The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-02-18
Letter from Washington.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL 1 was |
ar ticle in your paper protesting against the
Lapham bill, which would allow few mon
opolists in Block Island to enrich themselves
by destroying again, as they did ten years
ago, the menhaden and mackerel fishing on
the coast of Maine This bill proposes to do
what the seal poachers are doing in Alaska,
commit general slaughter for prese mt
out of existence an industry of great value
to the many. 1t means killing the goose
that lays the golden egg. 1t will be resisted
by the Maine delegation and be beaten No
effort will be spared to defeat the passage of
so vicious bill.
The impression here among Democrats
and Republicans alike is that David B. Hill
is out of the race for the Democratic nolni-
nation for president. His political methods
are being very severely citicised by his own
party, and he seems to have very much i'll
jured, if he has not totally destroyed, his
chances of success, by appearing to be so
persistent and anxious a sef-seeker. There
appears to be great revulsion on the part
OF the people against a candidate who lis con-
tinually fishing for them. They do not take
the bait that is everastingly being bobbed
| before their noses. They evidently think
that they are entitled to exercise some indie
| pendent action of their own. The more dig
nitied course of Cleveland is certainly
strengthening him, while the contest between
him and Hill is not unlikely to defeat them
both, and relegate the Democratic candidacy
to some other State than New York.
Mr.. Blaine's declination to be a candidate
is a source not only of regret but sorrow and
pain to a vast ma ority of Republicans, and
even many Democrats, who would really
like to see him President. The place he
holds in the admiration and affection of the
people is something marvellous. Its express
sion comes from every quarter of the coun-
| try. 1t used to be said in Rome that two
qualities brought men to the front and won
them high position in the republic, viz: elo-
quence and military genius. Yet Mr.. Blaine
without being unrivaled i'll the former, and
making no pretensions to the latter has to-
day, without doubt, warmer, more earnest
and extensive support than any public man
who has lived since the dawn of history
unless it be some great religious teacher
His earnest American heart, as we'll as his
great qualities of mind have contributed not
a little to the affection in which he is held
by the American people. Worse abused and
misrepresented than any man in his genera
ton he stands to-day without a peer in the
love and admiration of his countrymen, and
walks inditferently away from the great
prize for which many of his greatest con
temporaries are struggling, There has been
nothing like it in history since CincinnatllS
returned from ms dictatorship of Rome to
his pillow Mr.. Blaine may vet he made
President even against his own expressed
will, but whether he he or not, his character
and career, like maturing fruit that grows
richer as it rii;ans, viii be one of the grand
est and most lllUstrous gifts Of this genera
ton to future generations OF Americans.
| Washington. d. C., Feb IL, 1892 NJ.