The Portland daily press., 1870-08-20
rHE PR ESS.
Saturday Morning, Aug. 20, 1870.
Abuse ofiE,c & dmiuistratsOn.

The Argus makes desperate attemp 10
fix upon the "Radcals" the responsibility fof
the nal. administration af Andrew johnson.
Tits true that Republican votes elected MN
and we must admit that in so dong hepuph-
cans made a gigantic though an unintentlon-
al mistake. But the responsibility was speed
lily shifted from the Republicans who did not
the Democrats who did endorse him. He
did wha. be could, and that was considerable,
to make his Democratic administration, and
in spite OF all the Republicans could do he sue
caeded but too well in obstructing the whole
some legislation of Congress, and in perpetu-
aling the frauds OF the whiskey ring upon the
sake it that there has been more efficient
collection, and more economical disburse-
ment Of the revenue under President Grant.
Otherwise how are the receipts larger now
than under johnson, in spite of reduced tax
IS? The burdens of the people are lighter,
but the thieves whe reigned under Johnson's
administration have to contribute their share
now to the support OF the government
The argus says. The people will ask these
men, and very properly, how it is, that with
all their professions of economy it happened
that the expenses of the Government are to-
day tUo and q Quatter rimes greater than
before the tcdr, making due allowance for de-
preciated currency and thes growth of the
country?" No not the people, only copper
heads will ask that question. Every intelli-
CERT man kows that pensions and the public
debt, the interest on which forms the chief
item of additional expend ture, are the price
of the Union. That is probably more than
the Argus and its compeers IN disoyaty dur
ing the war think the Union worth. Ii not
why are they always blaming the Repub-
lican party for the debt? The inference
is natural, and their whole conduct
shows that if they could have had their way
the debt would have been saved and the
Union ios.i The Republican party are not
to blame for the creation of the debt. They
simply elected their candidate for the presi-
dency as they had a right to do, and the
southern wing Of the Democratic party rebel
led, and tried to destroy the Union. The debt
was created in overthrowing Democratic
treason, and the Democracy, not the Republ
can party is responsible for it. If it had not
been for the internal prating of the Democra-
cy about reputation our credit would long
ago have improved so as 10 enable us to fund
the public debt at lower rate of interest, and
thus tighten the burdens of the people. The
growing Of the Democratic papers about the
cost of the public debt shows that six years
of defeat have not taken the copperheadism
out of them. The country never will be safe
until that element is buried beyond the hope
of resurrection.
1t is not at all strange that the Democratic
party should abuse President Grant. They
did the same by President Washington. Dem
ocratc demagogues were as bitter then
against the father of his country as they are
now against its preserver. Of course both
made mistakes, and a fair criticism of these il
entirely proper. But nothing of this kind
comes from Democratic journals. Their crit
icism is worthless because abusive and inds-
criminate. 1t is simply an INSCRIPTIONS at
tempt to get themselves into power by decry-
ing not only the mistakes but the merits of
President Grants administration.