The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-04-18
Chief .Lust,ce Chase.


The air of lofty and virtuous superiority
with which tbe Tndependent reads Mr.. Chase
out of the Republican party has seldom been
matched. We recall but one instance of an
equal exhibition of moral grandeur, and that
is the demeanor of MIR. Pecksniff when bid
ding Tom Pinch to $50 FORTH" Mr.. Chase has
undoubtedly suffered in the public estimation
from the persisteney with which the indie
pendent and a few other newspapers have
urged his claims upon the Republican party
for the next Presidential nomination. There
has been an uneasy suspicion that Mr.. Chase
h ad authorized this course and was actively
working, not to say intriguing, for the nomi-
nation. The spectacle presented by an office
seeking Chief Justice was not edifying. There
is a very general and very wel-founded belief
that the man who cannot accept as finality
the high station which Mr. Chase holds, as the
head Of one OF the three great departments OF
the government, ought not to accept it at all.
His tenure is a life tenure, because we want a
man who is to serve us in that high capacity
to give his undivided attention to the legit-
mate duties of his Office. If he would accept a
nomination, freely rendered, to any other Of
fee he is so far worse judge. If he would
actively SUCK any OUner ONCE ne is un1t to
preside over the Supreme Court.
Well, there have been rumors within few
days that Mr.. Chase had said he hoped his
name would not again be mentioned in con-
nection with the Presidency These rumors,
if true, are creditable to the Chief Justice.
The Independent confirms them, saying on
Mr.. Tilton's return from Washington, "We
now have reason 10 believe that Mr.. Chase
would not accept the Republican nomination,
even if it were rendered" 1t is difficult to re-
sist the impression that Mr.. Chase has at any
rate administered well merited rebuke to his
too otficous advoca tie. But the Independent
proceeds to say, 4" We have equal reason to be-
lieve that he would accept the Democratic
nomination, if it could be rendered on a platform
not Inconsistent nth has aoeH koacn vieacs of me-
gro Suffrage" This is equivalent to saying that
Mr. Chase will accept the Office of Emperor of
the Moon, if safe and convenient railway can
be constructed to that satellite, and is SO plain
ly absurd as to throw some discredit upon the
former statement 70 make convection doubly
sure and stamp its lutheran ces as mere idle
breath, the Independent goes on to say in
plain words, "We have neither authority, nor
kn owledge, nor wish, nor right, to state the
position, or indicate the views, or hint the pur-
poses of Mr.. Chase" Such a confession, we
venture to say, was never before made under
similarcir "umstances. The Independent knows
nothing about the matter, except possibly
thlt Mr.. Chase desires to be heneeforth reliev-
ell of its troublesome advocacy
II that is all, it is, as We have already said,
extremely creditable to the Chief Justice. His
conduct during the impeachment trial has
been, so far as we can judge at this distance,
absolutely blameless. He has presided with
the impartiality of judge. If anybody ex-
pected of him the rigor of a prosecutor, the
fault was in the expectation which has been
justly disappointed. We believe Andrew
johnson guilty and expect to see him convict
ed; but he is entitled to fair and impartial
trial, and such a trial we are glad to believe he
has thus far received