The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-07-20
THE PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, July 90, 1869.
JOHN.

JOHN. sfe Nf e.
The adoption of the 18th amendment to the
Constitution of these United States (now almost
assured) has thrown the Democratic party of
She country into state of CONSERVATION, not
tqualled since the issuing of the emancipation
proclamation and the successful close of the
war.
The change in the status of Cutfee, intle-
tluces disturbing element into all their cal
culatlons and renders a new deal absolutely
necessary to the existence of the patty.
That interesting individual is soon to have
something to say about the election of Govern
ors, Representatives to Congress and even
Presidents, and his vote and influence are
matters to be considered in calculating the
prospects of the future.
When that time comes land it is not far dis
tant,) the Democracy will be obliged to fore
{ o, and indeed to yield up entirely, a time
IGNORED and highly valued privilege, the en-
ioyment of which kept them from despair dur
ing the darkest hours Of the war; and through
the disastrous years (for them) which have fol-
lowed its glorious termination We refer, of
course, to the constitutional right OF demo-
crat to spell negro with two g's, right hereto
fore classed by them with the right of trial by
jury and the privileges of habeas corpus. But
10 continue the practice under the new order
OF things and now that the negro is to have
not civil rights alone, but political rights as
well, might prove fatal to their newly arrang-
cd plans for future conquest, and jeopardize
the success which they ever fondly expect
the "next year" has in store. ~
But how to continue business as a political
organizations, without some poor, unfortunate,
snd friendless member OF the human family to
abuse, maltreat, Cypress and call names
come class more unfortunate, weaker, and if
possible, meaner than themselves, of which
they can make scape-goat and scare-crow,
has been difficulty of such appalling magni-
Jude that the wisest of the party have as yet
been unable to surmount it. sTal =
Providentially Gift be not wicked to use the
word in this connection) in the midst of their
Z newborn troubles, and just in the nick of
lime, the Chinese question looms up in the
Pacific states, and attracts the attention Of
the entire country, SO that while Cuffee steps
off the stage at one end, John Chinaman steps
on at the other. Nothing could be more OPP
perfume, and we may say more felicitous, than
his appearance at this particular juncture. ~
Friendiess and homeless people who have
no votes, have ever been considered by the
1 Democratic party as dangerous to liberty and
inimical to republican institutions. Honest
people who pay their bills without compulsion
are coming to be considered as a staDding re-
],roach to the new faith and doctrine of the
Democratic party. 1t was absolutely necessa-
yy for the salvation of the party that some
such individual or class should make an app
pearance upon the political stage. ~ Is,
8 Now JOHN isso admirably adapted by nature
temperament, habit and training to become
the foot ball OF the Democratic party, and the
right subject to fire the sTrish heart and be-
come the text of demagogues and political
quacks, that it almost seems he must have
j. been made to order instead Of being the crea-
ture of circumstan .soH gnFinoas ri
JOHN first put in an appearance in the State
of California, but becoming interested in the
construction Of the Pacific railroad, he gradu-
ally enlarged his circuit, until he is seen in
'small quantities. in other States and terrific
3 lies. If he can get work, John does not hest
tate to go any distance, always provided it be
not SO far that his body cannot Tin case of
DEATH be sent home for burial John is cele-
DRAFTED for honesty, neatness, frngality, pa
thence and industry. He is slow to anger, not re-
vengeful, long suffering, accomplishing, docile
and kind; never goes on aspree, won't fight,
contented with his wages, no striker, don ask
to vote, and only begs the humble privilege of
iarLing his bread without let or hindrance and
3 in the sweat of his brow. ~ ...'s5ls.,.ys fai
The Democratic party impelled by that UNI
erring instinct for kicking any unfortunate
wretch who has neither ballot nor friend to
protect him, for which it has acquired such in
famous but just celebrity, sees at once that
John is the man for the crisis and pounces on
him with remorseless fury. And so it comes
10 pass that John is taken into the Democratic
State Convention of California, and formally
presented to that iliustrious body as the stock
in trade for the next campaign, and the proper
subject for one of their eloquent resolves. 81
John works cheap and lives cheap, and there
by interferes with Pat and Michael whose
Democratic blood is stirred within them to
think that the wicked pagan should be allow
I'D to land upon our shores. ~ no.
That America should become the asylum, of
anybody who is willing to work for less than
$500 per day is shockingly absurd, that the
laws of the country should protect a man who
doesn't believe in God and has the audacity to
wear queue is too ridiculous proposition to
be entertained for single moment And SO
these sublime ideas become incorporated in
10 the Democratic platform with many more
equally absurd and monstrous, and the great
Democratic ship,beating against wind and tide
sets sail once more for port. The gilt ofprophe-
cy is not required to predict the result of the
voyage, and the fate of ship and crew.
That ship win not go far to strand. The voy-
age must come to naught The crew will per-
ish. y s "a
But John will sometime get his rights and
be protected in property and person. He
shall sometime be a witness on the stand,
juror on the panel, and voter at the polls
A country vast as ours which has already fur
nished homes and citizenship for so many
thousands of Irish and Dutch, without any
perceptible shock to its Institutions or per-
manent detriment to its interests can surely
endure the presence Of the celestial John, and
afford to throw around him the protecting
segis Gifts laws lgs i4.-HI