The Portland daily press., 1881-01-05
The SenatOrshiD.

Public attention is just now very largely
engrossed by the contest going on at Au-
gusta for the United States Senatorship.
Our representation in the national coun-
ellis is matter of concern to every citizen.
For many years Maine has had an exception
ally strong delegation at Washington and
has exercised an influence in the Nation en-
tirely disproportionate to her size. This is
much to our advantage and it behooves us
to see to it that we abate not our strong po.
sition so long as we have able and practiced
men to fill the congressional chairs.
The present contest seems narrowed to
Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Frye, and of the personal
fitness of either to discharge the duties of
this great office there can be no doubt. Mr..
Frye has long been leading member of the
National House where his experience and
ability give him recognized position. His
elcquence as a political speaker is we'll
known. All this is also true of Mr. Hale.
The esteem in which he is held by those
who from opportunity are most competent
to form an accurate judgment is attested
by the fact that when Mr.. Blaine
left the House to enter the Senate
the Republican leadership devolved at once
upon Mr.. Hale, who divided the response
bilities of the position only with Gen. Gar
field, although Mr.. Frye was member of
the same body. Here Mr.. Hale at once at
tanned great and national reputation as a
fearless and ready debater and the most ac-
complished pariamentarian in the House.
Furthermore he was solicited by two sue
cessive administrations-by President Grant
and President Hayes to accept seat in
the Cabinet.
While the fitness of the two candidates
must be conceded on all hands, there are
other considerations which address them
selves to the attention of all thoughtful
men. The Greenback delusion, which was
in good part the outgrowth of severe and
long continued business depression, took
deeper root in the eastern section of the
State than in the western. The result is
that we have no Republican member of the
House of Representatives east of the third
district, and if Mr.. Frye takes the place of
Mr.. Hamlin in the Senate, there will be no
Republican representation in Congress from
the whole region east of the Kennebec River
This is not just nor polite. 1t is particularly
desirable to build up and strengthen the Re-
publican party in that section and thus res
cue the State from future danger of Fusion
control. This is a matter of deep concern
to those of us who regard Republican as
cendancy as conducive to the public well
fare. Mr. Frye is already useful and in
fuential member of our delegation in Con-
gress; he has the best chance to be Speaker,
and, if not, he is certain to be chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee and one of
the trustedleaders of House not too strong
and which cannot afford to be weakened
and this, too, at time when the Nation is
looking to it's Republican House of Repre-
sentatives to take the lead in great matters
of legislation. If he were now removed to
the Senate his usefulness to the State
would be lessened rather than increased on
the questions of tariff and other business
topics with which both he and Mr.. Hale are
so well fitted to cope. If Mr.. Hale sue
ceeds Mr.. Hamlin it will not only be prop
er recognition of his high abilities and the
valuable services he rendered to the State
last Winter, but will give us the large ad-
vantage of the presence and power in Con
gress of both these distinguished men, and
the influence of Maine on national affairs
will thus be fully preserved.
The choice of Senator is not one of mere
personal preference or prejudice. The rea-
sons potent with gentlemen upon whom rests
the responsibility of deciding should be
broader than mere personal desire. Their
decision should be such as will commend
itself to their cooler judgment after the ex-
citement which attends such an event has
passed away. Undoubtedly they will re-
ceve much advice from people who may
take different sides of the question; but af
ter all they must decide for themselves what
course will best promote the interests of the
State aud Nation. The responsibility is
theirs to take without fear or favor the
course which their deliberate judgment, in
face of all the circumstances, shall dictate.