The Portland daily press., 1882-08-18
Closing the Ranks.

Much hope has been INDUCED Dy inc fu-
sionists. based upon possible dissatisfac ton
of Republicans who have tailed TO obtain
nominations in the various county conven-
tions which have been held. From the best
information we have we feel assured that
this hope is uttely without foundation in
the feelings of any of the disappointed, or
Of their friends. When party has every
prospect of success, as has the Republican
party in the approaching election, its NOM
nations are always contended for with more
or less energy and zeal. The lively contests
in the Republican conventions, with results
necessarily different from the wishes OF some
of the candidates for nomination, have been
watched with interest from the camps OF
our opponents. AS soon as convention is
adjourned, Republicans who have failed to
obtain nominations which they sought, have
been approached by fuglers of the Fusion
lists and piled with all sorts of propositions
in the endeavor to lead them to say some
word, or to agree to do some act, which
shall be of benefit to some one of the candi-
dates upon the Fusion ticket.
We doubt if there has been single in
stance of Republican who has sought for
nomination this year and has failed to OBJ
tain it, but that in some way some person
representing the Fusion organization, with
more or less tact and delicacy as the case
may be, has approached him in the hope OF
obtaining something which shall carry aid
and comfort to our opponents. We are very
positive that thus far the enemy have failed
to secure any such comfort. This is as it
should be. No honorable man will become
a candidate for any position, and allow his
friends to present his name to any conven-
ton without abiding cheerfully by the result
of that convention, and if it should happen
that he fails to obtain the nomination an
honorable man will give to his successful
competitor the same cordial support that he
would have hoped from such competitor if
the cases had been reversed.
Some of the Fusionists have professed to
feel confident that Mr.. Thomas would not
give his cordial support to the Republican
ticket this year. No one who knows Mr..
1AOAIdc Atio hdu duy QOopg oudo iiO P" oUiN
support the ticket with his usual enthusi-
asm. The canvass for the Republican nom
| ination was peculiarly good-natured, and
Mr.. Thomas frequently assured both those
who supported and those who opposed his
nomination that he submitted his name in
| good faith to the convention with the inten-
ton of abiding by it's result, and of giving to
Col. Robie-his competitor-if nominated,
the same support he should desire and ex-
pect from Col. Robbie in the event of his own
nomination.
Mr.. Thomas is to preside at the opening
meeting of the campaign in this city tonight
and in this way gives to every man in the
| State the assurance, which no man who
knew him needed, that he will do every
thing he properly can to secure Republican
success; and no friends of his, we have the
best authority for stating, with his knowl-
edge and consent, will abate any of the en-
thusiasm in the support of Col. Robbie that
| they would have accorded to Mr.. Thomas if
the situation had been reversed.
As was to be expected, there was in our
County Convention lively contest for nom
nations for certain positions, notably those
of Sheriff and Register of Deeds; and in both
| of these cases, agents of the Fusionists in
The interest of the Fusion candidates for
| these positions, have been and are busily ex-
| erting themselves to profit at the expense of
the Republican party, through the natural
disappointment of men who would have
been glad to have been nominated for those
| positions; but we are happy to say that in
both these cases, too, they are doomed to
| disappointment. The men aspiring to nom
| nations to both these places were honora
| BILE gentlemen who went into the Convention
| in good faith determined to abide by its re-
suit. In the case of Register of Deeds, Mr..
| Stevens, the present admirable Register, was
a candidate for denomination. and had the
warm and cordial support of his personal
friends, and of many active Republicans;
but like every other candidate for renomina-
ton for that position he failed to obtain it.
| We have in this case also information upon
the best authority that he realizes the fact
| that his fate has been similar to that of ev-
| cry other candidate who has aspired to re-
nomination to that position, and that, CRATE
| full for the office which for the past few
| years he has held through the support OF
the Republican party, he will give to his
successful competitor the same support
which Mr.. Cram gave to him when he was
| nominated few years ago, and which Mr..
Cram would have cheerfully given to MIR.
Stevens if the situation had been reversed.
1t would seem as if the Fusionists, after
SO many unsuccessful efforts to breed dis
sessions among our most trusted Republi-
can workers, would give up that kind OF
warfare. But the campaign of our oppo-
nents this year seems to be a guerilla one.
They fight shy of issues and principles. They
resort to the weakest and petit est measures
which can suggest themselves to desper-
ate and disorganized faction.