The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-07
THE MAN WHO BEAT HALE.
rvRCH. THE STONECrfTER! ms views,
,tRIER, AND 4TT.fINMENTS.

r.ri,u.iy Typical Anne erican-Inves
,.e Cause. of the sudden Whiri,yind that
s,..,, over Nnino and Smashed King.
pncK1ANp Ne. Oct The granite eagle
ua, j. pcrchcd over the main entrance OF the
Nov York Post Onlcc was cut from the rough
,o,t by a sionccuttcr. who will be sworn In as
,bs successor ol Eugene Hale in the next Con-
,,css Ills name IL Thompson II. Murch. 1t is
,he work OF an experienced workman to cut an
eagle from the granite that abounds in tho
Naine islnnds; hut to Mr. Murch. as he admits.
uwould have seemed easier year ago for Il
ere,u hand to take up the hammer and
stool and fashion tha, bird than for any ono
n, those stonrcuttcrs to defeat Eugene Hale.
Vet Mfr. Murch did defeat him by plurality of
totz he received the official figures last night
Two years ago Mr. Hale's majority was more
than 5000. Every one in Maine who does not
know him. is asking to-day who this stonccut-
,tr Is; and It has occurred to tho Republican
polnicians that there must be some very potent
auae Of the whirlwnd that. In one Of tho
strongest Repull can districts in the country,
blew a party chief ont and carried a mechanic
In. CONGRESSMAN Frye is said to have re-
marked whom he saw the returns: " No insig-
nia,an, man could have overcome IIales major
Nv IN that district for it is one Of the most in
lelligont and moral In the country
MI Murch finds himsclf-much to his embar-
fassment-a popular loader. In Portland the
p,her night 900 persons were packed into the
great city Hall TO- see and hear him. and when
h. came upon the platform the like OF the
,hocrs that greeted him had never before been
heard In that place Of political gatherings.
sven in Blanes ralm.osi days.
What does all this mean 2" the writer asked
b an intelligent Republican who was IN the
hall Are there 30 many greenback men in
POrtland2"
Not at all. Il Is because Murch Is looked
upon IA the man who broke the Blaine Hale.
and Hamln Ring; and II he has got anything
" him and isn't spoiled by this sudden and
Intense poi ularlty h has a great future before
him. There are thousands ~ Republicans who
lrc oyerIoyel At the overthrow Of this Ring"
Whom Mur'h was nominated for Congress he
WAS characto rizil rs uu ignorant. bull-headed
uonecuucr and man devoid of every spark
ot patriotism ami every moral principle Re-
publican journal spoke Of him rs wild-cycd
Communist H. was said to have boasted that
"he lil not owl - cent In tho world nor an inch
Of land" The report was widely circulated
throughout Bis district md thence all over the
roun'rs that D., ,ul neither read nor write.
Public sp.ah r. 81. d that 1t would be better
Tor man vi, .iu property to throw 1t into
ne sea than oYQt. OrMureh.' He is the can
diiaie Of chno- nni the apostle Of anarchy -
: He believes IN r.ual distribution of property.
By fair means or ul." The Lewiston Journal
said that his election gave good reason to doubt
H. soundnf-- = our political system. and he
was -ugmHti1'd as an inlntionist. rcpudiator.
And idle yagabund. These charges were 50 cir
cumsnniialiy made and SO earnestly pressed
that they were widely believed. and to-day.
Judging from tho letters that Mr.. Murch the
Maine politicians. and tho journal ats here
daily receive irhuring about him. there il n
settled belief over the 'ouLtry tha, Halr'- dis
trl't has elected o. Congress the rankest kind
Of o Communist.
Hamln Hale Blaine. and several OF tho Re-
publican lead rs. met day or two after the
Election. ami W .nt into the matter thoroughly
Hale said tnat IL wgs the greenback craze. and
would blow over"
Yes" rad Hamlln. but what made the
groenhack cra2' possible p
II Hamlin. Blaine. and all others interested
would 20 through the district. and ask every
voter they met for an explanation. and then
average tue answers the cause would be nppa-
rent This the writer has done for a week. ana
be ha. not only learned why Mr. Murrh was
elected. but also the story of his remarkable
If the estimation in which he is held and
h1oyo all the truth IL regard to his character.
A. for his position and views. these he himself
freely Gnl fully gives. rs will be seen below.
tn mpson II. Murch WAS born in the spring
pi ISIS and Is now Il few months more than 40
years old. His native town is Hampden. a
pretty village on the banks of the Penohscot n
tw miles below Bangor. Here also Hannibal
hamhh was born. ana was Just beginning his
poliHWl lie wien Young Murch WAS learning
/
" reuu'" that Inmlln had gained In these
gN- ~ mighty cute young man" The boy
w. u' youngest OF six children His father
u 's'rlh'l t' th" writer rs n big-brained
hhl ues'r hearted sea captain who never re-
ln;t,i! wsaIin. ii. was Dart ris owner ' IN IN.
VI ~. Hnu -iil"i ln ier over m" world. H. died
a. -"h when thr Youngest child, Thompson. was
~ '1'Fit Hni i"lt 30" vile ana mother with 'he
~ ,allrh % lr.ns up. She had IL struggle
a. uI u. lNHD.l lrr .hildrrn had good school
hilln s"s Will tlrir father was LIVING Ho
u.'l D. Ni}- it- 30 .i ui Ju mat. Tho So ~ wcrk
MAJ %" iIoi amt h.forr the now- oi MS drnih
r"'N'i lN"m. ~" hn'nc wis burned t. tho
H uhi iil tn,t iDst every thing that WIS per
l.i.i" iu. l- w1- carried nom the
h.lu'nf hnu-. .n il- uYth.rs arms. Then
c " ,i". 3" ~ r'hlnhs the money for
nHi' uut 'i.- interest 10 th. ship, and when th"
n il'r r.U.r- vnuId Doe oh'tin"n she SGT
.''H i'N th q" ring ui' tine lumiiy. She
/ Iiit-. am I--.ld Co., nr ouU of fnos,r r.So-
t''',' ,!'HN- iu'l with rlrIr SONS and to
W.T.. NHf'N NJ 'hnNHledgrs dcU tlnt
Il 'N h'"i l'I. IS e. cfr" of sterling stock.
a., WE H." li lur COUNCILS oi oi4'',
a. wa I.t .r lD'r" oI yours member
was In.mi SOUS .rcat ambition a- q boy TO
u TO- hs lH.l'r7 lu'l 10 $50 aud " become
~, @ lh,-i o." -'ip. II" wUulei to,'o t, 5"a
h'A nul h7 n'H."r W'uil not sufler It until
Z D." "t- t'l .u t.r village schools until
,., , n"sry = ar, o. a4', rcmember
na''. now u6lu- ln H.mi.ion. "Hnd when /
s,,i, y'l, W.. ,"a7 lHuintt"u l"r Congress wasn't