Year: 1879

success in public life, incline men to look


indulgently upon his conduct. But there


is a point beyond which such friendly


forbearance cannot be justified. Mr..


Blaine has passed that point. In the


despatch from Augusta which we pub


lished yesterday there was repeated the


statement of an ear witness who had lis


tened to recent conversations OF Mr..
Blaine in which the Senator declared his


approval of forcible resistance in the last


resort. A Senator of the United States has


no right to use such language, even in prl-


vate conferences with his political friends.
| We can make allowance for the hysterical


bravado of country parsons who know


nothing of life beyond the narrow precincts
| of their little towns; but Senator Blaine


has seen too much Of the world


to fall into their delusions. When


statesman of his experience and oppor-


tunities foments and encourages violence


he sins against knowledge. We are aware


that he is exposed to strong temptations,
| but the way man bears himself under


temptation is the test of his character.


The misguiding motives which influence
the conduct of Mr.. Blaine are evident. In


the first place, he is acting in view of the
rule which has long been the common
law of national conventions that Presi-


Dental candidate must be able to carry his
| own State. Mr. Blaine's chances were inn
perilled by the loss Of Maine in 1878. and
| in the canvass of the present year he made
| herculean exertions to recover it. He did
not quite succeed. His candidate for Gov
| ernor fell about two thousand votes short
Of majority, thus throwing the election
| into the Legislature. But as the new
Legislature was expected to have republi-
can majority in both branches it was
substantial republican victory. An unex.
| pected slip betwixt the cup and the lip
threatens to dash Mr.. Blaines Presidential


hopes and he is doing his utmost to con-


vince the country that if he loses control
Of his own State it will be owing


to political knavery and not to the true


result of the election. 1t is natural that he
should wish to emphasize q claim which
so nearly touches his Presidential prospects;
but when he is willing to give it the bloody


emphasis Of local civil war he goes too far.


Public opinion will not sustain him.


In the next place, Mf. Blaine is


man@uvring to avail himself Of this oppor-


tunity to show that he is "a strong


man." But if the next four years are to be
years of tumult and disturbance the ad-
vantage which the people would expect
from having 50 strong man" at the


head of the government would be that
his established character for frmness and
decision would forestall the necessity for
any actual resort to force by everybody's
knowledge that he would neither finch
nor be trifed with, on the same
principle that nation fully prepared for


war has the best chances for preserving


peace. Mr.. Blaine cannot fill that r6le His
inconsiderate menaces, instead of repress-


ing violence, only tend to provoke and en-


bolden his opponents. There has come to
be real danger of civil war in Maine by
Mr.. Blnine's willingness to ape part for
which his character and qualities do not fit
him. If there should bet bloody conflict he
will be held responsible, and the country
will judge him ON unsuitable man to be at


the head of the government in period
when irsurgent elements need to be awed
into submission, it, indeed, such period
is before us. IT the people should DECIDE
mean man strong to prevent disorder,
not reckless to excite it.


The conduct of ex-senator Morrill, in
these troubles is in prudent contrast to that
Of Senator Blaine. His two letters to Gov


ernor Garcelon are altogether admirable in


matter, manner and spirit. In tone of
the most respectful and considerate cour-
tesy Mr.. Morrill, made to the Governor a
proposition for settling this dangerous con.
troversy by the impartial umpirage of the
highest judicial tribunal of the State. A
resort to violence by either side would be
deplorable, and there is no better method
for terminating quarrel in which the
parties are at hopeless variance than
by calling in the assistance of q


just and enlightened umpire. The


law does not permit private individuals to


right their own wrongs If it did society


would never be tranquil. But political


parties are even more influenced by passion,


prejudice and greed than private indi-


viduals, and the whole fabric OF society is


threatened when they assume to be judges


in their own cause and to settle their


quarrels by the strong hand. No PROPOSE


ton could be fairer than that of Mr..


Morrill,, that the points in dispute


be referred to the Supreme Judicial


Court. No matter what judgment the


Court may render the peace of the


State will be preserved. If the Court


should affirm Governor Garcelon's opinion


that the action of himself and Council was


in pursuance of imperative law, which left


them no discretion, the republicans will


see that they have no case and there will be
no further talk of violence. II, on the other