The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-26
The Brunswick Caucus.

Brunswick is the only place, SO far as
heard from, which has chosen delegates TO
the Congressional District Convention who
will oppose the nomination of Mr.. Reed. In
choosing delegates 266 Republicans voted.
The anti-Reed list received 152 votes, the
other list ia. The majority was So. AS
the Republican vote of Brunswick in 1882
Was SIT, it appears that over 800 Republic
cans were absent from the caucus. After
the election of the delegates, and while peo-
pie were leaving the caucus series of reso-
buttons was offered, Our correspondents
despatch printed elsewhere reports that the
affirmative vote on the resolutions was 113
and that tie negative vote was not counted.
1t is very questionable, we think, whether
these resolutions would have received so
large vote if they had been fully under
stood or deliberated considered, their Ian
guage and temper is so disproportionate to
the occasion. We do not doubt that many
Republicans in Brunswick feel that Mr..
Reed made mistake in recommending one
candidate, rather than another, for Postmas-
ter OF that town. 1t may be that his judg-
ment, based upon such information as he
had at the time, was erroneous, and that the
appointment was not the best one that
might have been made. We are not criti-
cising the Republicans of Brunswick for
thinking SO; but it seems to us that the. ex-
preston of their sentiment is unjust in its
imputatfons, and inconsiderate in its spirit
We do not believe that Mr.. Reed has reck-
lessly and wantonly antagonized the judg-
ment Of the earnst Republicans of Bruins
wick. If all the facts were known regard
ing the circumstances of his action, we do
not believe the number Of those who think
this error OF judgment assuming it to be an
error) in the matter of the appointment of a
Postmaster is fault so serious that it multi
fies all his merit and services as a represen-
tative of the First District, and dsqualifies
him for future usefulness in Congress, would
be sufficient 70 adopt such resolutions in a
Republican caucus of ordinary proportions.
Of course it is to be regretted, that any
number of the Republicans of Brunswick
should have been induced to give expression
to sentiments SO contrary to the feeling pre-
vailing elsewhere in the district We have
no disposition to discuss the resolutions. Nor
shall we question the sincerity of those Re-
publicans who have committed themselves
to this manner of setting forth their dissat-
isfaction with Mr.. Reed. We do not think
there is any necessity for it, even il our
Brunswick friends were willing to listen
now to any suggestions we might make, be-
cause the resolutions themselves by their
exaggeration will carry with them, wherever
they go, conviction of the weakness of the
cause. They afford stronger evidence IF
personal feeling in the mind of the person
who drafted them than Of wrong motive on
the part CT Mr.. Reed. If instead of having
advised the appointment of Postmaster
who proves unacceptable to number of cit
izens of Brunswick, our member of Con-
gress had forfeited the confidence of the Re-
publicans of the country by a corrupt be-
trayal of Republican principles in a crisis of
Congressional action, it would have been
difficult to find more bitter, vindictive and
offensive terms of assault. Except TO indi-
viduals here and there, if there are any,
who have some personal grievance that in
flames their judgment the resolutions of the
Brunswick caucus will seem not a proper
protest, but an unfortunate manifesto which
those who supported it must sincerely regret
when they are in calmer mood.