The Portland daily press., 1868-03-09
Elee,ioueering Arguments.

The postponernent of the election gives US
an opportunity to review some OF the argu-
ments addressed to the public by the Argus on
election day.
The first is re-assertiou of the "spendthrift
management" of the city government during
the past year, still without specification.
we once more call upon the Argus to support
this charge with something better than windy
defamation. If some specifications are not
brought forward. the public will know what to
think "
Next comes the allegation that Mr.. McLel-
lan's nomination was fraudulently secure''
and that he "has lent himself TO the purposes
of a ga ring" The result of the second kepup-
lean caucus in Ward 2 and the publication OF
the official record of the proceedings IN the
nominating convention have sufficiently shown
that the nomination was fairly made; and the
heaviest popular vote ever thrown for Re-
publican candidate for mayor has ratified the
choice The suggestion that Captain McLel-
Ian has "lent himself is amusing. It is the
first time that even his enemies have accused
him of undue complaisance. The complaint
has been heretofore that he walked the NAV
or's office little too much as il it were quar-
ter deck Nobody who knows Mr.. Mcclellan
doubts who will be mayor after his election.
Declarations of Vice President Wade and
Thadeus Stevens are next paraded in capitals,
the substance of which is tdat the talk OF inn
posing local taxes upon United States securi-
ties is dishonest. and that the constitution
which was drawn up for the peaceful govern
ment of the United States does not fully pro-
vide for all the contingencies attending civil
war. The Argus will hardly coutradict these
propositions.
The Commercial Advertiser is pressed into
the service to declare that the party in pow
er will always have too many fayorites to re-
ward, TO voluntarily check extravaganza" We
acknowledge frankly that it is very difficult
matter to cure the disorder which was brought
INTO American politics by Andrew jackson
and his Democratic successors. Nevertheless
we find ouly in the Republican ranks the
nucleus of party which will one day insist
upon the withdrawal of 'tfe spoils" from the
political arena. The Democratic party st II
adheres to the maxim, "To the yictors belong
the spoils," and their accession to power would
simply be the signal for general distribution
of plumber to their agents. The only hope for
reform lies in The support Of such statesmen
as Mr.. Jenckes of Rhode Island, whose civil
service BILL renewed from term TO term, is
slowly gathering strength and will one day
pass in spite of the unanimous opposition OF
the Dem ocratic party. M l7f r.
Daniel Webster figures next, with rabid talk
lbout "infernal fanatics and Abolitionists,
which sounds likeWigfall or Keitt, but which
..ssuredy Webster never used. 1t cannot be
'o1nd in his printed speeches and Is so COM
pletely out of character that it may be set
down without hesitation as a forgery. Where
did the Argus find it? ia1gsl7-d 10 "a
Douglass is quoted to the effect that this is
"a white mans government" which simply
shows the narrowness of that greatly overrated
politician. The Republican creed is that this
is "a government of the people, by the people
and for the people, and that no considerations
of race or origin should be allowed to work il.
jury to any American. e-..4t ........
Then come stories about Democratic gains
in New York, Republican detections in New
Hampshire, and stealings from the government
everywhere, which have already been suff-
GENTLY refuted.
Finally we come to the special arguments
in favor of the Democratic candidate. Every
nan who wants to reduce his house rent, have
the United States bonds taxed, reduce the num-
Der of Office holders, or find out how the city
hall was built, is exhorted to vote for Putnam
How mayor of Portland is to bring about ali
these results does not appear. Anybody who
acdnts to see the figures respecting the city hall
can do so by inquiring at the city building
Why doesn't the Argus get them and publish
them?
Some even more absurd statements, which
the Argus does not choose to endorse, appear
n the form of communications. One of these
charge, Senator FaIley's reckless amendment
to the bill for the assumption of municipal
war debts, which would have increased the
taxation of Portland by $29O,OOO, upon the Re-
publican legislature which has since defeated
it. Another says the Republican city govern
ment has voted to give school books to the
children of wealthy men, aud another appar-
emily holds the same city government respon-
sible for the exemption of United States stocks
from taxation. There are besides two or three
Republicans who avow themselves in favor
of the Democratic candidate. Farley is Dem
ocrat; the city government has not voted to
give away school books. and has nothing to do
with the taxation of bonds; and people who
vote the Democratic ticket are not Republic
cans. -
The only legitimate argument in the whole
list is the citation of Douglas as authority Tor
.s-e tfoCrrrne mat this is white mans govern
ment. All who accept that definition are
Democrats and should vote for Democratic
candidates. Those who do not are Republi-
cans, and we claim their votes next Monday
for Jacob Mcclellan.