The Portland daily press., 1870-01-08

The Jews felt somewhat elated when the
Babylonian captivity was over, and they had
leave to go back to Judea. The empty-head-
ed, large-bellied Bourbons were iubilant when
in 1915 they were carried back to Paris by
foreign soldiery after an enforced absence of
many years. Livelier still, if possible, are the
emotions JOY experienced by the New York
democracy on getting the full control of af-
lars once more at Albany. During the
great heroic decade that is just ended, when
our Institutions were undergoing their crucial
test, and men were required to sacrifice all for
Their country, they were never once allowed
to minister at the altar of the Empire COM
monweath. Seymour was elected Governor
40 1852, that year of evil omen, but had not a
Democratic Legislature to cooperate with
HIM.
1t is therefore a somewhat curious matter
to see how Democracy will deport itself when
once more invested with official powers-to
see whether it will become progressive and
more in accord with modern ideas when it
has practical responsibilities resting upon it,
or whether it will still adhere to the conserva-
ton and reactionary notions which it holds
theoretically.
At the outset the prospect is not encourag-
ing In the first place we have Gov. Hof-
mans message, which has double Importance
since Seymour is as obsolete as the pyramids
and Hoffman is his successor. The New
York Governor expects to be the Democratic
candidate for President in 1872, lift proves
meanwhile that hard money is more pop
ular with the Democrats of the country
than the greenbacks of the "Young
Eagle of the West" George FL. Pendleton.
1t is on account of his prospective candidacy
for the Presidency that Mr.. Hoffman feels
called upon to devote third of his message
to national affairs. In this part of the mes
sage there is nothing beyond the stereotyped
lamentations of all Democratic officials who
have an opportunity to write messages. In
stead OF bowling to the inevitable and approx
ing the fifteenth amendment, he advises the |
Legislature to rescind the ratification which
was accorded by its predecessor. The Legis-
lature, accordingly, has withdrawn the assent
of the State to the amendment. But it mat
tiers not, the best constitutional lawyers in
the country holding this action null and void,
and Congress having already so decided by
disregarding the resembling resolutions of sew
eral States when the fourteenth amendment
was in question.
II the Legislature is so obedient to the Gov
ernor in matters ofState policy as it has been
on national affairs, the result will be still fur
ther to bring Democracy into disrepute. All
Intelligent men understand how necessary
some kind of registration law has become to
secure the purity of the ballot-box. Gov.
Hoffman opposes registration. Republican
Legislatures have retained on the statute
books of the State for many years an excise
law, by which the sale of liquor in New York
and Brooklyn Sundays and after II o'clock at
night was forbidden. According to the ideas
prevailing here this was as mild liquor law
as well could be, and designed merely to pre-
serve the public peace. But Gov. Hoffman
opposes that.
Lastly, Republican Legislatures, in order to
repress in some degree the evils arising from
corrupt local rule, have established metro
politan police, aid have placed various other
kinds Of authority in the hands of commits
sions appointed by the State. Gov. Hoffman
is opposed to these comm issions.
We see, therefore, that the Democracy of |
to-day is as little to be commended or trusted |
as it was on the occasion of its last appear
ancc as national power.