The Portland daily press., 1876-06-13
Blaine In Massachusetts,.
The Cause ofOpposition 10 Mr.. BIuinc-
A"sampIe Lot" Of Reformers, etc,

The Cause of ofOpposiiion 10 Mr. BIninc-
A''sampIe Lor of Reformers, etc.
BOSTON, June Q, 1876.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Allow me to state few Of the actual motives
which cause certain class of politicians In
this State, and especially in this city as well as
certain papers here published, to so rancorous-
ly assail Mr.. Blaine, and to desperately resist
his advance towards Presidential nomination.
This class of politicians, and fraternal press,
assume that Mr.. Blaine's record while in Con.
gress, is their objective point. But this pre-.
tense is anything but true as propose to show.
The initial point of all this clamor here, was
the nomination of Mr.. Hsmlin in 1860, which
these men regarded as piece OF arrogance on
the part of Maine, and an affront to their "high
mightnesses'. Accordingly IN 1864, combi-
nation was formed to throw overheard Mr.
Hamlin; and as his popularity was unassaila-
BILE, the attack was made to assume the form of
mon partisanshp," which was to be demon
strated by taking Southern man noted Nfor
his decision and honesty; the result was
the substitution of that thoroughbred political
mule, Andrew johnson. This was signal
triumph of the long time coalition politicians
of Beacon Street" AMI "Aun Street. in this
city who had before that time performed
much service IN attempting to defeat.
and finally defeating Mr.. Burlingame
in his Congressional career OF the delectable
fruits of the defeat of Mr.. Hamlin aud the ele-
walton Of Mr.. johnson, the bitter fruits of the
latter's Administration furnish the lest and
fittest commentary; and it is not a matter of
surprise that all the abettors of the change
made haste to deny their completely therein
Nor was it a matter of surprise that in 1868 the
delegates of Maine, as a matter of self respect
and proper resentment of the scheme to defeat
Mr.. Hamlin's nomination in 1854, should have
voted solidly against Mr. Wilson as a caLdi-
date for the same position, and which he so
much coveted. In 1872, the position of Names
delegation and Mr.. Wilson's desires had not
in fact, changed, and the opposition, SO far as
it goes in this State, is but a continuation of
this old feud. Nor is this the only reason of
resistance to Mr. Blaine; one nearly or quite
as deep seated is the fact that he is an every
day man; he is as approachable by the low as
the high; he is not encased in an awe inspiring
panoply of immaculate "fine linen, nor is he
mounted upon lofty pedestal (of brass) be-
sides he possesses the elements of Dangerous
popularity" because every uuprejudiced man
who knows him is his friend. Again Mr.
Blaine was guilty of leaving his place as Speak
er and moving that first investigation, the
Credit Mobiler, which so singed a millionaire
Congressman of this State, ard gave Henry
Wilson the trouble of showing that his bonds
were the property of his wife. In fact certain
circles in the this State will never forgive Mr..
Blaine for having evoked that cleansing pro-
cess which so troubled their especial favorites.
The question may arise why Beacon street
and Ann street should so vindictively pursue
Mr.. Blaine; the answer is plain: because be
has no affiliations with either, and his eeva.
tiou to the presidency would conduCs to the
chances of the average man, while ''grca ~
| spectability' might be compelled, as in
| case of the present excellent collector of
part Mr.. Simmons, to take back seat
s'chew the cud of reflection"
desire to allude to the character of the
here, who in their political purity are so cl
orous for the defeat of Mr.. Blaine. A sla
| at your files of Boston papers for two or thl
years past will recall the fact that we have hs
several rings in this city. known as the Gu
| tom House repair ring, the Post Office buildini
| ring and the State House repair ring; which
| latter had for its ornamental monogram the
names of Moses Kimball, George d. Loring,
aud John f. Sanford. then Speaker of the
| House Of Representatives, who were the COM
mssoners on said repairs. A glance vt the
aforesaid papers will show you the oder in
| which the legislative investigation left these
Il non ,;cofD a,l 81. T.l,.. n
Sandford was elected by the Bristow reform
majority of the late state convention, for cleo
ton of delegates to Cincinnati, as its President,
| tand now Bristow delegate TO Cincinnati
| when and where he delivered himself of vol
able address on assuming the chair, the key
note whereof was reform and of course
| with these political saints reform must mean
somebody besides Mr.. Blaine. And with
scarce an exception every member of those
rings are bitter opponents of Mr.. Blaine, and
very ardent advocates of Mr.. Bristow. OF
Mr.. Bristow have nothing to say, except
that he is quite as little known as was Mr..
johnson when he was nominated, and he
has no better record for either honesty"
or 'frmness' than had Mr.. johnson,
which are the especial and in fact, only quail
| uCdhOuS CldiLueu tOr DElSIOW, anu muCu
doubt whether any conceivable measure Of
these two qualities in candidate would, in
public estimation, constitute an equivalent for
the undesirable characteristics of such an ad-
ministration. Besides, it should consttute no
reason fof preferring Mr.. Bristow over Mr..
Blaine, that the former is especially acceptable
to the Democrats as an opposition candidate,
while the latter is their unspeaksble adherence
Nor do the proclivites of the 'press" in this
city vary in its essential features from the fore
going The "Post," which is Democratic or
nothing, is an ardent admrer of Bristow, and
if it ever does pray, it is for his nomination,
while with all its accumulation of cursing, it
still finds time to bestow especially rancorous
ones upon Mr.. Blaine. While the Herald and
Globe, which have ever occupied the political
position midway between free-booters and
"Swiss troops" are as anxious for the success
of Bristow as they are frantic in their maligni-
ty towards Mr.. Blaine. Among the people
of this commonwealth, Mr.. Blaines popularity
is something unparalleled at this early stage of
a Presidential campaign.
| A REPUBLICAN SINCE S.