The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-08-07


IL will be seen that In 1864 and in 1880, when
national issues were before tho people, the
Republican strength was In the field, and the
victory was complete and overwhelming, and
we doubt not II will be this year.
Maine is a shipbuilding State, and this busi-
ness was once carried on there very extern
sively. Indeed, there was time when Maine
built one third OF the tonnage In the United
States. For the last few years, however,
scarcely any vessels have been built there.
We believe the business is reviving the pres.
ent year. The causes for this decline In ship
building are apparent to all; yet we notice
that several Democratic newspapers are max
ing assertions as unfoundel as they are ridieu-
lOus, that this business has been depressed
and almost destroyed on account OF Radical
legislation. We say that these papers deal
entirely in assertions, because they cannot
and they do not even attempt to offer one sin
gle argument In proof OF their statements.
1t is easy to make assertions that the Radi-
cal policy of Congress has done this and that
but we demand OF these fippsnt gentlemen OF
the opposition, whether in this city or else
where, to show how Radical legislation has
effected the shipbuildlng interests OF Maine.
We claim to know something OF that interest,
and the causes which have led to its depres-
sion and produced the past and present stag
nation, and they are too plain to be kept from
the sight OF the most unobserving people OF
that Commonwealth.
1t was that pertidious crew OF rebel pirates
who tried TO be dignihed as the Confederate
States navy" that prowled about over the
seas robbing and destroying peaceful mer-
chantmen, that drove our mercantile marine
from the ocean, and destroyed the ship build.
Ing interests Of Maine and OF the entire coun.
try. 1t was your Raphael Semmes, who
In speech the other day, said that he was
IA Democrat before the war, during the war,
and since the war;" who commanded the pi.
rate craft, the Alabama, and others like him,
who did these things. The charge that the
radical policy OF the Republican party has
produced this state OF things comes with an
Ill grace from men who are now, and were all
the time Of the rebellion, in full sympathy
with Semmes and his associate pirates.
Some OF these men were down in rebeldom all
the while the war was going on, and only came
back here when they could do SO with safety
to their heads.
Everybody knows that It was the magnia-
cent % rebel navy that took good care to avoid
our war ships while 1t preyed upon our limo
cent merchantmen that drove our commerce
from the seas, destroyed the ship. building in
'eies'oi anu befo W ioioiSu ha'iOus tue carry
ing trade. And now Maine is to be appealed to
to vote for the very men and the party which
perpetrated and upheld these things. Not
much. We tell gentlemen that they carry
their sympathy to the wrong market when
they make such appeals to the intelligen
ship-builders Of Maine.
The people of the pine tree State are aroused
from Kittery Point to Quoddy Head, from the
granite hills to the Madswaska, and they
will give good account Of themselves in Sep.
TENDER and also in November. We have nc
fears for Maine.