The Portland daily press., 1870-09-12
The Argus VS.. The Argus.

1he argus taxes hendish pleasure III ar
ranging lot of selections from various pa
pers in reference to the failure of Mr.. Lynch's
bill for the benefit of American commerce.
The effort is as mean as it is impotent. Mr.
Lynch's Jealous and protracted labor for that
interest should command the respect of every
manin Maine who has particle of manliness
in him. His labors were for the benefit of
every man in Maine, and none more so than
Tor the Argus man himself. Aud yet, for po-
ltical effect. he turns upon his friend, and
rends hlm-or tries TO. Thanks to his ina.
billy to hurt, and not any good intentions, he
cannot succeed in that direction. The fact
is, Mr. Lynch's bill was defeated by interests
opposed to the commercial interests of the
country, and the argus man knows it as well
as ne knows his road home, and yet for party
purposes, on the day before election he attri-
butes it to bad management.
Mr.. Lynch's labor on that bill, and for the
interests it protected and advanced, were of
the most valuable kind, and his report is
most important text book and will be so used
for years to come. The first District, so large
ly interested in the question at issue, found
man in her representative who would not sit
idly by and leave this great resource at sea-
tie bent on to it and gave it his undivided at
tention for months. That the bill failed, we
know, but from no remissness of his. Other
powers were stronger. Buthis labors entitle
hlm to the respect and vote of every well
wisher to the State of Maine and the success
of her commerce.
But the argus was very complimentary to
Mr.. Lynch from the time that his report was
submitted to Congress up to about the time of
Mr.. LIS re nomination. 1t supported bis bill,
copied into its columns favorable notices of its
progress in the House, and more than once
half-defended him from the assaults of his
enemies. On the 22d of February the Arous
said, editorially:
The report made by Hon. John Lynch as
chairman of the special Committee on the
navigation interests of the country displays
degree OF industry, ability and statesmansbip
such as 10 other member OF the present House
from Mane has given evidence of possessipo-
tie has evidently devoted himself with consci-
entious asslduity to the interests OF his consti-
tnents and his general duties as representa-
1--WE OF me people in Congress. This is but
n
ent; and there is need of our sayiug it, be-
cause such attention to duty, as com pared with
me constant p.otting and partizan Intriguing
OF small beer politicians, is as as it is com
mendaDle. Mr.. Lynch merits and we doubt
not Will receive the sincere thanks of the en-
tire people of Maine for his efforts in behalf of
the suffering navigation interests.
In the Argus of May 16 we find this para
graph:
Mr.. Lynch has secured the attention of the
country and Congress by his bill for the restor-
alton OF American commerce and bis able
speech in support thereof Mr.. l.. devoted
much labor and time to this matter and did his
action of Congress upon his proposed meas
ures OF relief. he is entitled to and will receive
general thanks and excellent reputation.
On the Sth of June, the editor wrote:
But that Mr.. Lynch labored indefatigably
and ably tor the measure. there ia no one to
uehy. And 1t failed because Congress would |
not approve of it, and would NOT amend II So |
'he majority would approve it.
oh tne 18th OF May it copied, with words of
approval an article from the N. Y. Shippino
ana commercial List commencing both the
bill and speech of Mr.. Lynch.
When the fate of the bill was decided i,
the House, the Argus regretted its defeat and
eu"ise" congress with the result; using in |
the course of the article these words:
Supposing that Mr.. Lynch's bill was NOT
good one; or ii good that was not the yerv hast |
that could be devised, in the opinion of Con.
gress; was it not the duty of the national leeis.
lature to frame better and adopt it
A special committee has 'abored indefatieablv |
for year to mature such measures, and when |
all this had been done, what was the result !? |
Nothing, nothing. The measures are summari. |
y killed, and that is the end of the matter.
But the argus is in the habit of going back
IN its record.
THE argus says it was "Radcal Con-
5ress" that kept the thieves in office. But
now did President Grant get rid of them. He
was as much bound by the Tenure of Office
Law as johnson, and there has been Radical
congress ever since he came into power. The
mango that took place as soon as we had an
,onest executive showed who it was that kept
he thieves in Office. The argus very aptly
quotes the guilty Macbeth's denial to ease his