The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-15
The Democratic lIicso.cope.


The Democrats are the most skillful opti-
clans in the world. Some of their late discov-
cries of microscopic political phenomena are
extremely valuable, except in the unimportant
particular OF being OF no conceivable conse-
quenee. ..t
We are all familiar with those curious sto-
ries of prisoners who, restrained of their liber-
ty for long series of years, have rendered less
intolerable the loneliness of their condition by
tanning spiders, mice and other small deer"
To be out of Office is, to our Democratic friends,
to be in prison and in chains; and they while
away the tedious hours in the solemn contem-
plation OF infniteslmals. The triviality and
minuteness of their researches would have
given them great eminence in the palmy days
of scholasticism, and they might perhaps have
settled the vexed question as to whether an
chovies are eaten in paradise. ssa
These saraas are particularly skllful in
watching the movements of prominent Repub
i-ans, and detecting the most atrocious heresies
in every sentence they utter BenWade had
been to examine the Pacific Railroad, and give
himself a little recreation after the arduous
labors of the last session of Congress. On his
way home he was cordially received at Law
renee, and made speech, in which he Incl
dentally referred to the unsatisfactory relation
which labor sustains to capital and the posi-
bihty Of some remedy being found for the evil
He even limited at Congressional action in the
premises. But he applied some very uncom-
phment~ry epithets to the male portion Of his
hear, rs in the same breath, and unless it is as
sumed that he deliberately intended TO insult
them it is fair to infer that in that pass
age of his remarks he chose to indulge in lit
tie harmless faeetiousness, as good-natured,
honeward-bound Senator well might do. a.. 81.
But since those fatal words fell from his lips,
the conservative press seems to have become
the organ of modern school of howling der
wishes. Black Republieanism to the Demerat-
ic eye has suddenly become ominously Red.
One would suppose that the Congressional fiat
had already decreed the immediate division of
vast territory into forty acre lots or the or
ganization of communist associations ON the
plan of Wallingford and Oneida Creek. Agra
rianism and socialism are the mildest terms
which are used to characterize the purposes OF
the unhappy Ohioian. In the Democratic i'm
agination, Fourier and Prudhon rise from
their graves and lead the misguided people of
this country into an intensified French Reyo-
lution. Indeed, it would not be matter OF
surprise to the alarinsts if the saasculotts of
the land should barricade the streets of our
cities, erect guiilotines in the public squares
and spill the patrician blood of Astor, Stewart,
Vanderbilt and their associates for the
purpose of confisca,ing their real .es-
rrocx. Au-
gusta even, If their apprehensions are realized,
will again become an inconsiderable county
seat by reason of the untimely demise of its
wealthy patron. wife +.gs} as eai ~ r
All this because of little pleasantly on the
part of q Senator in vacation. But suppose
the Democratic construction of the remarks
under consideration is correct, and they are an
expression of Mr. W ade's genuine "Walworth
sentiments" what then? The language used
is of the most general character, and no hint
is vouchsafed of the method by which he pro-
poses to better the condition of the working
classes. There is not particle of evidence
that he would resort to other expedients than
are universally recognized as legitimate. There
are already certain restrictions and limitations
upon the power to accumulate wealth. The
Gerry poor are not suffered to starve, and are en-
titled to support out of the property Of their
Weather neighbors. Capital may not now
ogn labor, and in some OF the States the legis-
latnTe has limited the number of hours work
which may be required Of the employee. One
may not properly be called Jacobin, because
he would encourage this tendency of modern
legislation, for it is policy to which large
part Of the American people are attached.
This is all that Wade meant, if he in fact
meant anything except little gallantry to the
ladies, whom he was at that moment compile
menting upon their superior sagaeity. If he
seriously intended a crusade against capital,
his utterances in Congress would have been
no more guarded upon this subject than upon
the question of womanhood suffrage, in re fer
ence to which he has again and again defined
his position. No one but Secretary Seward
has been in the habit ofjourneying into an OBJ
scure village to give expression 70 his most
cherished ideas. In the Senate Mr.. Wade has
never identified himself with those who seek to
begin the agrarian war by confscating aid
dividing the lands of the Southern planters;
and he who eagerly desires to accomplish the
greater purpose would not hesitate to join
hands with those who are striving only for
the less VI g-l4-l5 -l agsTatt af-