The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-12
The Fu,urc ofthe Republican H'urty.

Friday Morning, Aug. IL, 1870.
The FIXTURE ofthc Republican h'"rfs'
The address of the Republican Congressioh-
al Committee which we publish on our first
page Is worthy of careful perusai. IL sels
forth without overstatine the importance OF
preserving the organization OF the republican
party intact. 1t is often argued that repeli-
ton of the history and achievements of the
Republican party is irrelevant and proves
nothing, as to its fitness to meet the new is
sues that are coming up. But little reflect
ion will show that this objection ignores a
very important test of character by their
fruite ye shall know Them" and the address
simply shows what has been the fruits of Re-
publican ascendancy. The record of the Re-
publican party is guarantee that it possesses
the qualifications required to meet the issues
of the future.
The importance of having political organ
ization composed of elements so varied as
those which are combined in the Republican
party cannot be oveirated. Rarely if ever has
"A political party embraced so many shades of
opinion and character We have radicals and
conservatives. high tariff men, low tariff men,
and free traders, hard money men and advo-
Gates OF a mixed, and also of an exclusively
paper currency, believers in restricted, and in
universal suffrage. 1t is this comprehensive
ness of composition that insures the MAIN
tainance OF the Republican party. For it
haoltl,(,,l
in mans present partially developed condition,
are among the srlrest guarantees of continued
progress. All great reforms originate with
minorities, and permanent progress can beck
pected only when as in the Republican party
minorities exist, have chance co propagate
their opinions make themselves majority,
and shape the policy oI.the party. Hence the
probability that the Republican party will
be able to preserve lis political influence by
developing policy suited to any circumstan-
ces that may arise.
II is also possible for such party alone to
find critics within itself. and to be always
provided with friendly correction for its MS
takes. The value of such a conservative intel.
ligence within the party is inestimabe. 1t SUI
persedes tho necessity for the destructive crit
icism OF enemies, and tends to prevent crude
innovations and visionary schemes. 1t is with
these characteristics that the party enters up
on the fourth era of its existence, which with
proper effort and devotion ought to be its
most glorious epoch. It's work is not done.
1t will always have a work to do, and It will
perish only when it fails to fulfill its mission.
Kennebec Comfy Convention.
The Republican County Convention for
Kennebec County was held at Augusta on
Wednesday, Full delegations were reportedex-
cept from Clinton. Gore. and Unity Planta-
ton, which were not represented. The follow
ing nominations was made: For Senator'S
Joshua Gray of Gardner, Reuben Foster of
Watervle, and Geo. e. Minot of Belgrade
County Attorney, w. p. Wnitehouse of An.
gusta; County Commissioner, Nathaniel Grave
OF Vienna; Treasurer, Alanson Starks of Au-
gusta; Sheriff, A. Ii. Carton ofsBenton, in
place of Charles Rewis, Esq. who declined
a denomination. There was no contest over
any of the nominations except for third Sena-
tor and County Commissioner. John MAY of
Winthrop: received 81 votes for the former
nomination, to 101 for Mr.. Minot, ard d. III
Thing received 81 votes for the latter nomi-
nation, TO 81 for Mr.. Graves David Caroill
of Augusta; James Nash of Gardiner; John
M. Benjamin, of Winthrop. Charles levitt.
of Clinton; andG. L. Stevens of West Water
vile. were selected as County Committee.
National Expenditures i'm A mcr5 and
Europe.
The argus gives Mr.. Dawes of Massachu-
sets credit for the following figures:
He demonstrated, for instance, t.,at our
navy, with $500 men, cost $2S,O00,000, while
the British navy. with $4,000 men, costs but
Si9,O0O,000: that the annual cost OF every
vessel in our navy is $13S ,0C0, and in the
British navy $4,000; and that while it costs
So0o man to keep our navy afloat, in Eng
land it costs $50 man."
There is fallacy in making the comparison
in this way without allowing for the differ
ence in the prices of nearly all articles in the
two countries. Labor is much more product
i've here than in England or any other coun-
try in Europe, and consequently a dollar of
national expenditure in this county repre-
sents much less labor than in England. At
the same time wages are from fiftv to one
bundled per cent. higher here than in Eng
land, and every thing into which labor enters
as an clement, is correspondinely increased
in price. We cannot expect to secure the
services of ma, : at European prices. The
workers in all other occupations Get more
i'll this country than in Europe. Why should
the navy be an e. ception?
Another reason why orr navy costs rela-
lively more than that Of England is that ours
is smaller. The economy OF doing business
on large scale is well know a. Other things
being equal it does not cost twice as much TO
print 6,0O0 copies of newspaper as 5000. and
the principle Illustrated in this case is one of |
nearly universal application. Great Britain |
would be less economical than we are e she
could not construct and maintain her LARGE
navy at relatively less expense than we do
our smaller one. So it is in regard to all the
other elements of national expenditure.
The expenditures OF European States furnish
no standard by which we can test our own ex-
travaeance or economy, unless due allowances
are made for the difference of our crcumstan-
ces. 1t is not of course to be pretended that
further progress in economy is Impossible. No
limit should be asst ned to that. There will
never be so much improvement but that more
VIII De attalpable. But the figures of the argus
even if correctly given, are calculated to con-
Vey Wong impress on which it is necessary
10 dispe..
Political Notes.
w. III. Hooper, Mormon candidate for Com
gless in Utah, has about H. 500 majority in a