The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-22
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Political Puzzles.

fleeing from the State, and taking
refuge with number of fellow
agriculturists at Washington, where
he listened attentively to addresses
on farming. The Governor, after ten
years of persistent and untiring eff
forts to reach the executive mansion,
has discovered that instead of a bed
of roses it is one of thorns. Governor
Hamilton's first years experience
of the executive office consisted of
continual Political warfare with other
branches of the Democratic family.
To day, twelve months after his in
auguration, he has not that great and
innumerable host of friends that
cheered him on his triumphal entry
to the State House, and such warm
friends as he has are uncertain which
way to turn and what to do to secure
political ascendancy in the State.
When he went into office he stood
independent of all political alliances.
His nomination was demanded by
the Democratic masses, and he knew
that he was under obligations to no
faction of the party, which at that
time was divided into two great d.
visions, known respectively as the
White and German wings. Both
looked up to him to see whether he
would ally himself with one or as
sist the other. While one division
was trading away his offices, the
other prayed that he might deliver
them from the hands of their enc
mics. Governor Hamilton declined
to take part in the preliminary
shirmish declined to say whether
he sympathized with one or the other
of the senat orial candidates that were
fighting their battles On the eve of
his Inauguration, creating the i'm
preston that he did not care "a con-
tinel' who carried off the prize. He
has since paid dearly for this indiffer-
ence. The victors laughed him to
scorn, and the qanquished felt ems
Uttered at his non action. No sooner
had he entered upon the duties of
his office than the triumphant wing
OF the party, fresh from their field of
conquest, determined that they
would carry legislation in their own
way, without regard to the wishes of
the Executive. His messages recon-
mending certain reforms of abuses
in the administration of the State
government were treated goodnatur.
edly, but AS h ICE jokes. Some pitied
him, while others ridiculed him, out
meme of the dominant wing of his
party supported him. In his long
continued contest with the managers
the Governor was compelled to fall
back for aid in the struggle upon
those men to whose prayers, in the
preliminary skirmish for the sena-
tOiohiP, HC Hnu lulHcu uS0l 6dI.
They, in their zeal to crush what
they considered the overbearing AFRO
gance of the dominant wing, forgot
the treatment to which they had
been subjected, and, united with the
few of the Governors supporters and
the mass of Republican members.
succeeded in forming formidable
combination against the managers.
In the campaign that is now ap-
preaching, and which will be upon
us in few weeks, the Governor pro.
poses to keep up the warfare against
his political foes. The question that
now presents itself to him, to his sup
porters. as well as to the interested
loOkers-0n of the interesting struggle,
is, "who are his followers ?" Can he
number among them all those Dem
ocrats who supported his policy at
the last session of the legislature. or
is his support confined to those who
were known as original Hamilton
men? His opponents--the very
men, who with their friends, profited
by the Governors inactivity during
the senatorial fight-answer that it is
folly for him to expect assistance
from the men whom he refused to
succer when they were in need Of
help. Therefore, they say, where are
the Governors followers? Certainly,
they are not among the friends of
Senator Whyte, for the Governor
did not move the eight of his finger
to assist the Senator's reelection,
when he could have done it without
any difficulty. at was Governor
Hamilton who defeated Senator
Whyte last winter" said one of the
leaders of the Democratic party
few days ago, ''and Governor Ham
ilton ought not to expect aid from
that quarter next fall. A word from
him would have changed the aspect
of affairs on the senatorship at
Annapolis. yet he was as silent as
the Sphynx. 1t is now. of course,
all very we'll for him to think that
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