The Portland daily press., 1883-08-02
The New Hampshire Contest.

The performance of the New Hampshire
Republicans is becoming iarcical-farceal
in its unwisdom, although perhaps tragca
In its effect. There has been no senatorial
contest in recent years where so many can
didates have been brought out only to be
killed. Up to Tuesday night the Republi-
cans had voted for 81 different men for
Senator with no choice and no prospect of
choice. The Republicans Of other States
look upon these inconsequential proceed
ings with amazement, and they are quite
unable to take the optimistic view to which
Senator Blair is reported to have given ex-
preston. According to him the contest has
been entirely good-natured and amiable, and
will not leave the Republican party in New
Hampshire divided or disintegrated" On
the contrary sit will tend rather to strength
en- the party by making the caucus much
stronger in the future" Perhaps these
were meant to be cheering words; but when
he went on to say ''There is not State in
the Union which is SO little controlled by
bosses, or in which there is SO small an
amount of log-rolling and pipe-laying as in
New Hampshire" he pretty nearly destroyed
all confidence in his judgement and candor.
Senator Blair pays no compliment to the
public Intelligence when he talks rubbish of
that sort. He only exposes himself.
The fact is that the contest is not good
natured, but ugly; that it is almost impossi-
BILE that the party should be united and en-
fhIsiasfic wbafavar tha issuo of tfa str,Ioola.
and that the whole business is scandalously
managed. 1t is not our province to appor-
sion the blame for the present state of af-
fairs, and in our judgement neither side can
monopolize it. If anybody is disposed to
find fault with the Republicans who would
not go into caucus, they exculpate themselves
~ reference to Mr.. Cbandler's course two
years ago IN refusing to abide by caucus de-
cision. He has no monopoly of the right Of
Independent action. But the serious diff
Guilty in the situation is not that the caucus
nominee was objected to but that the Repub-
licans of neither faction appear TO have any
serious desire to unite on any candidate.
Those who objected to and defeated Mr..
Rollins have never been able to agree upon
any one whom they will all support.
The figures of all the votes are not before
us but we believe those who call themselves
opponents of the machine have at no time
concentrated enough votes on any candidate
to secure bis election if all those whom they
class as machine men had joined them. So
far the contest appears to have been one Of
personal factions, and there is no considera-
Bile number of the whole body of Republican
legislators that appears to be willing to have
an election made which does not give their
particular set an advantage. We could I'M
derstand an issue between machine men and
anti-machine men but there is no well de.
fired issue of that kind in this case. The
men who call themselves opponents of the
machine have power to defeat, but they have
no tact to combine and elect. They are a
dlsorganizing element, but they do not have
power to organize themselves to any pract-
cal purpose, at least they have shown no
such power yet.
To all appearance the end is as far off as
ever, and as uncertain. Those who have
the work to do must do it in their own way.
They cannot be helped from the outside; but
they are watched and they neednot expect to
escape criticism.