The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-25
The RepublIcan Candidate for Mayor,

The Republican Candidate for Mayor.
The demonstration at City Hall last eve
ming in favor Of the Republican candidate for
mayor, was no more than might reasonable
be. expected and no more than Mr.. Mcclellan
deserves. We have reached a very critical
period in our municipal history. The war is
over This country is not France, and An
drew johnson is not Louis Napoleon. If the
President should attempt any open violence,
his Mexican notions will be correc ted in a
manner which will be warning to all his
succe sors. The war then isover, but it has eft
TIE city in debt and that debt seems likely to
be practically increased by the partial assump-
ton of the municipal war debts by the State.
The fire of 1866 was a serious drawback. In
compliance with the almost unanimous de-
mand of our citizens, the city government has
proceeded at once to restore the city hall and
school houses; to lay out the little common on
Congress street; and to put the fire depart
ment in condition of efficiency never oefore
known. The city has also lent its ald TO cit
liens who desired to build up the ruined
streets, and to others still, who looking to the
future are laboring to extend and perfect our
railway system.
This is all well, but in attempting TO do SO
much it is right and proper that due eau
ton should be exercised, lest by OVERRIDING we
fail to accomplish all We might. 1t is well to
carry all the sail we can, bat if we carry too
much the 'too propitious breeze" may send us
all to the bottom. We want a captain who
knows every spar and timber in the ship;
who will not allow her to be crowded beyond
her endurance. Captain Mcclellan has sailed
her before. He has proved his capacity in the
stormiest passage she will ever make. In the
dark days of 1868 he was elected mayor. Fol
three years he stood at the head of our mimi
cipal administration. During those three
| years no debt was incurred for any except wal
purposes The expenses for bounties and re.
cruting were much less than in other towns
and cities. There were no dealings with bro
kers. The city met the recruit face to face
and paid him larger bounty than he would
have received through broker who at tn,
same time would have swindled the city. TIL,
| quota of the city was always full, and afte
the close of the war Adjutant General Hods
don wrote: "The management of Portland
finances has ever been deservedly an object o
my admiration. Had the quota department
| of municipalities in this State been conducte,
with the discretion, skill and true liberalit,
| which ever characterized that of Portland, til,
ranks of our regiments would have been fa
better and more promptly filled, and the labor
| of this Department lessened one half" et
The total increase of the city debt unde
| Mayor McLellan's administration notwith
| - IL. a
| nearly $500 900, and notwithstanding the de
rangement of the currency, was less than $40,
| 900. Under the same administration the sink
| ing fund was put upon such footing as to Sc
| cure the payment of the entire debt as it ma
| lures. .... '--ra
These are the proofs Of Mr.. McLellans bus
| mess qualifications for the office to which b.
has been nominated. Nobody denies that h.
| is in entire sympathy with his party on all ma
tional questions. He is no srespecter of per
sons. He could not be identified with the
aristocratic party which now calls itself Dem
ocratic. 1t is alleged that he is no prohibition
list, yet it is matter of record that the mum
Der of prosecutions during his administration
were more numerous than during the three
years preceding Without making the liquor
law special object Of interest and attention
he did his duty and his whole duty. Decided
and firm, he made some enemies; what man
is without them? His officials acts have beer
at times severely criticised, yet on the whole
they are admitted to have been upright pru
dent and inst.
Such is the man whom the Republicans of
Portland, acting through their authorized
representatives in convention assembled
have chosen for their candidate. There is nc
question of his in tegrity, or capacity Shall
we not then, at this time, in the beginning
of the Presidential year which is to settle the
reconstruction question once and forever
shall We not then lead off with the accustom
ed good omen? Shall we not throw our full
majority into the scale against President
who even now PUSHES blindly upon his fate:
Can any Republican give even a respectable
excuse for so casting his vote as to give aid
and comfort to the enemy next Monday?