Year: 1870

hands of his constituency the endorsement
OF fourth reelection by larger relative
majority, proportioned to that of two years
ago, than any of his colleagues-and abso-
lutely larger than Mr.. Hale's in the fifth dis
trlct, this year-yet, possibly there may be
some, even among those who have cordially
aided IN attaining this auspcious result who
VIII say, or think, that it would have been
better for him and for the party to have had
| MN withdraw from the canvass when so
strong an opposition developed itself, and
| spared us the dissentions which arose in this
county ostensibly as consequence of his re-
| nomination.


In addition to the operation of those feel
ln9s and motives OF purely personal nature
| from which Mr.. Lynch cannot be exempt
since he is human, there are, to our judg-
ment, grave public reasons why he could not
properly quit the field nor pursue any other
course than the one taken by him, and these
considerations we now propose, as briefly as
possible, to submit to the candor of our
friends. That those whose ambitious hopes
were delayed or thwarted by his re-
nomination; or those who sought to crafty
private malice and personal resentment by
composing his defeat; or even those who,
caring little at first, have, by heated discus
sion or contact with Incorporate friends, al
lowed themselves to become embittered DUR
ing the progress of the campaign, will allow
that there is any force in the views we are
about to submit, we do not, of course, expect;
but we commend them to the calm consider
alton and deliberate judgment of those
friends who can listen to them impartially.


MIR. Lynch was a member of a body in
which many of his associates had held seats
from ten to twice ten years, and some of his
colleagues had had repeated reflections:
there would be, then, nothing novel or out
OF ordinary course in his being again return
ed to it. Congress had not adjourned when
our Congressional convention was held at
Saco; his only opportunity for learning aught
of the wishes of his constituents in this mat
ter was during a brief visit home rendered
necessary by the illness of his partner and
the consequent demands of private business;
for he could hardly be expected to put any re-
lance upon the statements of journal
which he knew was solely guided in its ex-
pressions by the personal antipathies of its
conductor, and further knew that almost all
its declarations concerning himself were ut
terly false. He was assured by friends, in
whom he had confidence, residing in every
part of the district, that the people desired
his return to the next Congress. Not being
in any way party or privy to any bargain or
agreement relating to the succession to his
place, either as to the time when, or person
to whom, it should revert, he had no more
knowledge Of its existence than had the wri-
ter or reader of this article; and we think it
would puzzle any of us now to tell when,
where, by and between whom, and by whose
authority, any such arrangement was perfect
ed; we doubt even if the omniscient Butler
knows that! Nor could he believe that any
absolute length of terms, as between county
and county OF the district, had been fixed up
on by the public will, or that it was desirable
that this should be done. 1t is true that he
fOuOd q n1nbor of Uan flnp,an onnauo6 in
active canvass for the honor of ousting him
from his seat and taking it to one of them
selves; but he had yet to learn that the as
plrations of competitors was any reason why
he should retire from the contest. Having
faithfully served the people for six years, he
had no cause to fear comparison of his per-
sonal merits and qualifications with those of
these contestants. If it were claimed that
geographical considerations entered into the
question of the nomination, he had right to
suppose that these, as well as all other mat
ters pertaining thereto, might properly be
left to the decision of the people of the whole
district. While stunning no comparison, he
did not seek to raise himself by depreciating
his competitors, but was perfectly content to
let the people, who knew them and him, de-
eide between them. The only way in which
their decision could be made known was at
the regularly-called and held District Con-
vention; and their verdict, to be there rem
dered, he quietly awaited, and to it, whatever
it might be, he proposed gracefully to submit
himself.


This assembly, when it met, knew of the
opposition to him, and understood vastly
more OF its strength than he could; but it
determined that the grounds of it were in
sufficient to justify setting aside competent,
tried and faithful public servant for one un-
tried, inexperienced and whom there was no
presumption would do any better even when
he became familiar with the place and its re-
quirements. That there were some hazards
attending the retention of Mr.. Lynch which
might be avoided by the selection of new
man, the Convention well knew; but they
decided that they should be boldly met
rather than cowardly avoided. Had they
determined to escape them by his retirement,
while he and his friends might doubt the poll
cy of such action, he would have cheertully
acquiesced, without viewing the change as
any rebuke upon him for aught he had done
or as shelving any abatement of the friendly
feeling with which we regarded him, but TAX
ing it simply as polite concession to the
wishes of a portion of the people he repre-
Sented. When, on the other hand, the con-
vention determined on the contrary course
and avowed its willingness to take the risk
on its part, he could scarcely do less than to
accept his part of the same risk, believing
that, whether success or failure crowned the
work, his support in the position assumed
would be something of which he would have
no need to be ashamed. Had the language
of some of the principal actors at this con-
vention been more temperate and concilia-
tory, or had it been fairly communicated to
the people Just as it was used, without per-
version or misapplication, wo do not believe
that the decision to which that body came
would have of itself aroused any great IeDL
ing of discomfort anywhere in York County
Yet it was the result alone that concerned
the people; the hasty expressions dropped
by either disputant in the heat of debate
ought t0 affect none but those who used
them; still they did undoubtedly work
prejudice to MIR. Lynch, who was no more
responsible for them than is any reader of
this sheet. But for the Incorporate zeal
and unguarded phraseology of his friends,
we believe Mr.. Lynch's nomination would
have been acquiesced in cordially all over
the district; it was by unscrupulous use
and reiteration of them that antagonism was
aroused.


Having been so decidedly called upon by
the appropriate organization again to permit
the use OF his name, he solicited our suf-
frages upon bold and manly grounds; basing
his claim to be supported by the Republi-
cans Of York and Cumberland, not upon
residence one side or the other of an imagi-
nary line, but on the just confidence of a
faithful public servant in the generous can
dor OF a reading and generous constituency.
He appealed to the record of his career with
a full assurance that it challenged scrutiny
and merited appreciation, and that this con-
cerned those whom he represented vastly
more than it did to know the street or city of
his residence He sought support upon po-
litical considerations and not from local pride
or prejndices


AS for base and scurrilous attacks upon
his private character, he let them pass as
the idle wind which we regard not; feeling
that from their source they were unworthy o
notice, and that they were sufficiently contra
dicted by the uniform tone OF his life and by
the spontaneous tributes of respect accorded
him by his associates in mercantile pursuits,
whatever might be their political opinions
That member of Congress who, under the
present mode of administration, has the distri-
button of offices, should make no enemies, is
not to be expected. He would undoubtedly
like to have his every act acceptable to each
one of his constituency, but it would be weak
to hope to accomplish this-the thing is I'M
possible. In his action, however, it is neces-
sary for him to be guided rather by principle
than to try and court the prejudices of indi-
viduas. Test Mr.. Lynch by an examination
of his Congressional conduct and say whether
or not it be in accordance with the avowed
objects of the Republican party and in entire
fuliillmentof the trust reposed in him. Say
whether or not in any part of his official ca
reer private motives have swayed him from
the path of political or personal rectitude I?
or If love of ease has led him to neglect the
onerous and vexatious duties of his position