Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-12
Presidential SpeculatiOns.

Presidential SpeculatiOnS.
Our telegraphic dispatches of yesterda.
mentioned the fact that a New York pape
would publish opinions and speculations from
various points in all the States and gave thu
following as its summary concerning Maine
Maine is reported as favoring Grant, will
a leaning for Blaine by the republicans, while
the democrats favor Tiden and the green
hackers Thurman.
This was both an error in fact and a mis-
representation of what the Times sale
in regard to Blaine and Grant. W.
copy from the Times the summary az it actu-
ally appears in the columns of that paper Al
to Maine; also the opinions of its Maine cor
respondents as we find them.
From the New York Times.
Maine. Public sentiment in Maine has not
vet been shaped and settled by serious thought
and discussion, but its drift is already appar-
ent in both political parties. The reaction
against the policy of the presest Administra-
ton sets in the direction of Gen. Grant. but
the local partiality for Senator Blaine
coupled with some dislike of the precedent of
third tcrm-incines majority of the re-
pnblicans of the State to favor his nomination.
The controlling elements of the democratic
party look upon Tilden as their strongest man
the name of Thurman is mentioned by the
greenback wing.
THE Opinions of Maine Correspondents of
the Times
BANGOR, Me-, April 5.-The democratic
masses follow the leaders almost implicitly.
,,,I hn, 20 oil ,,f
candidacy the masses being ready to shout and
work for any standard-bearer. The active
political wire-pulers of the democratic party
will control the Presidential nomination in
1880. and while there may be great changes
in the situation during the intervening year,
at the present time the chances are strongly
in favor of Tilden. 1t has been held here
from the first exposure of the cipher cOrrup-
ton that it would be likely to aid Tilden's re-
nomination: that the demonstration of two
facts-that Tilden did stand ready to expend
large sums of money for purposes
of corruption in 1876, and that he still has
ample means and disposition to use money
freely and unscrupuously in lSS0-would
commend him so strongly to the strikers who
run democratic conventions, as to enable him
to sweep aside less opulent candidates as he
did in 1876.
The dominant feeling among the republic
can leaders and masses is that the magnanim-
ity of the party has been shametully abused :;
that it has suffered from unjust carping with
in its own ranks, and that the spirit of hyper
criticism that has been tolerated has resulted
in putting the country practically at the mercy
of Confederate democracy. The desire as
to a candidate in 1889 is governed largely
by a determination that the mistake of Gin
cinnati shall not be repeated; and the weak
ness and vacillation of the present Admins
tration cause the republican leaders and mass
es to insist upon strong, positive candidate
in 1880. At this time President Grant and
Senator James G. Blaine are most prom-
ncntly in the public mind, and their popular
strength lies largely in their contrasts with
the accidental nominee of Cincinnati. The
Grant movement owes most of its strength to
the popular reaction against the weakness
and compromise that have reigned at the
White House since he left it, and to belief
that Grant could not be cajoled or inundated
by the arrogant solid South. The objection
to third term, however, will prove formdc =
Bile when it comes to actual nomination, and.
besides that. Senator Blaine is not only quite
as popular with the "stalwart' republicans,
but has qualities which commend him to those
who were not entirely pleased with Grants
administration. Senator Blaine is he strong
est man in the country at this time with the
republican leaders and the masses, and as the
issues are now shaping he would in every
way be the most powerful and satisfactory ex-
ponent of republican doctrines.