The Portland daily press., 1869-09-27

which succeeds in affording a man who can
worthiy fill the place his death has made va
cant.
Mr.. Fessenden's clear, calm, practical mind
seemed eminently needed at the present juno
ture, in the great necessity of the imes-the
solution of our great financial problems, and
the bringing of the nation up from the per-
plexities of deprecated currency, and out of
the wilderness of uncertainty now hanging
over fthe business of the country, into the
clear sunshine and plain road of material
prosperity. But Death, which respects nei-
Their age, station nor national necessity, seems
in this case to have selected singularly lus-
trous ard shining mark, and a Christian peo-
pie have no duty less binding than that of un-
repining submission to Heavens behests.
POLITICS AND POLITICAL TACTICS.
Politically, matters in this State are some
what "mixed and miscellaneous" as one of
your former city clergymen was accustomed
to say of matters ecclesiastical. It was my
fortune a few days since, to witness as mere
looker,,on, the proceedings of the Republican
State Convention, and it may not be uninter-
esting to your readers for me to say a few
words suggested by that occasion.
If one expects to find political organizations
in the same healthy condition in new State
as in an older one like yours, he will find him
self grievously mistaken. That such organ
izations are corrupt enough to sadden the re-
Elective and patriotic, even in their last estate,
few men are disposed to deny; but in new
States, filled with political and other adven-
turers, with large class of ignorant, newly
made voters who cannot toll ynu the yuoy to
their next neghbor's in ineligible English,
thus affordiug opportunities for intrigue and
deception not usual in older, more intelligent
and more fixed communities, corruption ex-
hibits remarkable boldness of front, while
political "bargain and sale" become so COM
mon That they cease to excite alarm, and are
almost looked upon as the necessary concomi-
tants of political action.
With you the Republican party has recent
ly suffered slight detection on simple meas
ure, no principle being involved in the mat
ter, as your conventional resolves conceded
the whole ground claimed by the disaffected
so far as any principle was involved, and even
pledged the party to all the leading measures
heretofore claimed by the most advanced pro-
hibitionists.
In this State, however, the party is rent
into factions on grounds not even so high as
that of difference in measures to say nothing
of principles, but simply on the question of
mo Tho dif1aropooc II
One is for Paul, another for Apollos, and on
differences of this nature, which should nev-
er gain strong foothold in political party, all
the conventions of the State become scenes
of violent passion and angry-often undigni-
fled and bitter-strife: frequently resulting in
counter conventions and Independent nom
nations.
And the personal differences which divide
the party into cabals and cliques, are not al
ways in relation to the fitness of persons pro-
posed for conventional honors, or their places
of residence, but they must be sound in rela-
ton to other personal preferences, to be acted
upon year or more ahead. There are wheels
within wheels.
For example; in the recent State Conven-
ton in this city, the question concerning can
didates was not, care they in favor of or op-
posed to prohibition? are they sound, reliable
Republicans? did they do their whole duty
during our great struggle for national life and
unity? are they true unacceptable, faithful,
honest ?" but the question which admitted of
no evasion, equivocation OF silence was, GLOW
do they stand with reference to Mr.. So-and
SOS election to the U. s. Senate a near from
neat ,ointer? -----
The readers OF the Press may think this ex-
travagant, and that am exaggerating facts,
but in sober truth am doing no such thing.
Said one gentleman to another-a regular tao
tician in political matters-"Why was it that
A. B. made no better show for nomination
when his friends had been so sanguine of his
success?" Because he was unfortunate in
his combinations" was the reply "He was
in such and such rings in relation to the sem
atorial question, and the friends of c. d. were
compelled to combine and fight him." do
you mean to say" was the further inquiry,
"that A. B. committed himself in any way
against G. DE-" "No," promptly responded
the person questioned, "but he refused to COM
NIT himself in C. DIS favor; said upon the
senatorial question he should remain indie
pendent, not deeming it fitting that the office
for which his name was proposed should be
used to aid any political aspirant and By Cd,
it is no time to nominate neatrals! was the
emphatic manner in which the coloquy ter
minated
Now in time Of profound peace, with no
higher question 10 divide upon than whether
one Or the other of two equally sound, talent
ed and worthy Republicans shall, at future
day be elected to the U. S. Senate, this seems
rather strong language to use and extreme
ground to assume against neutrality and then
when it Is considered that the nominations
were not for candidates whose election would
give them voice or a vote on the senatorial
question, but simply for executive offices,
which should haze no influence upon the
qlestion of any other mans election, it will
be seen to what extreme lengths politicians
go in their demand upon candidates for popu-
lar suffrage
Inis evil spirit runs through nearly all the
political movements of the State. Caucuses
and conventions are manipulated as have
never known them to be before, except during
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS fight in
the Democratic patty and State, District and
County conventions present an aspect by no
means gratifying to those who neither ask nor
desire political preferment. Bargain and sale,
intrigue and chicanery have made party ties
sit very poorly, insomuch that the remark is
often made by the best men and truest Repub-
lcans, that nothing short of severe chastise-
ment,like a temporary defeats adequate to the
work OF restoring the party to sound and
healthy condition, and to make it the minis
Ter Of good to the public; and were the 18th
amendment to the constitution not in danger,
and was not its endorsement by this State of
the f1rst Importance, there would be few tears
shed by patriotic men this fall if our majority
should be found minus, and the opposition
should achieve triumph. Such a success on
their part, even were it possible, would be
for another year, when Congress
men and Senator are to be elected, the peo-
pie would come forth in their might, and
spurning the control of tricksters and political
gamblers, would, by their own fiat, elevate
the standard of political action far above the
point it now occupies, and instead of 1900
fou up $4,000 majority as the proud mon,i-
ment OF Minnesota's redemption.
OpsERVER