The New York herald., 1879-07-14
Maine Politics.


no less than Senators Blaine and Hamlin,
who are regarded as anti administration
men, is anxious about the State. The po-
litical situation in Maine, indeed, is such
as to give reason for anxiety 10 the republl-
cans These have held the State for num-
Der of years by small but safe majority.
Suddenly last year this was changed
by the appearance of formidable
greenback vote, which succeeded In
electing two members of Congress and
left the three republican members elect
only plurality of votes in each OF their
districts. In the Fourth district the demo-
Gratis and greenbackers united and elected
Ladd, cutting down the republican vote OF
II, S66 in 1876 to 10, 095. In the Fifth dis
trlct Hale's vote. which was 15, ,OS9 in 1876.
was cut down to 9,911 last year, and
Murch, green hacker, defeated him, in spite
OF the tact that 2,177 democrats stood out
and voted their own ticket, the remainder
combining with the greenback nationals.
If the democrats and greenbackers had
combined in the other three districts they
would have carried them ALL and it is evil
dent that if they could unite this year they
could sweep the State, which gave Mr..
Hayes over 10000 majority in 1876.
1t is said that the greenback and ma
tional movement, which has become SO for
midable in Maine, has its origin and
strength largely in a dissatisfaction with the
management of the republican leaders in
the State, which has been growing for
Of
Maine republicans have complained for
good while that the party machine was
used to advance the political fortunes OF a
set of men known as the friends of Senator
Hamlin, and that Mr.. Hamlin's rule was of
that vigorous and rigorous kind which made
submission to his will and plans the sole
avenue to public career. He makes
and unmakes men all over the State-this
was the burden of the complaint; he rules
with despotic sway he will tolerate no
breath OF opposition to his commands; and
while his rule for many years kept the
party together and insured UNMARRIED sue
cess in a very ''close" State, the mischief of
this one-man rule is that it develops an in
creasing opposition from the men of a new
generation, who see themselves deprived of
what they regard as their just influence and
share of power.
This is the theory of Maine politics ad-
vanced by discontented republicans, and
these add that while Senator Blaine has
held his own by submitting to the
Hamlin domination he has shrewdly
taken care not to involve himself too
far with Mr.. Hamlin's machine, but
has maintained the position toward that of
a beneficiary rather than a copartner He
is, Maine republicans say, an independent
parsonage in the State, too powerful to
tempt Senator Hamlin's opposition and too
shrewd to be part of his machine" How
ever this may be the discomfort with the
management OF Senator Hamlin appears to
have grown until it last year defeated Mr..
Powers and Mr.. Eugene Hale, the latter Of
whom was understood to be Mr.. Hamlin' s
favorite, intended by him to be his sue
| cessor in the Senate. At the same time the
mnjorities of the other three republicans
were cut down to the vanishing point, and
the republicans were left in minority in
the Lower House of the Legislature and in
the joint meeting Of the two houses.
1t is, therefore, less political heresy
which faces the republicans in Maine than
discomfort in their own ranks. TO get back
the voters who have left them they need a
change in the policy and management Of
the party, and no doubt the substitution of
such men as Ex-Governor Chamberlain as
leaders would do much to cure the diff
Guilty. A large and very respectable body
of Maine republicans dislike the sectional
spirit and the opposition to the administra-
tion which have marlsad the course of
Senators Blaine and Hamlin. These Hayes
republicans last year forced Mr.. Blaine
to neutral position in the Conven-
tion, and Chamberlain's speech on Decora-
ton Day this year showed that he and
the republicans who agree with him are not
only opposed to Senator Blaine's anti
Southern crusade during the last session,
but are disposed to make their opposition
felt. The following words OF General Cham
berlan administered sharp rebuke to
senator Blaine, and seem to have been de-
signed as public notice that the ''bloody
shirt" is not to be raised in Maine this
year,
Is not folly is 1t not babyish weakness. to
plain that the States back again Congress. and
that they have sent there such representatives
they must naturally choose? We send best
minds 10 Congress- of course, to manage the vital
interests of our country. Why should they not send
their best minds? II, gentlemen did not want
the rebel generals there what did we remove their
disabilities for? II did not want the South to
have increased majority in the electoral vote
in Congress why did we not think of that when by
giving the enfranchsed slave the ballot, wc thereby
added TO the southern strength thirty electoral
and representative votes? Whoever did that should
not stultify himself by whining about it setting
up powwow over it. and trying to make the people
think that the great has settled something.
| Under these circumstances the determna-
ton of Secretary Sherman to speak in
Maine not only shows that he understands
what is needed there, but it is of great i'm
portance, because he will appear as q peace