The Portland daily press., 1882-08-19
Candidates Con trasted.
Some Talk About the Maine Campaign.

A Portland correspondent of the New York
Times writes to that journal as follows con-
corning the Maine campaign:
The candidates for the principal offices are
all i'll the field. The contest, of course, is be-
tween the Republican and the Fusion tickets.
Between these, personally considered it is but
just to say, there is no comparison; 1t is con-
trast Mr.. Frederick Robbie, the Republican
candidate for Governor, is a gentleman of in
telligence, of experience in public affairs, of
integrity, idely reputed, and of dignifed and
candid demeanor. Gov. Piaisted is too well
known to require description. He is dema-
gogue from birth, and therefore is not TO blame
for it. Unfortunately the election OF 1880 dem
onstrated that the State OF Maine was all too
fond of that species of thoroughbred, and the
great mission of this campaign is to determine
whether there has been reform OF sentiment
The Congressional tickets stand almost as wide
apart. Representatives Reed and Dngley
have distinction in national legislation as
well as in their State, in contrast with which
Representatives Ladd and Murch make miser-
able figures and yet the two latter expect to
lead the vote for the Fusion ticket. Without
venturiDg upon prediction, taking these Flu
sionists at their word, it proves from the start
that their cause is hopeless OF the other two
Republican candidates. Capt. Boutelle is a
man whose honesty his rankest foe comedies.
and whose ability and force the Fusianists des-
pse, for he excoriates them morcileSsly; and
Mr.. S. L. Milliken is very smart and popular
stump orator, who has several times been called
to New York and Ohio in trying contests
Both will make good members of Congress if
eecled. The two new candidates on The Flu
sion ticket are Mr.. Joseph Dane, relic of
Fillmore Whiggery, gentleman of respecta-
biity, national banker, hard-money Demo-
crat, and Mr.. Daniel III. Thing, respectable
farmer but vain and weak politician, who
jumped out of the Republican party in 1880 be-
cause he couldn't get the Office he coveted, ex-
pecting to carry Ills county with him, in which
he totally failed. Mr.. Dane was nominated to
appease the lid money, aristocratic Bourbon
ism of the Portland district, and Mr.. Thing to
stay treatened relapse of himself and his
class of soft-money Republicans, who would
probably have been glad of an exc Ise to get
back into the party they left in a huff and with
great expectations, which have turned out very
little realities.
All the men on tie Republican ticket, ex-
cept the candidate for Governor, we'll
known and able stump orators and lecturers,
capable of entertaining audiences of education
and intelligence. Col. Robbie is no less able
but he is less known beyond his OWE neighbor-
hood. He was last year electsd Master of the
State Grange, and is spoken of as fine lectuf-
er and leader in the field. On the other hand,
Fusionists have hardly respectable orator in
nomination. Gov. Pasted and Mr.. Ladd can
entertain small country audiences briefly and
upon local subjects. Mr.. Dane is respectable
taker, making no pretensions, and probably
will prove the most efficient stumper of the lot.
Mr.. Thing is plausible. but thin, and he is wise
TO coDfine his stump efforts to the anti-monopo-
ly hobby, reckless of the feelings of his brother
Dane, bank President and s'coupon-clipper.
The novel feature of this campaign is q
straight Greenback ticket headed by Scion
Chase for Governor, and full set of Congress
ional candidates, fully withdrawn from the Fu-
sion arrangement, and hating the Democrats
more than the Republicans. Scion Chase is
fho hau- aod oy.A
crossroads votere, and he is threatening Wig
orons campaign through his new paper, Taem-
Steers and on the platform. The Rev W. r.
Eaton, of Cape Elizabeth, one OF the candi-
dates for Congress on his ticket, will also take
an active part in favor of Greenbackism and
against fusion. After Chase, he is, perhaps,
the only one OF. the straight ticket whose merit
deserved notice; he is highly respected in this
community, where he is we'll known. vi
course it is impossible to tell what the effect
of this straight Gresnback movement will be,
but as it did not exist at the State Convention
two years ago it must be considered at an ele-
ment of generalization to the Fusionists Ev-
erv vote for Chase Eaton, and Company will
come from Plaisted, Murch, and Company.
AS an offset to this Greenback revolt from
Bourbonism, the Fusionists have persstently
announced an Independent temperance move
ment against Robe, and an Indep .ndent Re-
publican movement against the Republican
ticket in general. The temperance NOV ment
proved to be spook of the smokiest kind. Neal
Dow Joshua Nye, and the other chiefs of the
Prohibitionists got together and publicly pro-
claimed their satisfaction with the Republican
ticket, and that laid the ghost finally. One Of
the moving causes for this has been the treach-
cry which they allege against Gov. Plaisted,
for whom many of the Prohibitionists voted on
his assurance that he would enforce the law
better than Gov. Davis had Whenever the
Fusion authorities dominate county the law
is not enforced, and the offenders are as free
as though no prohibitory law existed. The tenn
perance people, therefore, return to their first
love, and love all the more earnestly.
Although the outlook is thus apparently
dattering for the Republican ticket, the path
10 victory will not be al. rosy; it has its thorny
places The worst phase yet discoverable is
lack of enthusiasm, which, / am informed
prevails in some counties. In order to win, the
Repubica MS must get out full vote. viii
thew do it? is the serious question. / met one
Republican worker who seems little despond-
ent on this account Asking him what is the
cause he replied: 1.-Two years time is too ling
between elections. We can't keep em up to
the work; it is hard to get em interested after
SO long vacation They get lukewarm.
"But doesn't it affect both sides?' He bright
aned no little. "Ah! there perhaps you've
hit upop the way out. The Fusionists are as
lnkewarm as our fellows. And know they are
not doing much. Nevertheless, this man gives
voice to feeling somewhat prevalent, that
men are careless of their political duties, and
that the "other fellows" are sJill-hunting in
stead of clustering, as is usual with them
Without detection in their own ranks, with
ont serious fault in candidates, without oppos-
ing candidates worthy of consideration, with
ont fear a united opposition as formerly,
and also without fear OF temperance diver
sion. vet the Republicans must put forth ev-
ery effort to win-and perhaps this feeling 10
the very thing needed to bring them up to the
mark.