The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-03
The Investigation.

Blaine's success in the Northwest exceed
ed our expectations, and it is now certain
that he will lead on the first ballot, and that
he can soon muster within about one hun
dred votes of enough to nominate him.
Morton has not secured as many votes as we
thought he would have, and considerable
number of his Southern votes will not stick if
persuasively introduced to the gates of fat
pastures.- Cincinnati Commercial.
1t is pretty evident that the mud throwing
at Mr.. Blaine has greatly helped his pros.
poets. Thus Col. Forney says of the effect
in Pennsylvania: "Mr. Blaine has boldly
confronted all charges, and we believe is to-
day the most unobjectionable of the leading
rivals for the glittering prize. If we may
judge by Republican opinion in Pennsylva-
mia, after Gov. Hartranft has had his chance
an overwhelming percentage is in favor of
the statesman from Maine."
1t is all out now. A prominent presiden-
tial candidate once advised friend to in
vest ia railroad. Friend invested-and
investment did not turn out well. Candi-
date refunded, and made friend whole. Now
the "friend" publishes the correspondence,
and the "independent" editor says of the
candidate that he was selling shares (which
he had acquired, doubtless in return for SER
vices privately rendered to that undertaking
while he was speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives." Doubtless" and On such evil
dence the world is called upon to stone the
man to death.-Ne,o York Mail.
The fact that Mr.. Blaine's most unanimous
support is not found in the East but in the
West. is testimony to the national reputation
he stands on. He is not sectional candi-
date but a national one, and while it has
doubtless been just as we'll that his own Sec
tion should not be prominent in pushing him
upon the party, there is no doubt that it will
be found hearty and unanimous in accepting
the honor and substantial advantage which
the West proposes to concede to it in select
ing New England candidate. For no doubt
it is substantial advantage to this section,
and will be particularly welcome, coming at
time when, for various causes, the political
preponderance Of New England is declining.
Springfield Union.
Whether Mr.. Blaine ever bought or sold
railroad bonds we do not know, and in one
sense we do not care, and we imagine the
public are of the same opinion. If it can be
shown that he accepted bribe and sold his
vote, then it affects his honor, but whether
he sold bonds or shares, so long as he did
not rob the government, is not of the slight
est consequence. That he ever cheated his
| friends or betrayed trust we do not believe.
| There is not probably dozen members OF
| Congress who do not hold investments that
are affected by their acts in Congressman
| yet we would as willingly trust the members
Of Congress as any equal number of mer-
| chants, bankers or editors that could be as
Standardization Journal.
But there is one other consideration peril
nent here, that Democrat and independent
| journalists will do we'll to take account of.
The evidence against Speaker Kerr is in Its
directness and positiveness hundred-fold
stronger than anything that has been abduc,
ted in respect of Mr.. Blaine. What has the
latter gentleman ever done that should make
his equally swift, sweeping and solemn deni.
ais less entitled to the respect and confidence
| of his countrymen? The friends of Mr.
Kerr would have no just ground of complaint
| if the friends of Mr.. Blaine should streat Mr..
Kerr as ungenerously as they have treated
Mr. Blaine; but for ourselves we have no de-
sire to emulate their uncharitableness.- .-Bos
ton Aduertiser.