The Portland daily press., 1869-07-23

ferent State conventions are held. The incon-
istences of the party for the last few years
have been so notorious and glaring, that it can
substantiate no claim to consistency, save in
the one particular Of being uniformly incon-
sistent,. What the party said yesterday gives
no clue'to its performances of to-day, and the
declarations of to day will most likely misiead
anybody who looks 10 it for the purpose Of as
certaining its attitude on the morrow.
The national Democratic convention OF last
year declared in favor OF a just protection for
home .bor. The Democratic convention Of
this State last month opposed the present
protective tariff, and some of the Western
Democratic State conventions declare boldly in
favor of free trade. The national convention
declared against reputation, but the Ohio
State convention stops just short of an open
avowal of this infamous doctrine as part of
the democratic creed, and is backed up prompt
ly by several Democratic organs which an
nounce that doctrine as the only panacea for
our national ills
A few years since the Democracy of Ohio
placed in nomination for Governor, one
@. L. Vallandigham, who was buried beneath
a hundred thousand majority of loyal ballots
and the curses of the American people. This
year the same democracy are called upon to
support the man who about that time sent
Vallandigham through the Union lines on ac-
count Of his sympathy with treason.
Then the Democracy were doing business as
peacemongers, now they nominate man who
helped fight the battles of the country and of
whom the leading democratic paper of the
country at that time remarked that he was an
insignificant and disappointed politician
The same party in Ohio is bitterly opposed to
the 18th amendment while thousands of the
friends of that party in the Southern States
support the same right cheerfully.
The dsmocracyof California oppose the ne
gro and Chinese and solemnly declare that the
white folks of that State can get along without
either, and that this cheap labor of John and
Cuffee plays the very dickens with Pat and
Michael as well as with other unfortunate sons
of toll while strange to relate, leading demo-
Gratis from the Cotton States are holding large
convention at Memphis for the sole purpose Of
ascertaining the most practical mode Of entic-
ing the pig tailed John from the land of flow
ers.
In TammaDy Hall on the 9th of July the
ed applause, and forthwith heralded by nu-
merous democratic papers throughout the
country as the coming man for 1872: at the
same time State conventions resolve with won
derful unanimity that the national banking
system, originated by him, is one of The worst
outgrowths of the bonded debt,
Down South, men sympafnizing with dem
ocracy vote with aud for negroes and solicit
their votes for themselves and friends. while
throughout the North the party regard the
'tniggerH as the "demnition sum totals of all
;. that IL dreadful in politics and wash their
hands Of any completely with him or his cause
These are but samples. of their eccentrioities
and we have not space for more se
Whether in the progress of events the dem
ocracy will ever again find themselves united
in the advocacy and support of the same prin-
ciples from Maine to Texas; and adhering
faithfully from year 10 year to the positions it
may take upon public questions, we are una
bic to say. AT present they are badly mixed;
and we are sorry to say there are no signs in
dicating an immediate change for the better
"a N4s& a
sheffield Mannfucsures and tine American
Trade.
question Of great importance to the trade
OF Sheffield and the district, has just arisen be-
tween the majority of the leading manufac-
turers af Sheffield, and the representatives OF
the Unied States Government with reference
to the invoicing of steel aud hardware goods
Il for exporg 10 this country. The point at lssae
has reference to the prices at which goods are
inzoieed, and as s~hst sbali DO considered
the actual market value or wholesale price of
the goods prepared for expectation. On the one
hand the steel merchants and manufactures
are said to be invoicing their produce on the
terms which they have adopted for at least ten
years past and which they hold to be ajust and
reasonable standard, but, on the other hand.
1.-THE United States authorities appear to be Of
opinion that che various qualities indicated.
should be put down at higher figures, and the
increased duty paid accordingly. Whilst the
dispute is pending affairs seem to have assum-
ed serious aspect as regards the effects upon
the trade ofthe town. Already one or two Of
the principal firms engaged in the stele trade
have given notice Of their intention to place
their workmen on short time, and one oi the
1irst houses in the trade has at once stopped
the exportation of steel from their establish
ment to the United States for the present.
With regard to finished goods similar difficult
ties have arisen, and several extensive orders
from this country have been suddenly counter
manded in consequence of the action which
has been taken injthe case of orders now ready
for transmission, but which canuot be dnly
forwarded in consequence Of the refusal of the
Consul to certify the invoices at the rates which
have hitherto been adopted. On the 18th Of
: July, a number of gentlemen largely interest
ed in the matter waited upon Mr.. Abbott. the
United States Consul in Sheffield, and Mr.,
Farwell an agent of the United States Gov
ernment, but their interview did not have any
result satisfactory to the trade generally. On
the "a ofJuly, meeting was held, at which
nearly all the leading firms in the town were
represented, but no definite conclusion as to
the course faction was arrived at. and the
matter remains IN allegiance. 1t is hardly nee
essary to say that considerable excitement has
been caused in the town, and the operatives
are aDxiously awaiting the issue, as the dues
t1on Is to them serious one. n
THE Argus was once the leading organ Of
the Democratic party in the State of Maine.
and was regular old bruiser in its way. It ii
not improbable that at some time in its event-
full history its subscription list alone was sniff
cient to pay running expenses and weld |
handsome return to the proprietors But the |
decnne OF democracy must have caused a |
nghuuis cecline in the prosperity of the Ar |
gus and fearful diminution in its receipts. y |
We are led to conclude that the continued Il. |
napcial success of the paper is owing to the |
accidental discovery by farmer, made several
years ago, that the large quantity of I've which