The Republican journal., 1885-11-05
Letter from Portland.
THE GOLLECTORSHIP CONTEST. THE TRUE IN
WARDNESS OF THE FIGHT. THE CHARAC-
TEKISTICS OF ANDERSON, CLEANES AND
BRADBURY. WHAT OF THE FUTURE?


Correspondence of the Journal
PORTLAND, Nov. ID, 1885. l have waited
for the air to clear before writing in relation to
the appointment of collector of this port, the
best office in the State. To say that the unex-
peced has happened expresses the subject. No
one of either party thought Mr. Anderson had
chance for the place save his few active
friends. From the beginning they were con-
tident. Ii was few select Bourbon Demo-
Gratis against the crowd of workers. Let US
review this contest as we understand it. When
Mr.. Cleveland was declared elected had any
one asked who was to be collector of this port
if ii change was made nine-tenths of our peo-
pie would have said Hon. Bion Bradbury. He
had toiled for years for the party. If he had
left 1t in 1862 as war Democrat there is moth
ing too good for him in our house that he could
not have expected. He had been elected unan-
imously to the Legislature from Eastport in
1861; had supported President Lincoln in the
session of January 1862; had favored raising
men and money to put down the rebellion; had
voted for Jameson against Dana in 1861, and
like many Others could have easily crossed the
bridge. But he was welded to the Democratic
party and for n years has toed for it. Now
in the hour of its success, with nearly all the
people OF all parties in Lis favor. he had right
TO expect the best place lie WAS headed off as
his friends aege by treachery, but not on Mr..
Anderson's part, for he was a candidate from
the first and none of his early supporters
gave Mr.. B. any help or promise. | give the
story hear it talked on the streets. My let
tiers are not intended as attacks upon anyone. but
A. news without regard to whom il may affect.
1t is said that Mr. Cleave> was in the field all
the time he claimed to help Mr.. Bradbury;
that the objection to Mr.. b. age came from
Cleaye> friends; that while they were praising
MIR. b. they We're stabbing him in the dark.
When he was appointed Surveyor he took no
further part in the matter of collector and can
meet Gen. Anderson with an open hand. That
many of Gen. Anderson's supporters after this
Were Mr.. BIS friends is true. But the great bulk
went for Mr.. Ceaves. The workers and eX-
pectants passed by Mr.. Anderson's door in
silence. To them the star of hope was
horse OF another color, to use common
phrase. When Gen. Anderson's nomination
came the air was full OF blue coloring from
the tongues of the defeated. The stad old
Argus, that never in this generation refused
crow, kicked at this. The Boston journal and
Portland Press lauded the appointee to the
skies. The friends of Ceaves had barely got
their breath when along came Bass of the Ban
gor Commercial telling heap of truth which
caused the uproar to break out afresh. There
seemed to be a losing of head Judge Cleaves
published a list of his supporters. Then An
dersons friends put in his list This made the
fight more bitter. For twenty years there has
been no party fight like it. We have no ac-
quantance with the new Collector. He is an
outspoken man who never plays tricks. He is
one of the bitterest of partisans. His honored
father, Hon. John Anderson held the office
under Martin Van Buren, and Mr.. Tyler. We
have no doubt of the Generals energy and abil-
ty or honesty. But, politically, he is as bad
lot as can be found. He enters the office, which
under Col. Dow has been model one, under
embarrassing circumstances. He knows the
great mass of his party had their hearts set
upon either Mr.. Bradbury or Mr.. Ceaves
rather than himself. Under the civil SER
vice rules he can appoint but few officers
without arbitrarily turning out men in open
defiance of law. The 45 year rule turns
from the doors of the Custom House many
hard working, faithful men of his party.
What Will be his course we know not. The
opinion is that he will be as proscriptive as he
can and that Judge Cleaves friends will not get
much comfort from him. What the Senate will
do is a problem. Our wish is to see all of the
Maine appointments confirmed. One is as good
as another. With the single exception of Mr.
Bradbury they are all of one stripe. Every
body wants Mr.. Bradbury confirmed. The young
democrats are out completely. Hon. l.. ID. NJ
Sweat and w. l.. Putnam have full control of
the patronage here. 1t was Judge Cleaves
misfortune, it is said, to have bored the Presi-
dent out of all patience in seeking for the place.
This was done by his friends, such men as
Simon Brown, the auctioneer, and Ed. Wilson,
the disinterested man. Hon. W. III. Clifford was
also quite active so it is said 1t is also charged
that Mr.. Cleaves had promised each office to
several That one prominent man in York
county was approached by two men who urged
him to support Mr.. Cleaves, using as an argu-
ment that he could help them get the indentica
same office. We know nothing of this. Judge
Cleaves has been personal friend of the writer
for years and more genial or honorable man
it has not been our fortune to know. We give
this gossip as we hear it. One thing is certain,
his following was large and active. Nearly all
the young men were for him.
The Republicans laugh in their sleeves for
they claim that this appointment will cool the
ardOr of their opponents. We think, however,
that they will get over 1t and work as of yore.
But they will find that the offices wont go
around ana tnat patronage mas It's outs. True,
il is a source of pride to have your party in con-
troll, but all the time there is friction over the
offices and many leave the party in disgust
when they find no hope of getting at the pat
ronage. All over the state may be found men
who were once active Republicans now bitter,
hungry Democrats. Simon Brown, the auc-
tioneer, Is their spokesman. You have them in
Waldo; we have them here, possessed with
nothing but desire for office. Many of them
will be found in our ranks in 'SS. Gen. Ander-
son has no love for this class. He is a full
booded, ingraned Democrat. He will early
learn that office holding is not the key to sue
cess. 1t is advocating principles of justice and
progress that will rule this country. Nothing
else We must have stop put to ballot box
stufing and demand that all shall enjoy the
right to vote once at ar election and have that
vote counted. The party that is to rule this
country must lay its head close to the earth and
catch the tread of the COW hide boot and keep
step to it. If Gen. Anderson's party does this
it will have chance to rule, and the same may
be said of our party. SIGMA.