The Portland daily press., 1867-09-17
~ 49, apoRTI.AND TUESDAY MORNING sEPrENBER 17 i88z
PORTLAND.
Tuesday Morning. septemberl7, 1867.
rhe m.im Question,

| There is no society yet organized ere
warding of sayers OF good things, the com.
IIpensatory tribute beng ustclly limited to the
itectld"s offer OF dimuiutiye com. 10 DR.
lDudg OF New York, who recently addressed
the Genran Republicans OF that city, urging
them 10 adhere dilnly to the party that is
right ON national questions, 10 matter how
distastctul its minor articles OF faith NAV be.
We respectfully tender our nickel of respect
and appreciation. Tie told his hearers that,
As the great battle for freedom has not been
finally determined, it would be unworthy OF
Germans 10 become desertels from the A rmy
Of Freedom ON account of the lager-beer
question" 'i'.
There is no mistake which is oitener made
ii speculation or in practice than the choice
OF the greater Of two evils which present
themselves in The form Of an alternative In
politics there have always been men who pre-;
fer to safer defeat on a.question in which the
interests of tie truman race are involved Than
on one which has reference solely to their per-
sonal feelings or convenience. This betokens
u liultSu CoiiCSptoI " tiit u C souttcS " HI
dividual happiness, which is very different
fipfn the liberal philosophy of the wise DR..
Dudi, who knows that though lager-beer is
deer tho Teutonic heart liberty is dearer
sill. -" .s.4
iaiRhe elinqnation Of all the anti-democratie
clements from our Institutions, whether local
or national, is the work to which all other is
now secondary. 1t isto be effected by means
Of the Congressional policy of reconstruction
in theSahthern States, and the establishment
of impartial suffrage at Che North, either by
Che voluntary action Of each state or by a
constitutional amendment. ut would be a
most fortunate circumstance if the paramount
Importance of this issue were more generally
realized Ifthe great work is accomplished
all institutions and all Laws; that are ealculat-
ed TO .confor happiness upon the race, may be
looked upon as sure to follow. II, ON the 9th
er band, it fails Of accomplishment, all the mi
nor reforms embraced init are endangered
1t Is doubtful II. any human being has ever
fully realized or fereseen the magnitude of the
blessings which will result to a people from a
perfect democracy. Under such govern
ment it is hardly possible that a law which i,
Che expression OF the viii of majority Of the
people should be bad one. With the uni
vefsal fntelisehc6 resulting from equal oppor.
tunity for all, it is impossible that q. bad law,
even If passed, should remain long on the
statute book.
The strength of the Republican party ON
the national issues is irrefragabie. lis enc
mics understand this, and it is they who force
into the fall campaigns ofthis year the consid-
Grafton of minor affairs. They are perfectly
caalscious Of the weakness of the liteless mega.
tieIis which constitute their creed on national
affairs. In thisState as in MASSACHUSETTS,, the
Republicans discarded the consideration OF To-
cal questions at their State convention, but
here as there. the Democrats insist upon an
immediate decision OF matters of secondary
Importance. They hope by this means to Sc
cure the assistance Of men of lifnited intelli-
gehee, who are so little accustomed to think
that they are unable 10 distinguish between a
partial good and general one, embracing all
othals. But the Radicals OF the West are
taxi & unusual pains to keep the main ques-
tioli strictly in view. The evils arising from
the opposite course have become so fully ap-
parent, that the party has now probably suf-
tered all that it win from this cause. The
har s5lllIi6 TS fls, 's5Is s - - =
in.s viii ioi!own --.'ss !