The Portland daily press., 1870-09-02

The methods which Democrats employ III
conducting campaigns show that they regard
the administration of the government merely as
matter ofdolIdrs and cents. The Democratic
party is nothing unless economical, and when
economical is less than nothing. Free Trade
is the only positive and clearly defined Dem
ocratic principle which has any application to
existing circumstances, and that will for q
long time at least be impractcable. The
rest of their stock in trade consists in grum-
bling 1t is composed sof nesations. Crti-
cism is of course proper in its place. But as
the staple OF party policy nothing is more
thoroughly deceptive. 1t is very easy to point
out the shortcomings of the Republican par
ty. Nobody pretends that it is perfect. But
it is not enough to show up the imperlectons
OF the Republican party. 1t should also be
shown that the Democratic party can do bet
ter, and of this, silence is often counted as a
proof. 1t is against this delusion that the
public need to be warned.
Whatever mistakes the Republican party
has committed, it has shown Itself able and
willing to correct The comprehensiveness of
its composition provides it with friendly cor
receives from within, thus giving it an elastic
ity that enables il to recover itself nom
misstep. The very looseness of its party dis
cipllne which sometimes threatens for the
moment to endanger lis success, is what
gives play to the rectifying element necessary
to its preservation.
We do not mean to disparage economy. 1t
is certainly very essential virtue in the par
ty that is to administer the affairs of a coun-
try burdened with heavy debt and having
its industrial development checked by the
losses Of gigantic war. Hence we have
taken pains to show that the Republican par
ty has, considering the difficulties in the way
managed the affairs of the government with
honesty, prudence and econoz1y. But
we wish it distinctly understood that
we claim for The Republican party,
higher virtues than these. We claim that it
is the only party that can furnish the states
manship adequate to the times. It is the
only party capable Of running the government.
Under the last years of Democratic ascenden-
cy our national affairs were going on steadily
from bad to worse. Our re .enue was decreas-
ing, our debt increasing, traitors who were
plotting their conntry's downfall, occupied
high places under the administration, using
the power which their position gave them, to
promote their nelarious schemes. Every de.
partment of the government, The Supreme
Court included, had bowed TO the slave power
The triumph of the Republican party came
none too soon to rescue a bankrupt and cor
rupted government. What the Republican
party has done in suppressing the Rebellion
is familiar to all, and Democrats no longe
dare to grumble at that. But there are othe
less visible changes which it has introduced
The postal service has been greatly extended
both in breadth and effectiveness. The Blu
reau of Indian Affairs, the funds of which 8
Democratic official formerly gambled with
has been reconstructed. The Bureau of Ag
riculture has been created. The Pension Bu
reau has quadrupled its service. The Treas
ury Department covers four times as much
space and employs four times as many clerks
as uIder Democratic rule. Other depart.
ments of the service have been similarly ex.
tended. And Democrats grumDle at the cosl
of these changes, all of which either the wal
orour national growth have made necessary
Their conduct shows what groveling and mer
cenary ideas ensross their thoughts, and pre-
vent them from rising to an appreciation O
the public wants. The country must look Il
the Republican party for the craftsmanship
which is to shape the policy of the future