The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-11
Boston Journal.l

AUGUSTA, Me-, Aug. !, 1878.
1t is my experience that tho trusted mama
gers of political party will not take into
their confidence men whom they know are
hostile to them and their organization. 1t
matters not IL the individual assumes the role
Of Independence in an intense campaign like
that now going on in Maine, he will, however
honest in his intentions, naturally gravitate
toward the party which he would prefer to
see victorious He finds himself, If corrs-
spondent, making the best Of the prospects Oh
that party and discounting those Of the oppo-
sition. If he does not, others do detect his
proneness to partisan coloring. He naturally
gravitates toward those with whom he Is In
sympathy, and if he seeks information con-
cerning the prospects of the other side, he Ii
sure to 60 to the sorehead or the dyspeptic-
am free to confess at the outset that
could not obtain information of the Dems-
cratic Greenback combination. On the other
hand, several years acquaintance with mostof
the Republican leaders in every county OF the
State, and familiarity with them during pro-
vious campaigns, has given me excellent IA
cilities for ascertaining the hopes, the feelings
and the nature of the work being done by the
Republicans.
THE REPUBLICAN, OUTLOOK.
During the past week have seen represen-
tative Republicans from two-thirds OF the
counties in Maine. From them have derived
information of confidential nature. If the
outlook was no better than last year they would
have told me so. 1t is generally better than
last year, and is rapidly improving, not in one
locality, but in all sections of the State. did
notlmeet an active Republican who did not ex-
press the opinion that Daniel F. Davis will bs
elected by the people. ! saw many who at the
State Convention sadly shook their heads when
confidentially questioned as to the ability OF
the Republicans to elect their candidate for
Governor by the people. A month later, the
date of my present tour, these same mon are
either exceedingly hopeful or entirely conn.
dent. I asked one man in Portland, who,
while a rare organizer, and well informed, is
always the reverse of sanguine, why it was he
was so confident Just now. Because" said
he, "every report from the country Is favor
able. Our people are at work as have not
known them to be since 1850 or 1854 Letters
every day report accessions to the Republicans
from the Greenback ranks" One member Of
the State Committee said he had received lists
of those who voted the Greenback ticket last
year, who have agreed to vote the Republican
ticket this year. These lists, should the same
change obtain throughout the State, would
wipe out half the amalgamation majority last
year. Most men are quiet when they change
back, but there are not few who have boldly
renounced the Greenback heresy. In several
instances such converts are the presidents OF
Republican clubs.
In the thriving village of Richmond, for ir-
stance, the presiding officer in the kepuohcan
meeting a few evenings since was the proprie-
tor of the shoe shop and man of influence,
who gave his support to the Greenback ticket
last wear because he had been led to believe
that specie resumption would be attended with
financial disaster and business desolation. He
that business has revived and is still improy-
ing. AS a business man, there is but one thing
for him to do, and that is to sustain specie pay
ments by voting and working for the Republic
can ticket. There are great many such cases
as this that will not be heard Of until the votes
are counted. A Portland Republican said that
last year he went into the Greenback County
Convention and was surprised to see there
careful farmer who had always been Repub-
lican. He was full of the heresy. A few days
since he saw the same man in town. "How's
your Greenbackism?" said the city man. Inc
farmer stopped: "See here, s." said he. II
you can just as well not refer to that 1 should
like it. In fifty years I've done some silly
things, but that Greenback spell was Vas the en near
vote the Republican ticket / can't endure
the way that Democratic Congress is going on.
The Southern question lets me out Of the
Greenback wilderness, as it viii lots Of
others"
INDICATIONS AMONG THE oREENBAcKs.
There are indications that the Greenbackef
is not happy. The leaders look troubled.
Their meetings are not as rule well attended,
Their great Bangor meeting last week was
failure. Within few weeks the street corner
statesman has ceased to teach finance and the
men who travelled about the streets running
at the mouth are now silent. Something mas