The Portland daily press., 1868-08-26

IT hecomes our nleasant duty to inform our
readers that Hon. Charles A. Shaw, OF bidue-
ford. has accepted the Democratic NOMINATION
for Congress- There has been great deal OF
anxiety on this point Mr.. Shaw is coy,
sbv. reluctant man upon whom honors, blush
ing and unblushing, have to be thrust 1t is
probable that had it not been for the manner
in which his claims have been presented by
the Biddeford Democrat, paper with which
Mr.. Shaw has nothing to do except in the in
cidental relation of editor, he never would have
thought of himself as an embryo Congressman.
But he has been nominated, and like Seymour
and Vallandigham and DIR. Garcelon, he re-
luctantly accepts. Like them he has written
letter. He thinks the situation SO serious as
to demand craftsmanship usually attaching
only to maturer years than he has attained,
and which he fears far transcends what he
possesses. He adds "If therefore 1 can con-
tribute to that (Democratic) success to great
er extent than perhaps some others might,
feel it obligatory to do so. 1 make no profess
ions whatsoever to unusual craftsmanship
&C."
Mark the modesty of this statement. Pooh,
man, hold up your head! Mr.. Lynch hasn't
so much the advantage in age, after all, and
besides this ability to contribute" to success
is the very thing that got you the nomination
With your party that ability would make
amends for far greater deficiencies than yours
The story that certain SONS of Belial have cir
culated to the effect that you were nominated
by your crafty party associates for the purpose
of killing you off," knowing that you could
not be elected, as they nominated Smart to run
against Washburn, is foul SANDER which you
had best "hurl back with scorn and indigna-
tion." af-. rI .-
You must get rid of these bashful, diffident
ways, Mr.. Shaw. Craftsmanship, say you?
Only compare your record with that of Mr.
Lynch. While he was acquiring something OF
competence in the plodding, hum-drum ways
of legitimate business. you had already discov-
cred a trick worth two of his. Like 1.-THE re-
tired physician whose sands of life had nearly
run out" you inserted in the papers those at
tractive little advertisements adjuring the
public to "send ten cents" and receive direc-
tions for accommodating wealth or curing corns
Don't let Mr.. Lynch get the better of you
through unwise concessions on your part
Bethink yourself, dear sir, Mr.. Lynch's states
manship never sought expression through
such original channels as yours. HIS portrait
never paid an entrance fee into New York Pc
riodicals. HIS autobiography never paid ten
cents line into the exchequer of publishing
houses. He never bought newspaper for the
purpose of explaining to the public his qualifi-
cations for Office.
AS for Mr.. Lynch's craftsmanship" what
shall we say after your letter? What sort ola
statesman is he who does the very thing that
his enemy requires. For instance you say:
"The expenses of government must be
brought within its legitimate income"
Mr. Lynch belongs to the Radical Congress
that cut down the appropriations of Demo-
cratic administration $9O,OOO,OO0 at the last
session of Congress.
Again, "the army and navy must be cut
down"
Mr. Lynch would have been glad to reduce
those branches of the service, were they not
needed to keep the hands of Democratic REQ
els from the throats of the only Union men in
the South.
Again, "the Freedmen's Bureau must be
abolished"
Very well, Mr.. Shaw, here Mr.. Lynch has
dloO COmpilCu WIN Jun le4u'iOo'OhoS "hN mas
concurred with a majority of Radical Con-
gress in voting for its absolute discontinuance
after the first of January next, though all the
Democrats in both houses and the President
opposed it.
"Bondholders must pay taxes" you say in
your letter
Here the injudieous Mr.. Lynch has antici-
pated you again. He favors the present in
come tax of five per cent, against which Pen
dleton voted though advocating the highway
mans tax on the same.
You go on with your list of reforms declar-
ing that stakes of all kinds must be reduced"
Here again the unwise Mr.. Lynch has play
ed into your hands. He is party to the Rad
ical movement that has removed internal tax
es from MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DIFFER
EMIT ARTICLES, including raw cotton and man
ufactures. He is in favor, however, of raising |
revenue enough to pay the soldiers bounties
and pensions, the interest on the debt and the
current expenses of the government. In this
latter particular he does not comply with your
wishes and you have a good point on him.
Make the most of this for Mr.. Lynch is I'M
doubtedly such demagogue as to insist upon
the fulflment in the strictest good faith of all
our obligations to all onr creditors.
Further, you require t. at the rights of ev-
cry American citizen, whether native or for
eign born, rich or poor, high or low must re-
ceive protection and be respected by every ma
ton on earth"
Mr. Lynch who is himself an Irish Ameri-
can, is one of the Radical majority in Congress
that passed more efficient bill for the protec-
ton of American citizens abroad than any ev-
en- imagined by the Democratic party through
the long years that they held the reins of gov
eminent.
You want to reduce the rate of gold" "re-
turn to specie currency and "revive bust
ness in our shipyards."
In these last particulars no member of the
10th Congress has originated and pressed upon
the attention of his associates more valuable |
and practical ideas than Mr.. Lynch. His bills
for gradual return to specie payments and |
for the prevention of undue expansions and |
contractions of the currency will very likely |
be adopted, the former being the first business
in order upon the reassembling of Congress.
In respect to our commercial interests no man |
in the country has been more active and ener- |
getlc in laboring for reform than Mr.. Lynch.
This false modesty will be the ruin of Won
Mr.. Shaw. Learn brazen self-assertion You
have no prospect of going to Congress, to be
sure, but it will help you in your advertising.