The Portland daily press., 1882-08-01
MAINE POLITICS.

The Game of Bluff-The Independent FL
Grounds of Republican Assurances,
Etc.
Correspondence of the Boston Journal.)
AUGUSTA, July 29.-The fusionists and
their sympathizers are laboring to convey the
! impression. both in and out of Maine, that the
Republican leaders are very dubious about the
outcome of the campaign. This is all mere
bluff, whether it comes from Representative
Murch or an Independent correspondent in
Washington. The Republicans are not de-
spondent, but, on the contrary, those who are
in the way to be best informed are not only
hopeful but confident of a Republican victory
in September "What mean by that state
ment," said the best-informed Republican in
the State, sis not that we are sure of success
without effort, for such is not the case; but
that if every man does his duty, as there is
every reason to believe he WILL we are certain
of a most satisfactory victory" As has before
been observed, the Republican organization is
perfect in all its details. Col. Dow, who is to
be credited with the planning and the execu-
tion of this organization, has given months of
painstaking effort to secure this result This
work has been done so well that Mr.. Dow
knows more of the political situation than any
man in the State. He gives no figures but is
exceedingly sanguine, though by no means an
enthusiast. He says that his reports from all
parts of the State are of the most hopeful char
acter Ho reports on the part of town COM
mittees the most prompt and satisfactory CO.
operation-something quite unusual in THU
busy season of the year.
THE INDEPENDENT FIAseo.
The so-called Independent movement was a
sad failure Only three persons, 1t is now
said took part in the conferences. The lead
ing spirit was Col. James M. Stone of Kenne-
bunk. Ten years ago he came within four
votes of being nominated for Congress Next
year he tried for Governor and came within
seven hundred votes of nomination. Then
he began to feel that he was the great unap-
preclated. Why it will never be known, for
Stone never rendered the party signal service.
He became wilmer in politics, aud later SO
desperate that he has been willing to be nomi-
mated by any little party of soreheads.
FUSION OBJECTIONS AND JEALoUsIEs
From nearly every part of the State come
reports of defections in the fusion ranks. In
Waldo county there is quite general dissatis-
faction on account of the extravaganza of fu-
sion management of countyhaffairs In Penob
scot the fusion county ticket is the worst ever
nominated. The names are very objectiona-
BILE. Moreover, Mr.. Eaton of Plymouth,
leading Democrat. has declared war upon Gov.
Plaisted and, as the phase here is, proposes
"to take off his coat to fight the most of the
fusion ticket. Another defeated candidate In
Penobscot is said to be on the war-path, at
tributing his defeat to Plaisteds interference.
In Oxford county there is soreness over the
county ticket On the train to-day, a lawyer
quite prominent in the counsels OF the Dsmoc-
racy five or six years ago in Cumberland
county took occasion to remark that Plaisted's
former friends would knife him to greater
extent than was deemed probable.
At Augusta l was shown private letter from
a former leading young Irish Democrat in
which he berated His Excellency in severe
terms and the Democracy generally He said
that he would not vote again for Plaisted, and
that he had had quite enough of that Democ-
racy which assumed that the Irish voters were
theirs. He remarked that after the Maine
election in 1880 the Democrats were SO sure of
success in the Presidential election that the
leaders got together and parceled out the Fed
eral offices, but forgot to give an Irish Ameri-
can place when they furnished huff the
Democratic votes in Portland In Augusta
former Fasionist, farmer in neighboring
town, went into the Office of Republican and
asked him to send his subscription to the Lew
iston journal, as he had stopped the Democrat
ic paper because he had concluded to vote the
Republican ticket. The jealousies in the Fus-
ion camp will result in Greenbackers cutting
Democratic nominees and vice versa. This will
extend to all tine nominees for Congress! In GER
tain quarters it is suspected that Gov. Plaisted
and his personal friends will try to sell out
Congressional and county Fusion candidates to
insure votes for himself and for candidates for
the. legislature in order to secure majority on
joint ballot, and thus make sure of the Sena-
torship.
TRAITORS IN THE CAMP.
The worst indications for the Fusionists is
that there are traitors in every county, who
deem it a good thing to give away all OF the
information they derive from headquarters. A
Republican in the Penobscot valley showed
me copies of all circulars and official letters
sent out by the Democratic-Gr -Greenbaek execu-
tive committee. One of these is in the form of
an autograph letter from individual members
of the committee to local leaders and town
committees. Among its statements was one to
the effect that the vote of 1882 will be 200 lar
ger than that of 1880, and that Gov. Plaisted
would get more than half of them. The same
writer put Scion Chase's vote at 00.and assert
ed that the number of disaffected Republicans
who would not vote for Robie is 5000. When
the Fusion managers are forced to resort to
such extraordinary statements as the above to
keep up the courage of the faithful, they must
be in desperate straits indeed. If they are
basing success upon such estimates as the
above they will be very much disappointed
about midnight the day of election.
NOTES.
One or two Democratic organs, with q
stupidity that is surprising have seen fit to
ridicule the attempt of Maine Republicans in
Congress to restore the duty of 20 per cent ad
valorem upon hay, which has, by decision Of
Circuit Court, been reduced to 10 per cent
on the ground that it is an manufactured
article. AS half the voters in Maine are
farmers who have hay to sell this sort of
criticism may prove costly.
The canvass of one Of the most important
counties in the State has just been completed.
1t has been made in the most careful manner.
1t indicates gain of 500 for the Republicans.
The vote of Solon Chase is an interesting
feature. If it reaches thousand it will de-
feat Gov Plaisted, on the supposition that the
vote of 1882 will be relatively the same as in
1880. Republicans put Chass's vote at 1000 as
the least and 1000 as tho highest estimate