The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-16

| Letter from Washington.
! WASHINGTON, ID. Co. SEPT 18th, 1871.
| ANTI-GRANT PLITICAL SPECULATION
After the first news from California reach
ed here, leaving the Capital, meeting an
old friend we walked up Pennsylvania avenue
together. My companion was formerly a
representative in Congress, is recognized as a
man of marked power though his repudia-
ton is fast becoming ancient, as he does
| nothing now to maintain it. He has politi-
| cal-prejudces just now. am not mean
ing to affirm that he is without convictions.
The trouble is he has always had too many
just at this time his conviction is that Grant
Is the weakest man in the Republican party.
Last year he was otherwise, being then the
niost dangerous; determination to OBJ ain
control by the military spirit being the chief
artIcie OF that current indictment. NV friend
presents an interesting political story to me,
| because he really represents small class of
aole men who are really ''soreheads" or in
| danger of becoming so.
Being jublaEt about Calfernia-that is.
your correspondent was, my companion at
once plunged into presidential specuations
Knowing he really represents a certain class
of ideas and some able men, drew him on.
What he said is worth reproducing in a con-
densed summary.
According to this view the Republican par
ty will carry everything high and dry this
fall. 1t requires no gift of prophecy howev-
er to establish that. This triumph is regard
ed, in the view am stating, as unfortunate
for the party, rendering 1t careless, unduly
elated, and above all tending to its committal
to Grants denomination.
My prognosticator affirms that defeat will
be followed by a rapid reorganization of the
elements of opposition, not only against the
party, but as against Grant, and that there
are prominent republicans prepared to bolt,
should he, the President, be renominated.
There are many who will do this; says the
anti-Grant conservative. According to him
the months intervening between Democratic
defeat and the next national convention and
consequent campaign are sufficient for the
organization of an opposition quite formida-
BILE to Grant.
According to my friend's.views, Valandig-
hams new departure" was framed for the
purpose ofshaping policy virtually accept
ing the wars results, and no ldlng the old
Democratic horse, while the ne W riders be-
strobe it. Those who supported this are
strong enough to shape another policy, which
will be successful, should the Republican
managers so shape affairs as to make Grants
nDmInalInn nj fhn hs f.,,
this view is conviction that the Democratic
party as such is in the last throes-its death
struggle in fact. Hence, with the deadly hos
trity affirmed to exist against Grant, there is
enough material existing to make successful
personal opposition. But the Republican
Convention will throw the President over.
toaId and thus save the party. Such at
least is the idea of sound but able man.
ANOTHER VIEW
was given me by one of the keenest of our
journalists here, who is also something more
being recognized as philosophic thinker
and student on aud of public men and meas
ures This gentleman believes that there are
abundant elements pressing forward for ex-
preston and agitation in and by political
tolms and s,-questions relative to in
terror policy and developments, to external
relations, foreign, commercial aud maritime,
issues OF complex character, fiscal, social
economical, &c,-all involving earnest discus
sion and results deeply affecting our complex
common life. According to my friend, the
chief hlndrance to bringing these questions
into the political arena is the Old Democratic
organization, with its deadweight of tradi-
tions and pOlity linked to retroSression and
old pro-slavery views. Until that is out
of the way, there can be no party
but those now in existence. But the
revival of the devilish spirit OF the South, has
in the judgment of this observer, intensified
hostility to the Tory party, and its fate is
sue. 1t will live to be beaten so thoroughly
that, like the Whig organization after 1854, it
will not ever be able to rally eorporaPs guard
to carry the broken and tattered banners from
the field with hOnOrs. bow long the life Of
the national party is, in my friends view, is
dependent upon what and how many OF the
new issues that are pressing to the front it
will consider and embody III whole or part.
Like myself, however, the gentleman whose
opinion L present, believes that the Republi-
eau party will be in the future as in the past,
one of assured progress.
THE ONE TERM DISCUSSION.
Greeley's article in the next Galaxy has
been received here and is already exciting con-
siderable discussion. 1t is deemed an able and
popular presentation of the policy even BY
those who differ with the author. His CONVEX
cent, he having been understood to have ex-
pressed himself otherwise at a not distant
day. John Russell Young can tell when and
how, If it suits him.
RESULTS OF THE ELEcTIoN-TAMMANY Fl.
NANCIALLY.
Everybody is cheered, aud it is evident that
success is epdemical. After the Pine Tree
States increased vote-the Democrats can
only declare after this, the deluee. Work
does not cease because of assurance. The
exertions are redoubled. From valuable po-
litical paper just put out by the Republican
Executive Committee here, take curious
and notable illustration of which would be
the result of Tammany financial rule if ap-
piled to the whole country. 1t is seen in a
comparison just made in document now be-
ing published by the Union Republican Resi-
dent Executive Committee here. 1t shows the
rates of national expenditures as compared
with those OF Tammany in New York city.
BY this comparison it appears that the av-
erage expenditure in the city and county of
New York for The last two years and half,
has been per year $59,0S7 .0S. or more than
five and one half per cent on the fixed value
of all real and personal estate-whose valua-
tion is given at 81 ,074OO0,000.
This is the known debt. What is unknown
and floating is not ascertainable. The expen-
diture, allowing that there are one million of
persons under Tammauy Irule is more than
STAT per capital or over $50 per year per head,
Estimate the whole population at 10000
600, allow Tammany to rule and what fDl-
lows7 The national expenditures under the
same ratio as those of New York, would
amount to 80 360,0O0O00. which exceeds the
national debt by many millions. sLook little
closer and see the contrasts
1st. In two years and one month, by BE.
publican economy, the national debt was
diminished $215, 1858 "a.
I'd. In two years and seven months the
public debt of the city and county of New
York was, by Democratic extravaganza, in
creased $63,02S,427 II.
81. II two years and one month, by the
Republican policy, the annual outlay for in
terest was reduced $12, ,055, ,997 96.
4th. In two years and seven months, by
the Democratic policy, the annual outlay for
interest IN single city was increased more
than $4,4O0000.
5th In putting down the most formidable
rebellion known 10 history, continuing nearly
five years, in wh ich time more than two mil
lions of men were engaged, the Republican
party contracted public debt scarcely ex-
ceeding sos per capita.
9th. In simply administering the civil af
fairs of single city for the period of two
years and seven months, the Democratic par
ty contracted public debt exceeding s63 per
capita.
No wonder that Tammany can afford to
pander to the Ku Klux. In this wholesale
spOilation one may, perhaps, find the ex-
chequer from which the new and costly arms,
SO often sworn as being possessed by the K
Klux, before the joint investigating commit.
tee came from? Winchester rifles and Colts
revolvers might occasionally be seen in a COM