This statement is ade on the authority
OF leading Republican member. II lisa singular result
| ton OF Senator. The Democrats very weak in
speaking talent and In experienced men the Lsgis
ature and they have attempted reform policy The
only In which their power has been felt Is
the defeat VI the first License law proposed. which
liberal enough for their purposes IL Is unfortunate
that they not represented by such
three members OF Congress from the part
OF the State who all legislators OF ability, and by
Mr.. J. q. Adams Mr.. Charles L. Coadley. These
| members Of Congress, By the way. Will prove very
credtabe representatives at Washington, both Of the
State and Of the party They are all young OF
periOr ability and OF excellent ideas US to the need Of
| progress the part OF the Democracy.
There has been considerable energy shown In the effort
to Gen. VIM. L. Burt from the ostmastership OF
Boston. Gen. Burt asappoinet originally by President