The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-11
Terms $500 per annuns, in adrance.



The last Democratic administration that
was III iull power in this country under Pres
ident Buchanan spent for the objects embrac-
ed IN this schedule something over seventy
millions per aDnum in eold-an equivalent in
paper to-day OF eighty-five millions of dollars.
Ihe population OF the country was then less
than thirty millions. 1t is now forty millions,
SO that President Grant would be entitled by
the ratio which has always governed expeDdi-
ture IN this codntry, to spend a third more in
the administration of the government than
was required under Buchanan, and that
would bring the sum total to one hundred
and fourteen millions of dollars when in real
ity it is but one hundred and five millions.
And the details of expenditure in the two pc
riodS will show immensely in favor of Presi-
dent Grants economy. Under President Bu-
chaEan the army consisted of nineteen reei-
ments, and yet its maintenance cost for the
four years OF the administration an average of
over twenty-one millions each year-more
than million dollars per annum in gold, or
about thirteen hundred thousand dollars in
the paper money OF 10 day for each regiment.
The army at present consists OF forty reoi-
ments and yet its WHOLE maintenance tor the
year costs but twenty-nine millions of dollars,
trife over seven hundred thousand dollars
in paper money to each regiment.
have selected the army merely because
comparison in that branch of the public SER
vice is easy and the result palpable. The
same statement is true in all the other de-
partments OF the government, and ii the lin
its have assigned to this letter permitted IT,.
l could readily demonstrate that under repub-
liean administration The national expenditure
has been far mort carefully guarueu and rfgfu-
economy lar more carefully consulted than
under preceding democratic administrations
The amounts expended have necessarily been
very large and the temptation to extrava-
gahce thus greatly enhanced. and hence the
adherence TO severe economy and strict ac-
countabiity is all the more praiseworthy and
honorable.
In all the leading measures of the 41st
Congress for tightening the burdens of the
people, the Democratic party as represented
IN the Senate and House, were found stub
borny resisting They voted in almost solid
phalanx against the bill whereby the tax on
tea, coffee and sugar was reduced, whereby a
large free list was added to the Tariff, and
whereby sixty millions of Internal taxes were
entirely removed. They voted with equal
unanimity against the bill which proposes to
iund the public debt at four per cent. interest,
and thus immensely decrease the annual
charge upon the people. With very few ex-
eeptions they voted against the bill which
gives to the South and West something nearer
to lair proportion OF national banking capi-
tai aud which Oh the specie basis makes the
banking system free to all who wish to engage
in it, as by right and justice it should be. II
is not fair TO assign motives TO men, and
hence L do not attempt it. 1 content myself
with calling attention to the fact that the
Democratic party as represented in Congress,
stauds recorded as voting against all these
measures of relief, ameliOration and Justice.
The Republican party is in the tenth year
of its power in the nation. When Abraham
Lincoln was inaugurated as President in
March, 1861, the treason of leading Demo-
Gratis had well-nigh destroyed the Govern
ment. Howell Cobb had blasted our credit
aud left bankrupt Treasury. John B. Floyd
had so demoralized and scattered the army
that the strongest iortresses fell into the hands
of rebels and traitors. Isaac Toucey had des-
patched our war vessels on distant errands,
not leaving guns enough in our harbors or
marines enough in our southern navy yards
to hold them against the enemy. The result,
therefore, of Democratic rule was national
credit ruined, army and navy powerless fOr
defence, treason rampant and defiant, aud the
country on the eve OF fatal and final dismem-
berment. At the critical moment the Repub-
llcans came into power, and how they have
governed the nation, history will tell. The
most gigantic of rebelons has been crushed
the great evil of slavery has been extirpated;
the national credit has been revived, and the
national Iaith maintained; great public works
nave Deen prosecuted 10 cOmpletlOn, the con-
tinent has been spanned with telegraphic
wires; the oceans have been connected
with iron b dSs our entire domain is organ
lied with Hik,governme mt; new States of
wealth and y have been added to the I'm
ion, and old Ssates, purified as by fire from the
taint Of treason, have been reconstructed and
once more clothed with their appropriate
powers. And all these results have been
achieved not only without the aid but against
the efforts of the Democratic party.
A political organization OF such respectable
antecedeDts as the Federal party was utterly
destroyed by the suspicion that in the hour of
war its sympathies were not actively on the
side of the country. How much more de-
serving of reproach and condemnation is the
Democratic party which Though its oulhern
wing actually made war ppoa the Govern
ment, while the Northing wing was divided
between active sympathy with the rebels aid
tardy support Of the national authorities. Ii
rs not wise, know, to keep alive animositfss
or inflame resentments, and | do not recall
these painful facts with any such desire, or
any such purpose. But 1 am persuaded that
great evils would result to this country by re-
storing to power the men who attempted to
destroy it, and believe it is an imperative
and patriotic duty to keep the people aroused
to the necessity of averting even the possibl-
ity OF such disaster. Very truly yours,
j. g. BLAINE.
THE Nnpru AnAxt- Curxr