The Republican journal., 1883-11-01
The Massachusetts Campaign.

AN EXCITING CAMPAIGN AND LARGE AND EN-
THUSIASTIC MEETINGS. THE REMARKABLE
ABILITY SHOWN BY MIR. ROBINSON, THE
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.
DEMOCRATIC DIVISIONS AND REPUBLICAN
DIVISIONS. BUFFERS PRESIDENTIAL PRO
JECTS. AN INTERVIEW WITH MIR. AMES. A
QUALIFIED PREDICTION AS TO THE RESULT.
Special Correspondence of the journal.
Boston, Oct. 80, 1888. To say that the cam
pagn in Massachusetts is warm one is hardly
to give adequate expression to what is the real
fact. All persons with whom have talked in
either party agree in the statement that it is the
most exciting campaign which has been wit
messed in this State since the year 1860. | can
endorse this statement as to the Republicans.
certainly. Never have | seen such large and
enthusiastic meetings as | have found here.
Everywhere the halls are filed to their utmost
capacity with earnest and Jealous listeners who
seem never to get enough of the arguments and
appeals of their speakers; and infer from the
reports that come to me that much the same is
true of the meetings of Gov. Butler.
Hon. Geo. ID. Robinson, the Republican can
didate for Governor, is especially what would
be called in theatre parlance card that draws
His audiences are simply enormous | had the
pleasure Of speaking with him at Milford few
evenings ago, and the people after filling the
large Opera House, overlooked into the town
hall and from that into the streets. Mr.. Robin
son is making one of the greatest campaigns
ever seen in Massachusetts,. The people of this
S ate seem hardly to have known him beyond
the limits of his Congressional District. and
everywhere find them surprised at the ability
and power he is showing. He is making substan-
TALLY new speech every day indeed, sometimes
making two or three new speeches each day,
and handling the issues of the campaign in a
way that astonishes both his friends and his OPP
ponents. He certainly is showing great ferti-
ity of resources, great skill in the management
of the debate that is really going on between
him and his opponent through the reporters
columns, manly courage and an impressive
eloquence that has been entirely unexpected
from him by either political party.
Whatever may be the result of this contest
whether it shall make George u. Robinson
Governor of Massachusetts or not. it will ele-
waite him to the foremost rank of the ablest and
most honored of her citizens and place prob
ably very brilliant future before him. One
thing is certainly very much in his favor as a
candidate and will give him hundreds of votes.
and that is. when he speaks YOU can see through
his speech an honest. earnest reliable man be-
hind it.
hat will be the event of this campaign is too
much for me to predict The Republican
outlook is that Robinson will be elected bv
handsome majority. But i DO not forget that
the Democrats express equal confidence in
their success and they seem to do il sincerely
Many elements must enter into any reason
ably wise estimate of the chances Of the two
candidates. There is il Democratic bolt from
Butler which is said to be backed and in
spired by leading Democrats in New York and
the west. notably in Ohio. There is also, Is is
we'll known, Republican element here. quite
a large one indeed, which sustaiis Butler and
is working very hard for him. Indeed it seems
to be the most active and aggressive section Of
his support. 1t is for Butler on personal
grounds and appears to care nothing for the
rest OF the ticket or the success of the Demo
cratic party. 1t is for Butler and the spoiIs
In this connection it may be said that the belief
very extensively pre-, ils here that Butler will
next year, take the nomination of Il labor
party and then call on the Democrats to endorse
him As their candidate for the Presidency.
giving them the alternative to do 80 or suffer
defeat, since his candidacy on Il third ticket
would draw Very largely from the Democratic
ranks. Indeed his followers now consist very
largely of the foreign voters who have ALWAYS
voted with the Democracy. OF the native
voters of Massachusetts he will have but Il
small minority.
had the pleasure yesterday of meeting Mr..
Ames. the Republican candidate for Lieut.
Governor. He is son of Mr. Cakes Ames.
famous for his great shovel manutactorv and
his connection with the building of the first rail
road across the Continent to the Pacific and
who, an honest, enterpriSing, public spirited
man, was shamcfully abused in connection with
the Credit Mobiler. Mr.. AmeS told me he
was Il cousin of the late Cakes Angler of Bel
fast. He is certainly IA fine kind hearted, genial
gentleman, of large business ability, though he
may not receive the vote of those independents
Of sublimated virtue whom Butler not I'M
justly styles political dudes. However he is
quite as likely to be elected As any candidate on
the Republican ticket
Without doubt we shall have ii very warm
campaign this week, and to the end of the con-
test. predict Robnson's election. but not
with entire confidence. That he will receive
large majority of the intelligent vote of the
State is certain But Butler SAYS that there is
great illiteracy in Massachusetts. ana if he is
correct she may re-elect him to be her chief
magistrate NJ