Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-09-01
A WAP DEMOCRATS LETTER.

The State campaign in New York is eX-
citing good deal OF interest. The posi-
ton of that State, with an undoubted re-
publican majority and yet carried by fraud
for the democratic ticket, creates desire
for an effort to overcome this rascality and
have an honest result Men are coming
out us in war time to give their influence
to the right, and among them is General
Hiram Walbridge, whose record rs war
democrat is familiar to our readers. In Il
letter expressing his views he says
MY first impression of Gen. Grant is that
he has, to an eminent degree, carried out the
wishes of the people, and at the same time
justified the hopes of the most earnest kepub-
lcans. pay no attention to the clamors OF
men Who contend that he has not been gov
erned by the will of the party in some Of his
nominations to great Offices. His theory of
Cabinet, u theory that seems to be in conso-
nance with the true ida of our Constitution,
is that the President is chief in the eyes OF
the people, while his secretaries are merely
counsciiors and agents of his will. 1t this Is
an arbitrary rendering of the theory of Ex-
utive power and responsibility, we Rust re-
btrary when he directed MIR. Seward to write
to Napoleon that the almost unanimous reso-
luton of the House of Representatives was
simply the harmless expression of opinion by
a body ofirresponsible gentlemen. That pre-
cedent ought not to be for often by those Who
censure the President for doing as he pleases
| in the choice of his Cabinet. We have had
an eminently sound administration. 1t has
been healthy in all its parts. There is an air
of peace and steadiness-a sense that neces-
sary work is being well and quietly done.
We have had peace and we sorely need
peace We may have felt at times that the
Administration would be more popular, and
could enliven and inspire the country, by ac-
cepting some of the romantic schemes OF
states manship which are ever tempting enter
prisng statesmen. We might have had little
more rolling of drums and sounding of trum-
pets and attendant camor and enthusiasm But
we had serious work to do, and it has been
ell done. The financial administration has
been honest and straightforward. The debt
has been steadily paid. Interest has been re-
duccd. Revenues have been collected. We
hear no more of tn ,se unlawful rings, which
in their extent, and power, and mischief, re-
call some of the rings of the fairy tales.
Taxes have been removed, and the countrys
burdens have not increased. Our credit gains
in strength. Our bonds are the best in the
world. Foreign capital finds interest and
surety in our securities. In fact, this alone
this financial result of Gen. Grants courage
and sagacity-is one of those victories of
perce which far surpass the bloodiest victories
OF the war.
We have a pure administration. No Amer
lean need be ashamed of his president. The
air has no suspicion of corruption and de-
bauchery. We have no complications with
foreign powers. We are at peace, and no
cloud darkens the national horizon. We nave
had the diplomacy of common sense, which
after all, is a highest and rarest statesman
ship. If we feel that the President has done
well, naturally the question aris, S: Do we
owe him u second term? am very clear that
the rencnlinatiDf of Gen. Grant is poiti-
cal and national necessity. IT the Republl-
cans do not nominate Gen. Grant they will
practically abandon their canvass. If he
be elected, then we must submit to reaction
AIRY Democrat-to the representative of Il pol
| icy directly at variance with the best interests
OF the country. The results of the war are
not clearly enough defined, to permit the ac-
cession of any candidate OF reaction. We
must decide our grave problem OF reconstruc-
ton SO absolutely that this constant, intermit-
tent, epervating fever, which seems always to
play over the surface of the body polite, will
end. Crime must be repressed with an even,
steady, temperate hand-l mean the crimes
of rebels who persist in the bitterness of the
war-as well as the knaves and adsenturers
who have gone down among the people to
prey on their substance and store--to seek
political advancement by schemes of dema-
goguery. This can only be done by a Prosi-
dent who has the confidence of .thc Republi-
can party. President without that conf
dence is morally and politically powerless