The Portland daily press., 1880-03-11
NY. Tribune.
The Convention of the Four Cover

In Europe the battle of the Three Emperors
will always be historically renowned. The
prize at stake was the fate of great nations, the
destiny of empires, the conquest of acontinent.
Napoleon, Alexander and Francis knew pre-
cisely what they were struggling for, though
they fought on the field of Austerlitz under an
other pretext. Battle was waged on small
question. The large one was concealed.
The Convention of the Four Governors
shortly to assemble ON the memorable field of
Worcester is presumptively struggle for the
Presidency, and, unlike Austerlitz, the big is
sue is put forward, and the little one which
controls is held back. The little one is the
Vice-P Presidency, and each Of the -Four Cover
nors-or "his friends" as the modern and mod
est euphuism puts it-thinks that if the Presi-
dency can be safely bestowed in the West, the
ice-Presdency must inevitably come to the
East, and may strike Massachusetts,. At any
rate, not one of the Four Governors will be
caught without his little dish right side up in
case it should rain porridge. Hence Grant is
the watchword of the Four Goyernors-or
''their friends" Any other Western President
would do just as we'll, but they are afraid that
neither Washburne nor Sherman stands on ice
thick enough and strong enough to resist the
impending thaw And Western President
it must be, or the Four Governors can never
stand like graceful Caryatides poised in patient
waiting.
1t is curious to see how the Four Governors,
or their friends, feel sure, each for himself,
that he must be the lucky V.-P. Bullock is in
dispensable, because he alone can supply the
rf,y,oo oIo of iusl II (afo
which is so sorely "felt want among the
natural supporters of Grant. Boutwell, on the
other hand, is the perfect flower, the absolute
type of Grantism; served under Grant, believes
in him, advocates him, and is the one man
who has developed the Vice-Presden.ial fever
in Massachusetts, which, more than any Ma
tional strait, makes Grant necessity. Indeed,
Boutwell, may be said to be the positive and
Bullock the negative pole of the Massachusetts
Third-Term magnet. But here the friends
of Clahln rise to explain that the combined and
powerful support of the Methodist Church can
be rendered ten-fold warmer and stronger by
the magic of his name; and who has ever
known the Methodist Church Militant to be
beaten in Republican Convention2 Last
comes Rice, the affable, the bland, the elo-
quent annointed with the very beaten oil of
Civil Service publication that makes Bullock
fragrant, fervid with the Grant devotion that
makes Boutwell, strong, guiding his radiant
pathway with method better than Claflin's
ness all his own-Rice gathers ito his heart and
represents in himself all sects and all denomi-
nations. OF the Four Governors-speaking af-
ter the manner of men-the booksellers will
give you odds on Rice.
The Vice Presidency is a commanding posi-
tioD-o power and influence worthy to incite
the ambition of four Massachusetts Governors
all in row. To be sure, New England might,
ii she were cordial, united and wise in this her
day, if not her last day, secure the Presidency.
Said a saucy Western delegate to an august
Massachusetts, delegate at the Cincinnati Con-
vention: '"The West gives New England
chance for the President, chance she won't
give you again for a hundred years. And we
give it to you, now, not because we like you
but because we like the MANI But what would
Maine President count in the scale against a
Massachusetts, Vice President? On the eve of
that same Cincinnati Convention Edward Ev-
erett Hale pointed out how New England by
the folly and fatality of division, lost her
chance for political power, and he strongly
urged Massachusetts to unite with Maine.
Perhaps, however, four years of time and stu
dlous reflection may have convinced even the
sturdy sense of Mr. Hale that no political hon.
or of New England can offset the glory of four
Massachusetts, Governors standing in line
ready to compete for the splendid prize of
playing Moderator to the Senate of the United
States
And when the needed muscle is moderation,
Massachusetts, is pretty sure 10 win.
AT New Orleans, yesterday. L. d. Fletcher,
mart owner and Wm Raw o,etar of tba