The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-27
A Washington Letter.
Presidential Gossip-The Maine Delesa-
tion-Ihe Electoral BiIi-The Cipher
observation-disclosures Merrilps Re
ception.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1873.
Up to this time the only names mentioned
for the next presidency are Grant, Blaine and
CoDkling. Were the convention held soon the
former would doubtless be nominated. lis
believed, however, by csrefol observers that he
will grow weaker and less available as time
rolls Oh, while Blaine will grow stronger and
stronger do not know Blsine's wishes or
intentions: have not the honor of his per-
soaal acquaintance and have never spoken TO
him in my life; but give the gossip current
in well-informed circles.
Since Morton's death Blaine has become the
leader of the stalwsrts in the Senate and
throughout the country. He Is conceded to be
q safe aud sagacious leader and is the Henry
of Navarro of his party. The interest In his
recent speech was never exceeded. Mr. Blaine
is known and liked everywhere. And his
strongest source of support is that 10 every
State and in almost every Congressional Dis
trict there are numbers of ex-members of
Congress who are prominent and Influential,
who are Mr.. Blaine's friends aud who win
favor his nomination at the next National Con.
vention against the field. In the last contest
the Camerons Of Pennsylvania did not favor
the nomination of Mr.. Blaine, and they con-
trolled the almost solid vote that of State for
another. In recent interview ex-senator Cam.
ron intimated pretty strongly that he favored
Mr. Blaine's nomination In the coming CON.
test Now with Morton ont of the way there
Isl scarcely a question but that Mr. Blaine
would receive very large support In the
South, even against Gen. Grant. There is
every reason to believe that he Is stronger In
the North and West than in 1876, and With the
vote of Pennsylvania he would no doubt be
nominated and elected.
No native of the Pine Tree State can bot be
proud of the postioa Maine has taken aud the
influence she exercises in the councils Of IT,.
nation, which is probably greater than th.s Of
any other State in the Union, with Ms,sr.
Blaine and Hamlin In the Senate and with
Hale and Frye on the floor.
1t must be gratifying to NJ, Hale's constitn.
ents to know that the defeat Of no member Of
the present House for reelection has been %
sincerely and universally regretted as his. He
mad acquired national reputation as leader
and debates. A bright future awaits him.
ne Is desdned yet to play an important part in
tne ciTl and political history Of his country.
ar. Frye has been warmly and enthusiast.
cally congratulated BY the leading members Of
both parties In the House, at his hearty en-
dorsement of reelection by his constituents.
he IS admitted on all hands to be one of the
ablest most conscientious and hardest-working
members, and no member of his party exer-
cises greater influence upon the legislation Of
ms country, Western members speak very
nighly OF his campaigns in the West, during
the lase few years: and he is now regarded e
one of the most effective political speakers In
tne Union. The old Second District NAV we'll
be proud at being represented by statesman
so clear-headed, reliable, faithful, and honest.
he does credit to his constituency, bis State,
and the nation.
The only important legislation that Is likely
to come before Congress this winter Is the Elec-
toral Bill, which has passed the Senate, and
will undoubtedly meet with much opposition In
the House, as the leading Democrats Of that
body have grown suspicious of every measure
with which the name of Senator Edmunds, the
author of the bill, is connected. They were 20
bitterly disappointed in the result Of the Elec-
toral Commission Bill, which gave President
Hayes his seat that they are afraid to try any-
thing new. Since the recent elections they
seem to have lost hope, aud they fear that the
history OF the campaign of 1860 will be repeated
10 1880, and that solid South will be met by q
solid North. They will soon have . majority
responsible for its acts, and they desire TO
avoid making a record.
So far the Potter Committee have done moth
Ing. Great curiosity is expressed TO know
what action the committee will take, u any,
in regard to the cipher teleerams Repubi.
cans say that they have presented to the coun-
Try the evidence OF grossest fraud and corrup-
ton on the part of Mr.. Tilden in connection
with the late Presidential contest, and il the
democratic party refuse to investigate the
charges, they will stand convicted before the
world. The Democrats are In Dc ck Of troub-
le and don't know what to do about IL. They
affect to believe that an examintion Of the
kilograms would show an equal amount Of cor
ruption on the Republican side bat it N ust bs
borne in mind that during the time these dis
patches were under the control OF Senator Nor
tons committee, thu Democrats had access TO
them and spent many days and nights In
their examination, taking copies Of such As
they wanted. IL will be remembered that Gen.
Butler greatly astonished the ommittee, one
day, by producing large number of these dig
patches about which some question had been
raised. The fact is there Is nothing 10 any Of
the kilograms sent By leading Republicans to
the South, during that memorable contest that
Is not already known to the country, II there
was the Democratic gentlemen and Gen. But
Ter who examined them would have exposed 10
long ago. BY the way, speaking Of these ci-
pher kilograms, it may not be ont vi place 20
mention that their translation and subsequent
exposure is largely due to the efforts Of Mr.
Hale. 1t is said that copies OF these unintelli-
gible dispatches were made by certain parties,
and after several Intellectual attempts to trans
late them they were laid aside and forgotten. Az
ter Mr.. Hale became chairman of the
National Congressional Committee, he
caused search to be instituted for them,
aud after q considerable time they were
found to be In the possession OF o member OF
the House, who turned them over to Mr. Hale,
and he paced them In the hands OF the editor
of the New York Tribune, to whom the coun-
try is indebted for their translation aud the
exposure OF the mGst corrupt conspiracy ever
organized to control the high office OF the
President of the United ,ates.
A few nights since reception was given by
Judge-Advocste Generai Dunn Mckee to eI-
Senator Lot NJ. Morrill,, which was largely at
tended BY ex-Senators who had served with
him, and fully one-half Of the present men,
bers OF the United States Senate, together with