The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-23
THE PR SS.
Thursday Mornine, Juns %, 1870.
The York County Address.

aO>'e~'
issued, because the fact that one member has
announced that his name was affixed to the
address without his knowledge or consent JUS
titles the suspicion that the whole thing is a
fraudulent attempt to palm off the work of
one or more as that of the whole committee.
But if it were otherwise,-why should this
County Committee issue an address to the
people of this Congressional District? Or why
issue any address at all? Is this any part OF
the duty of such committee? Was it for this
purpose they were chosen? II 1t had peen
done by the District Committee, it would nave
been an assumption of power never conferred
upon them. We do not question the right of
Mr.. Butler and others to sign such docu-
ment, by whomsoever written, and send it out
to the world over their own signatures. But
when they undertake to do it officially, it is
doing work they were not chosen to do, and
it looks like an attempt to give it an impor-
lance which their own private names could
not impart. They have no authority to speak
for =" the people and the voters" of York Coun-
ty,-to say nothing of other portions of the
District. And we are confident that this will
appear still more clearly when the delegates
chosen by the several towns in that County
appear in the Convention.
The dlimus OF the document is not conceal
ed by its cautious and equivocal phraseology.
Whether written by the chairman, or some
one not on the committee, its tone is such as
might be expected from one who seeks revenge
for his failure to get an Office, or who wishes
to injure another who stands in his way. 1t
is an attempt to create division in this District
by arraying one section against another If
such spirit is to bear sway, it can result only
in discord and defeat.
The very speciousness and FEASIBILITY of
this address renders it all the more mischev-
GUS. While admitting that no rule in regard
TO the locality OF our representative in Con-
gress has ever been "agreed upon," it goes on
to speak of regulating such agreements"
1t claims that the rule Of alternate represen-
tation every four years " has been acted upon"
in this District, when the facts are VIGOROUSLY
to the contrary And it seeks to infame the
passions, or excite the prejudices, of one por-
ton of the District, by giving the impression
that majority" are undertaking to Cypress
minority" by the denomination of Mr..
Lynch, when it is highly probable that from
that very part Of the District Mr. Lynch will
receive larger vote in the convention than
any other candidate. And conscious of this,
they seek to break the force of it by insinuat-
ing that those Republicans in their yn Coun-
ty who are in favor of Mr.. Lynch, and have
chosen delegates in his favor, have done it by
fraud. "a.
So far as there is any argument in the ad-
dress, it is all based on false assumption. IT
is not true that there has ever been any rule,
or understanding acted upon or recognized,
that requires different sections of county,
district or State, to fill any Office By turns
There is no analogy between this and the Sc
lection of Estate and United States Senator'S
Where Their are several offices of the same
kind to be filed, they are generally Though
by no means always) distributed to different
localities. The two United States Sen ator
are often taken from different sections of tb,
State. But in Massachusetts they have fol
some twenty years both been taken from one
section; in New Hampshire they are from
adjoining towns; and in Michigan they are
both from the same city. And a more ex
tended examination will show that even in
those cases locality has been an unimpor
tant and secondary consideration.
But when there is but ore Office appor
toned to district, no such rule is applicable
nor oould anv cuci tbaorv bo o,,,,,;oa ...;.1 .,.
degrading the Office. The apportionment o
members of Congress- not only among th
States, but to definite portions of each State
---~-~.-- To all Localities fair and irapaptio
representation. Notl ing further than this
necessary. As well we might say that the
should 60 to each town by turns as to eacl
county. The only proper way is for the peo
pie of each district-the whole district
choose the man, wherever he lives, who, a
they believe, is best fitted, by his knowledg
aud experience in public affairs, to represen
them, and to watch over their interests. Tb
people have no wish to be put upon any Pro
crustean bed of rules. Such rules tend Il
defeat their wishes, and fetter their free Ion
of action. They elected President and
Vice President from adjoining States, which
such rules would have prevented them from
doing. The President appointed two mem
bers Of his Cabinet from one State. THE
most useful members of Congress are gener
ally those whom the people have had conf
dence enough in to keep, there many years
For want OF such confidence one represent
alive OF this District taken from York Coun.
t1falled to receive second nomination: and
another, though renominated, and receiving
a majority in this county, failed to carry hi.
own county. and thus put the District int
the hands of the Democrats. And the wide
we make our field OF observation, the NOR
clearly we shall see that the people viii
be best represented when they are free to Sc
lect their representatives untrammeled nv
any rules which interested politicians NAV at.
tempt to impose.
And such has been the practice in this
State. No rule of locality or of gears ha:
ever been recognized. Each Congressional
district, like our own, is composed of severa
counties. And yet Mr.. Perham represented
tne second district three terms; Mr.. Peters il
nominated the third time in the fourth; Mr.
fIke was elected .four times in the fifth: ant
Mr.. Blaine has just been nominated the fifth
time in the third Nor have any county com
mlttee, or any prominent citizens, in eithe
OF those districts, attempted to create division
oy arraying one county against another.
we have spoken plainly on this subject be
cause the case requires it. When few dis
appointed or ambitious men deliberately At
tempt to create discord and division in tn
party, it is time to speak plainly. 1t is not i
behalf of Mr.. Lynch that we speak. 1t is 70
the integrity Of the party that has placed hr
in his high office, and in behalf of that office
which these mem would degrade to the char
acter OF prize in the competition of loca
factions. tbs not question of men; nor O
localities; but of principle. Ale the Repub
hcan voters of this district, like those of tn,
other districts in this State, to be allowed t,
nominate the man of their oaon choice wher
ever he resides, untrammeled by any dcta
tion? Neither Mr.. Lynch, nor any friend O
his, asks for anything but the freest expression
OF Inc popular will. 1t he is not the choice
OF the people, he and his friends are ready te
support some other man who is. Bu. if tbf
people, having proved his integrity, ability anf
faithfulness in their service, desire that h,
shall serve them another term, they will no
no tod f,o,,, ear;,,, On onJ oot;,u