The Portland daily press., 1868-09-10
What Mr.. Lynch has done
for his Constituents.

We are justified in assuming that the oppO-
sition leaders in this Congressional district
concede that our present Representative has
originated financial measures that have eth
er been incorporated into bills or are now
pending and likely to be adopted in the
precise form given them by him. So much
We assume from the fact that in reply to truth
full statements of his services in this di1ec-
ton they have only been able to avail them
selves of riba ldry or Shaw's obscene wood
cuts Now it may be regarded as an estab-
lished principle that official acts cannot be Oh
scured by sneers nor reversed by wood cuts.
Mr.. Lynch's bill for the gradual resumption of
specie payments embodes as nearly as any
single measure yet devised the Republican
financial policy as distinguished from the
Democratic policy. 1t would give the people
lone currency" and that good one. 1t would
make paper as good as gold, and thus obviate
all difficulty about the payment of the debt
in greenbacks. As this bill is the next
thing in order at the next session of Congress
it is by no means extravagant to indulge the
hope that it will be adopted and that Mr..
Lynch's name will be identified with the
means adopted to secure return to specie
payments. ,r.....
We take it for granted also, that Demo-
Gratis concede that Mr. Lynch has used his
best endeavors to secure drawback on ma
terial that enters into the construction of ves-
sells We have repeatedly cited the facts on
this point, and they are not controverted by so
mnch as wood cut in Shaw's paper.
But there is another kind of legislation,
having special reference to the wants of his
constituents, which has received Mr.. Lynch's
strict attention with most satisfactory results
A few of these measures we shall here recapit-
uiate without attempting to make the list COM
The law of 1892 in relation to registering
and recording vessels required every owner in
vessel-and usually they are numerous-to
take the oath of ownership every time new pa
pers are taken out. This was source of great
annoyance and often of considerable expense
to ship owners. The provisions of this law
were for many years disregarded until they
were revived by a circular from the Treasury
Department 1t is due chiefly to the efforts of
Mr.. Lynch that this law has been repealed.
There is no subject perhaps on which more
feeling has been manifested by persons inter-
ested in shipping than the act to prevent the
issuing of American papers to vessels that
sought the protection of foreign flags during
the war. Our shipowners who preferred to
run the risk of loss through the piracies of
Semmes and other Democratic marauders
rather than seek the protection of an alien
flag justly thought tn 1T they should be freed
from competition with those who had taken a
less patriotic course. Here again Mr. Lynch's
efforts were crowned with success
For the people of his own district Mr.. Lynch
has effected several things that they cannot
afford to forget. Among them we may men,
ton the securing of an appropriation for
breakwaters at Richmond Island and at Saco.
The Democratic press of tho dis.rivt mas en-
deavored without success to rob him of the
credit due him in this case
The appropriation for dredging the channel
in Portland Harbor was obtained NV Mr.
Lynch, his influence in securing appropria-
tions for local government works has beon hv
no means ineonsiderable.
We submit that these things show tho. NJ
Lynch has been an able, efficient and faithr,,
Representative. Mr.. Charles A. Shaw Who
desires to supplant him, will probably be un-
able to persuade the people that his success in
passing eff five cent almanacs for one dollar
makes him match" for Mr.. Lynch