The Portland daily press., 1880-08-31
THE FUsIoNIsTs.
Why They Feel Despondent.

The Fusionists are feeling very much dis
couraged and demoralized. The action of the
Hon. E. Ell. Cove in gong over to the Republi-
can party, took from tie Greenback section of
the combination its head, and Mr.. S. A. Berry
of Deering, the Secretary of the Greenback
state committee, is acting at present not only
as Secretary, but as chairman also, and in
fact Mr. Berry seems to be the member of the
committee from all the counties, and is rnn-
ming the campaign pretty much to suit him
self. The two shows are now, at last, exhibit
ing under one roof, being established at the
Merchants Exchange, occupying rooms that
are connected by door, as well as having
separate entrances, and while Mr.. Berry and
his brother Greenbackers sit in one room and
talk over matters, Col. Lyman and his crowd
are in the other, the aged Democratic leader
making frequent calls to the adjoining room
to give his young Greenback brother the bene-
fit of his advice. The great trouble u.s. how
ever, the lack of confidence, not only between
Democrat and Greenbacker, but even more
generally between members of the Greenback
party. The fact that first Mr.. Cove and then
Mr.. Denison left the Fusion crowd, has quite
naturally raised the question of "who next?"
a question that almost every Greenbacker
seems ready to ask, but a question that no one
cares to answer, for. as Col. Lyman is reported
as saying last evening, anyone may co. even
the New Era-Leader. There is hardly
Greenbacker but that will say, if an honest
opinion can be got from him, that he believes
that very large number of those who, for the
I,
ticket, will this year go to the polls and deposit
Republican ticket. 1t is not so much those
who openly leave the party-al although the
party cannot afford to lose many men like A.
T. Denson and e. III. Gove-as those who will
have very considerable following, and Mr..
Denison is we'll and widely known as possess
ing great local influence; but men who vote,
and who talk the situation quietly over with
their neighbors, are the men who will be far
from unimportant factors in the sum total
election day.
Cap'n Chase is still another element of weak
ness. There is not the slightest doubt but
that the Cap'n has given literally in money
when Fogg has been the man to be helped-and
when ne could see that there was the prospect
of a ''vindication'' ahead; but while he has
given some money, he has placed a good deal
more of his time at the disposal of his political
associates than they have felt themselves enti-
tied to: 1t may, perhaps, be seen before the
campaign closes, how far the efforts of the
Cap'n have resulted in making the steal and
the ''vindication" of Garcelon and his Council
the issues OF the campaign. And, it will also
be seen that If he had been a little less indus
trious, the result might have been better for
his party. Not even Andrew johnson it is
said, was more careful saver of letters, dis
patches and memoranda than Cap'n Chase,
and his note books and letter books have help
ed immensely to make the state question the
one great issue of the campaign.
Another thing that is greatly troubling the
Fusionists is the Irish Republican movement
The Argus is indeed trying to make believe
that there is no strength to the movement, just
asst has been trying to prove that Mr.. Cove
was not power in his party, and just as it will
endeavor to show that Mr.. Denison is not a
man of influence, but when it is found neces-
sary to send Democratic committee to Boston
to endeavor to get Fitzgerald and Collins to
influence of the Irish Republicans, all such
talk seems absurd.
The presence of Gen. Weaver in the State
is adding to the discomfort of the Fusionists,
He came here from Washingtonhe ralded as the
anti-Fusion leader He is himself in most
Fusion, he will damage himself with the peo-
pie OF other States, if he opposes Fusion he
will disgust many here In short, the general
IS between the devil and the deep sea. - r.
has So one hope left, and that All these
speeches. without saying anpfh the lives Of the
gentsm uomp, nee 81 &c attempting to run the
Fusion 5afnpaisn anything but joyous one,
and after the 18th Of next month some orator,
say he of ''the rue, the cypress and the
deadly night shade' speeches, who is now do
ing service for Fogg, will be able to say in an
appropriate funeral address that if they had
not any special hope in death, they had
good deal OF very much needed resignation.