The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-09
CONGRESS AND THE SHIPPING INTEREST

| The tull report OF tuesdays proceedings,
which had not reached us when our remarks
of last week were written, eXtinguished all
hope of the passage Of Mr.. Lynchs bill for
the relief of American shipping. The House
refused its favorable consideration by a decis-
i've vote.
| We predicted this result at the beginning
Of the agitation by the commercial interest.
1t needed no remarkable Gift of prophesy to
torctell that Congress would not give u fay
orable consideration to this measure while
there should be any wild and foolish chimera
to claim its attention. Let a negro be whip
ped for robbing a bacon house in the South.
or wench be refused the best seat in the
best railroad car, and that august body would
explode in Nominations Of wrath and de-
mands for vengeance. But when the once
great interest Of the country, and the means
by which the coast of Maine has been enrich
ed, asks for relief from the UNI ust measures
which have dragged it down to death, it is
told that the matter is unworthy the serious
attention of Congress.
| What shadow Of excuse is there for this
course9 Radical papers tell us that the ship
builders themselves cannot agree upon terms
of relief, and this has been reiterated especi
ally by the Prog. Age. That is no excuse at
all. Neither do manufacturers agree upon
tariff or tax, still Congress does not therefore
hesitate to apply its own idea of these de-
mands. There is Il difference of opinion up
on all subjects of legislation by those to
whom it applies. What is Congress for, if it
processes to have neither judgment, discre
ton Or wisdom9 Better, as Charles the
Twelfth said, have q pair of old breeches.
than such a body of men.
Men of Maine-ship-owne ship-builders,
arizans sailors-look at this pitiable con-
fession, this mortifying acknowledgement Of
your national Legislature 1t is in effect that
the commerce which their destructive meas
ures have Frustrated, they have no means,
OF device, or plan, or policy to restore.
Efficient to tear down and render useless,
they have not the least aptness or facility at
restoration. They are destructives, and
nothing more. While the flags of England
France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Aus
tria and Italy are borne above a growing and
prosperous marine, and crowd our home
ports with their cargoes, the Congress Of this
country soemnly says it cannot or will not
remove the letters it has fastened upon its
shipping. With magnificent harbors lining
the two shores of a continent; with forests
of timber, mines of iron, copper and coal :;
with mechanics whose skill is of worldwide
repute; with seamen skillful, bold and ad-
venturous-yet that body of imbeciles at
Washington resolves that we will have no
commerce and no ships!
Is not this enough to awaken the people of
the sea-coast Of Maine to an understanding
of the nature Of the party that they are sup
porting by their votes?
The New York Standard, edited by John
Russell Young, one of Greeley's disciples,
and an especial exponent Of radicalism, q Ia
Butler, speaks thus plainly Of the Republican
party:
"Kepublicanism in New York to-day is a mock
cry and by-word; in almost as deporable a con-
dtion and pitiabe plight, the defeated FenanS
coming home from the border line. The apathy
and GOODNESS, and Indifference treachery of
calle. leaders have wrought this ruin"
The Republican party in the State of New York
to-day Is a demoralized, routed rabble, without
leaders. 1t has no future, and can have none until
fathess or incompetent men are deposed from the
party leadership
This is the testimony of as good authority
as the radical party affords, against its policy
Of clinging to dead issues, that should be
buried and forgotten. The forcing Of q negro
cadet into West Point, or of Il colored woman
into a Baltimore street car, is made of more
Importance in congress than the lifting of the
yoke of taxation from burdened people, the
restoration of dccaving commerce, or the
prosperity of any branch of national industry
business, and demands of the party in power
. living, practical sympathy with the needs
of the country. That is the true significance
of recent elections. and of those not less de-
cisive that are to follow The republican
party must heed them, or 90 out of power
Our genial friend Simpson of the Belfast Journal
don't like to admit that the sickly looking rooster
which he elevated at the head of his paper to crow
over the New York election, is fair specimen of Il
democratic bird. He accordingly sends us cut of
wide-awake biped. with the inquiry as to how we
like that. He will do better. Lewiston Journal
The bird which "does BETTER" is an aston
ishing specimen of his kind, and is being re-
served for a special occasion When the
Democrats carry Maine. or Democratic
President is elected, that giant bird will stalk
forth, and statle the radicals into fits with
his deafening crow. Like the mare of the
Prophet, he is expected to found q long line
Of distinguished progeny.
every movement is not progress" is the
profound remark Of the Age. And it might