New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-30
CAMPAIGN ISSUES IN MAINE.

TFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
| ATLANTIC CRY, N. j., July 20.-One Of the most
remarkable features of the Greenback mania which
seems to be taking possession Of so many people,
this year. its tendency to break out in all sorts of
unexpected places. 1t no longer seems surprising
to the student of current political events that nan-
cal heresies should take root in the West. The soil
there seems to be peculiarly adapted to their growth
and much bad seed has been sown in both parties
by some of their most influential leaders. The only
wonder is that the Democratic Pendletons and
Ewingst the Yoorheeses and the Carys were not able,
long ago, to commit their party in its National Con-
ventions to initiation and reputation. They have
in fact succeeded in setting the drift OF Democratic
opinion in that direction 1t is equally strange that
| the Republicans of the West are as sound as they
to-day the money question, after all the mis-
| chievous teachings to which they have listened.
The growth of NatiOnasm amongst ignorant people
in Eastern cities is also to be expected. The dema-
gogues and small politicians Of all parties, if left to
themselves, are more likely to go wrong than right
on questions involving great principles, and unfort-
unately. their influence over the unthnking masses
is generally very great. Business depression low
wages and widespread distress make many people
ready to accept any nostrum that political quacks
may offer.
The National movement in some parts of the coun-
try. therefore is not altogether inexplicable, but
who would suspect that the intelligent, cOnserva-
tive, sober people of NewEngland could be induced
to listen to the wild theories of the Western intia-
tonlss that of ali places in the world, the Green
back movement should gain fOothold In the State
of Mainei And yet it is true that this new party
which seems almost to have attained its growth IN
a single moon, appears already to be stronger than
the Democracy of that State, and, opponent in
the coming election it is not to be despised even by
| the Republicans.
Mr.. Eugene Hale, who visited Atlantic City last
week for the purpose of estfyng before the Potter
Committee has already returned to Maine to be
present at the Republican State Convention, which
is to meet in Portland tomorrow. During his stay
here he described TO me very fully the political
situation in his State declared that the Republic
| cans were sure TO win both in the State and Con-
gressional contests, but admitted that the struggle
| between the Republicans and the Greenbackers
| will be a very sharp one The most important por-
tons of his conversation gwen herewith. sub
stantially in his own words.
"Our State Convention will meet at Portland on
the 3Oth Of this month";" said Mr.. Hale, and ex-
| pect that Governor Conner will be renomnated. L
have heard of no other candidate. As an indication
of what is likely to be the pervading spirit in the
convention, and, indeed, the overshadOwing issue
before it and in the that is to follow, 1may
| tell you that Governor Woodford. of New-York, has
been invited to Portland and will address the con-
vention. lie is ablest as you know, when speaking
In favor Of sound financial aud currency doctrines,
and we expect him to give the keynote Of the cam
paien The canvass Will open immediately after
the convention adjOurns, and almost the only topic
of discussion from the beginning TO the end Of it,
and in all sections of the State will be the currency
question. We could hardly escape laying the great
est stress on this subject IL we would and assure
you that there is disposition to avoid IL. L may
repeat that there is escape from IT. because the
people everywhere are already talking about II; the
Greenbackers as they call themselves, have organ
| lied their clubs in many Of the counties, and we
have to meet them on their own ground, or not at
ALL"
"What kind of man Is their candidate for the
Govcrnorship I" asked
"Mr. Joseph l.. Smith," said Mr.. Hale in reply. sis
a resident of Oldtown, a disafected Republican,
man of large wealth, and bondholder. Hd has
never been prominent in the politics of the State,
! outside of bis own county"
"Haye any of the candidates for Congress been
| nominated in Mainei"
"OnIy one. who has been put in the field by the
| Greenback party of the With Distrlct-my
own. His name is Mr.. Murch. I don't consider
! the nomination strong one. Mr.. Murch never has
been known IN the district except as the leader OF
strike in the granite quarries last Winter, when,
| after causnq loss of $25 900 to the workingmen,
was ended under his advice, by the yielding OF the
strikers TO the demands of the contractors. There is
olreodv videspread dissatisfaction in the Greenback
marty over this nomination. The man to whom 1t
really belonged publishes a newspaper in the dis
| trict He bottled the nomination as soon as it was
made and. the next week. advised his followers To
vote the Democratic ticket on the ground that the
| Democracy was after all, substantially committed
| 10 the theories of the Greenbackers. Conventions
have been called in all the other Congressional Dis
trcts and ticket will be run in nearly every county
of the State"
" From which party has the Greenback movement
| drawn most of its converts !"
"It has gained recruits from both parties The
leaders of it are in many instances Republicans
some of whom have been prominent III the party
They are men whose ambitions have not been satls-
| fed or who are dscontented with the management
and the distribution of the patronage Of the party.
In addition to these there are among the Nationals
especially in the country towns, many honest SIN
| cere men who have heretofore voted the Republic
can ticket Ii is our purpose, by exhaustive dis
cusson of financial and currency questions TO snow
,hese Repubicans The unsoundness Of the doctrines
| advocated by the Greenbackers the dangers their
adoption will lead to-, and to bring them back INTO
the Republican ranks"
"What Of the Democracy y
"Well. there is perceptble all over the State
marked restiyeness among sound-money Democrats
many of whom, when the issue is clearly drawn on
the money question, seem likely to vote with regard
to that without paying much attention TO the gem
eral politics Of the candidates. The Democra'ic
nartv in ia State Convention. you know, adopted
platform that may mean one thing or another. but
which will be explained in satisfactory manner to
the Greenbackers in the different counties where
union of the Democratic and National forces is pro-
jected."
81 understand you to say that the Republicans DO
not intend to yield in any degree to the imitation