New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-25
aSIGNS OF THE TINES"
prrrp FROM TpTyRI,ow WEED.

LETTER FROM THURLOW WEED.
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF" GREENBAcKs WILL
TRIUMPH IN THE PRESENT CONFLICT THE
REPUBLICANS SHOULD SECURE TO THEMSELVES
THAT PARTY, "THE STRONGEST AND MOST
POPULAR ELEMENT IN THE CANVASS FOLLY
AS FATAL AS TREASON ITSELF.
yothe Edftor or The tribune.
SIR: In letter of July z. published in THE
TRIBUNE, remarked that there were signs the
significance of which fails to attract the attention
of those accustomed to discern and interpret popular
sentiment" Recent events add Importance to the
admonition embraced in the following paragraph
nv ppntSr 70 the attitude Of two distinguished poii
clans who just from Washington to crap
Question aiiude Of coarse, senator Blaine and
General Butsr The S eacn ad ha sV
Republicans of Maine, and the latter In speech
s 81 with sa Butler
himself being the reporter Senator Blaine anticipates
ground against that movement while General Butter.
as will be by his carefully prepared manifesto,
movement destined in all human probability 10 control
the next Presidential ELECTION Il may Dc assumed that
both have given their banner to the breeze senator
crucial hs u test stands revealed as political Bourbon
:. learning nothing and forgetting nothing" IRON
is passing Iregret this deeply for Mr. Blaine possesses
great ability, with generous and patriotic sentiments
tween capital ana labor be os his way and
ing in the dark At lucid interval while the PHI re-
onetizing silver pending In the Senate, MS eyes
were bali opened That encouraged hope that he
CHAMPION OF class sure to be heard and felt the APP
preaching election But In TINS we are olsappoih.eu
He has not only lost his own opportunity Out mas given
1t to General Butler.
Senator Blaine made his fight against green
backs and the result is known. The Hon. Mr.. Hale,
a prominent Republican member of Congress, has
been beaten by Greenback candidate who, IL
what is said of him be true, possesses no other
qualification or merit except that OF being the
representative of a strong sentiment. The country
loses Republican member of Congress in Crisis
when the loss may prove an irrepsrable one. The
Republican candidate for Governor not only fails OF
an election, but the chances are in favor OF the
election of a Greenbacker by the Legislature. The
State Of Maine therefore falters for the first time in
thirty years-falters simply because her leading
Republicans took not only the unpopular but the
wrong side of the great issue of the day. Ii the ut
terances attributed to Mr.. Hale by TRIBUNE cor
respondents reflect that gentlemans hnanclal
opinions the loss of his seat in Congress
may be followed by still more disastrous
consequences. If Mr.. Hale, as chairman OF
the Congressional Committee at Washington, is to
continue the warfare on greenbacks, the hope OF
securing Republican majority In the House OF
Representatives may as well be at once abandoned.
of time and a waste of money. If the politicians who
learn nothing from the lesson that the Maine cleo
tjon teaches and who fail to discover audible and
intelligent voices in the political atmosphere,
with the journals whose only party shiboleths are
"bard-money and greenback craze" continue to
lead the Republican party its ignominious defeat
is certain.
Heretofore Maine elections have been looked for
by Wings and Republicans uDerrlng indications
of popular sentiments while their results, always
reassuring inspired our friends throughout the
Union with zeal and confidence. But now whose
CHEEKY voice is heard singing, Have you heard the
news from MaineV
That State has not been lost by any fault of the
people Leaders to whom the masses have looked for
political guidance lost their reckoning and the Re
publican ship drifted away from its moorings This
inauspicIous result in Maine threatens our ascend
ency in Massachusetts,. The first and great mis- |
take was in permitting General Butler. as carpet
Dagger to be elected to Congress from the Salem
District. Massachusetts Republicans never did
worse days work than that. With the wealth ac-
cumulated at New-Orleans and Washington during
and since the war, he has become formidable as
he has always been capable. aggressive and danger
ons. The approaching election will severely test
the zeal, unanimlty and devotion of the Republicans
of the old Eay State. Her Revolutionary achieve
ments the teachings traditions and memories of
her heroes and statesmen should inspire efforts
worthy of her best and brightest days The defeat
of General Butler now might avert calamity even
worse than his election as Governor of Massachu-
setts
In the letter from which the foregoing extract
is taken also said:
Its an alarming sign of the times that Of But
lers asruteness thinks that the course he chooses to
adopt which will give him large following This
apprehension is realized sooner than anticipated II
fh0ughtfu editors and politicians will read General But
lers Presidential Platform they Will see that he has al
ready taken ground which will give Nun large ioow
Tne question be asked and answered Is whether
General Butler will be permitted IN the struggle which
approaches TO become the representatlye OF CLASSES
~ e ppiosity ers OF The State separately and
then Of the United States.
In the light of recent events the question asked a
few weeks since now returns with added force
Will the Republican party surrender constantly
strengthening issue to new political organization
The Buffers the Ewings and the Kearneys only be-
come formidable and dangerous by the blindness
and blunders of leading Republican journals and
representatives.
The gold partisans, consisting of foreign bond
holders and American bankers sustained by leading
London and New-York journals, made their first
raid against silver. 1t was denounced dishonest
money Its advocates were stigmatzed as "Repu-
diatorsp and "Infationists." Public opinion being
largely formed and moved by the press, there was
great surface unanimity against tho silver craze"
The Bland bill, though passing the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes in an Objectionable form, was properly
amended IN the Senate If not all that it should
) have been, the fault was in those who were uncom
promisingly opposed to silver in any form.
II Senators Conkling, Hamlin, Blaine. Edmunds.
Morrill,, Dawes Hoar Anthony, Burnside, etc.. had
seconded Senators Allison, Booth. Ferry and other
Western Republicans, in efforts to perfect the House
bill. we should now have had law in all respects