The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-05-18
The Coming Convention and Candidates.

1t is well understood that the convention
which meets in Portland on the 18th of next
month is to nominate candidate for Governor
and four candidates for Congress, and that
neither the newspapers nor the politicians are
to do its work in advance. 1t is to be peoples
as well as a Republican convention. The call
takes broad and patriotic ground upon vital
public questions, and declares a policy which
must commend itself to all save those blinded
by party prejudice. 1t provides for fusion of
an honest and patriotic kind. 1t opens the door
for those who have been misled by financial
heresies to return to the party of honest money,
the party which stands for a free ballot and an
honest count, the party of temperance, of pro-
lection to American labor and industries. and
of an economical, Just, and efficient admins
| tration of public affairs" All who believe in
| the principles thus outlined are invited to par
ticipate in the election of delegates to the con-
ventiOn which is to name the next Governor
and four members of Congress. There is no
lack of candidates of the right sort. and the con-
vention will fail to meet public expectation if,
out of the abundant material. it does not select
the very best. With such candidates success
is assured. We want no more Garcelons or
Plaisteds in the Gubernatoria chair: no more
Congressman of the Ladd and Murch type. The
State must be redeemed, the State steal of
Garcelon and the attempted usurpations Of
Plaisted rebuked.
The importance of the coming convention, in
view of what depends upon its action, can hard
ly be overestimated, and this we are glad to be
lieve is generally recognized. There is a dispo-
sition in every quarter to exercise unusual care
i'll selecting delegates, to forego "claims and
make personal sacrifices if necessary. and to re
frain from pledges which many conflict with
party interests. Meanwhile, it is we'll that those
who aspire to nominations should make them
selves known, that their availability may be con
sidcred and their fitness discussed. Thus far
but two candidates for the Gubernatorial nomi-
nation are prominently before the people
Hon. w. W. Thomas. Jr.. of Portland, and Col.
Fred. Robbie. of Gorham. We print on the first
page an article from the Portland Press, giving
sketches of the career and public services Of the
two men, either of whom, it is perhaps needless
to say. would grace the Governors chair. From
present indications one of them will receive the
nomination, although it is possible that their sup
porters may be so nearly equal in number As to
produce a deadlock. bringing Il dark horse TO
the front.
With regard to two of the four Congressional
nominations. there does not appear to be the
slightest difference of opinion in any quarter,
Mr.. Reed and Mr.. Dingley will undoubtedly be
nominated unanimously. The whole state re-
cogniZes their personal worth. ability. and use
fulness. The Portland Press, kennebec Jour
nal and other papers have conceded TO Capt.
c. 4. Boutelle, of Bangor the third place on
the ticket. The former paper recount, his SER
| vices in behalf of the Union and of the Repub-
lcan party, and truly says that che i an able,
earnest, and positive man, good speaker. and
strong and ready writers" and the kennebec
Journal, after referring to Capt. BoUtelle's can
didacy against the Fu>ionists in 1850, says:
snow it is only Just and right that second
nomination should be given him." But one
| more name is needed to complete the list. The
| Portland Press says: As to the fourth place
on the ticket there seems to be much doubt.
| Mr. Millikcn, who was the candidate in the
Fifth district in 1880, is understood to have am
billions in another direction. Mr.. Lindsey has
not publicly indicated whether or not he will
| be candidate. Hon. T. X. Simonton. of Cam
| den, who had strong support in the Fifth Dis
trct Convention in 1880, and who is well known
as brilliant speaker. will be a candidate, and
| Hon. Francis W. Cobb. Of R0ckland. is favora-
bly, mentioned IN many quarters. The kcnne-
bee journal says that if Mr.. Blaine declines
nomination Mr.. Lindsey will be a candidate.
and speaks follows Of the aspirants mention
ed by the Press Mr.. Mlikcn is one of the
brightest men in the State. and would fill any
position with honor. Mr. Smonton. of Camden,
and Mr.. Cobb, of ROckland. are popular and
deserving gentlemen, either Of whom would be
an acceptable candidate" The Press is wrong
in stating that Mr.. Milliken has ''ambitions in
another direction. As announced in the jour
nal last week, he is Il candidate for Congress.
and presents strong claims to place on the
| ticket.
We take it the convention will cndeayor to be
Just toward the two sections of the State in
making the nominations. East Of the kcnnebec
river We have half Of the population Of the State
| and much more than half of its territory. II to
the west is conceded the candidates for Cover
| nor and two members Of Congress the Cony.n-
| ton will hardly deny the other two Congress
| ional candidates to the east The west has now
all the heads of departments at Augusta, except
| the small office Of Land Agent. 1t has the Pres
ident and Secretary of the Senate, the Speaker
and Clerk of the House, six of the eight Judges
and about three-fourths of all the State and
| a.,
| that section, in addition to all this, the Cover
nor and three Congressman. and leave but one
| Congressman to represent the east with its larger
| territory. majority of populatiOn and vast COM
mercial interests. would be 50 unequal and I'M
fair that the convention is not likely 10 entertain
| such a proposition. If Mr. Blaine enters the
field ii will necrs>itate, We should say. entire
| ly different distribution of candidates As it is
essential that all sections of the State should re-
ceiye proper recognition and equitable repre-
sentation on the ticket. Otherwise-and al
though without positive information on the
subject, we do not believe Mr.. Blaine will be IL
candidate-the convention. if it makes the nom
| nations above indicated. should give this sec
ton of the State two of the Congressional candi-
dates.
| We are sorry to see that the enmitps aroused
| by the hot-bed war between the editor of the
| Wateryille Mail and the Gardiner Home Jour
! nal still continue. This paper endeavored to
| play the part of pcace-maker, at the time, with
| the usual result of encountering the hostility of
both parties. Still, we had hoped the Mail and
| Home Journal would, ere this. have shaken
hands over the hot-bed; but the Mail of last
week says
II. X. Morrell. of the Gardiner Home Jour
| nal was at the Elmwood one day this week but
didn't venture to call at the Mail office.
The New York Herald says that Mr.. Wayne
McNeagh. who never weares of informing the
public how much better he is than his party.
| and bewailing the 'spoils system and the boss
| SYSTEM was engaged Just before the meeting
of the Pennsylvania Republican convention in
| dckering with Senator Cameron for "a nomi-
nation on the regular Republican ticket for his