The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-08-08


A urbo,a months incubation ought to enable
Mr.. Horatio Seymour, If he has that eminence
90 a statesman that is claimed for him, to
produce something that would clear up
his bad record and improve his chances of
election. General Grants brief and I'M
studied note of acceptance produced an adj
mirable impression and the whole people
have since been echoing his words "Let
us have peace" But Grant had the adj
vantage of an unspotted record and upright
character which rendered easy the task of ex-
planning his position.
Let us see how Seymour makes out in a
months time. First he had to explain how he
came to accept the nomination at all. He
valves that question: thereby tacitly admitting
that he "imperils his party" and that he is
"dishonored, )" his own declarations previous to
his nomination having indicated those two
things as the certain result of his own ac-
| ceptance.
| Then he had to explain the still more diff
cult question, how it happened that he, a
staunch advocate of good faith with the bond
holder, could accept and endorse a reputation
platform. He merely says that he does ac-
cept it. He does not even attempt like some
of his followers, 70 whitewash it and conceal
its moral ugliness.
A person who is thus content to leave him
self necessarily subject to two very unsightly
| stains upon his character will not be expected
| to deal very fairly with his political opponents
| Seymour does not disappoint this expectation
| He saws he has been waiting for developments
| in Congress before writing ,his letter. This is
| his old trick. He used to watch Lincoln, not
| to aid, strengthen and encourage, but to cri-
tlclse, deiame and attack him; so now he lies
IN wait for the Congress that is honestly en-
deavoring to finish Lincoln's work, not for the
purpose of encouraging it and advising it as
to the best means of perfecting its great work
OF re-establishing the Union on just basis
but to deuounce and SANDER it, He COM
plains because Congress has taken a recess in
stead of adjourning, attributing that action to
| a desire to influence the Presidential election
| instead OF the true reasOn-a desire to prevent
such an increase of the already large average
of murders and revolutionary outbreaks as
shall amount to full blown rebellion
Among the gems of the letteIJs this: 'sThe
minds of business men are perplexed by I'M
certainties The hours of toll of our laborers
are heightened by the cost of living made by
the direct and indirect exactions of govern
ment, and our people are harassed by the
heavy and frequent demands of the tax
gatherer." There spoke the demagogue 1t
would be well enough to put the case in this
way were the true reasons given for the exist
ence of the evils complained of. The minds
of business men are "perplexed," but it is be-
aa,,, 90 ~ =. -.
Democratic threats of reputation. Our peo-
| pie do pay heavy taxes, but it was the Demo-
| cratic rebellion that brought them upon us.
Perhaps the most characteristic sentence in
the letter is this:
While the chiefs of the late rebellion have
submitted to the results of the war, and are
now quietly engaged in useful pursuits for the
support of themselves and their families, and
are trying by the force of their example to
lead back the people of the South to the order
and industry not only essential to their we'll
| being but to the greatness and prosperity O
our common country, we see that those who,
without ability or influence, have been thrown
| by the agitations of civil commissions into DO
sitions of honor and profit, are striving to
Keep alive the passions to which they owe their
elevation, and they DANGEROUSLY insist that
they are the only friends of our Union-a
Union that can only have sure foundation in
iraternal regard and common desire to pro-
mote the peace, the order and the happiness of
all sections OF our land.
This labored paragraph needs comment.
AS specimen of the massive, dignified and
ornate in lying it will stand forever as a mon
ument to the mendacity of Horatio Seymour.
The chiefs of the rebellion quieti Toombs
quiet! Cobb quiet! Semmes and Wise and
Vance quiet! The leaders OF the Southern
press quetI A few choice extracts from
speeches and editorials which we published
yesterday.will show hooo quiet they are and
hoao they lead back the people of the South
"to order and industry"