The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-17
The New mamp.hire Lesson,

Inc hepuDllcanS Oh New Hampshire
hereafter will not only require that
those who seek the party nominations
shall be honest, efficient and available, but
the will anxiously ask if the aspirant is
healthy and physically vigorous. If the ex-
perience of the past two weeks is needed
there will not be a Republican in the next
house that will be exempt from military SER
vice except on the score of age. 1t is not our
purpose, however, to dwell upon the desira-
bility of having men of sound bodies as well
as sound minds to give character to the legis
lation OF State. Yet one shudders when
he contemplates what baneful results can
come to a progressive State from the action
of the member with torpid liver or brain
enfeebled by disease or clouded by debauch.
cry. But we leave this part of the subject to
others. There are other lessons that we
would make use of.
The first is, that any organization, in the
New England States, particularly, under the
banner of Temperance or Labor Reform, how
ever excellent the purpose of those who have
aided in the organization and honest the in
candidates, inures wholly to the benefit of the
Democratic party and only Injuries the sue
cess of the reform they would aid. 1t is too
frequently the case that those who are most
active in such organizations, and particularly
in this Labor Reform movement, are not la
boring men in any sense but usually cheap
noisy politicians that have been expelled
from both parties These usually get the
votes and the positions and when they have
got the latter 60 into the market to sell End
buy.
1t may be matter of surprise to those
who have voted for and elected the eight or
ten labor reformers in the New Hampshire
House that their representatives after their
protestations so quickly found themselves
zealousy working out Democratic victory
in that State. But if they will only regard
these organizations as Democratic side shows
to secure the votes Of such as have conscien-
tious scruples against attending the perform
ance in the main pavilion, they will under
stand just why the ten labor reformers took
ten OF those numbered votes and become. to
all intents and purposes, Democrats.
The work will not stop with the legislature
the present year. Acquiring working ma
Jcrlty in both branches, the Democracy pro-
pose to re-distrct the State so as to secure a
Senate on minority vote, and make such
other changes as will secure them permanent
advantage in the next elections.
We do not learn thai The laboring classes of
New Hampshire have asked the legislature in
the past for any legislation in their behalf and
been denied. The speeches made by the la
Dor reform orators have been mostly mis-
chievous in their tendency. They have dis
cussed questions that no legislation can effect.
and certainly none that they will secure from
the present legislature OF New Hampshire.
Another lesson that may be learned is the
Importance OF single vote. No Republican
can again excuse himself from not voting in
that State. A dozen Republican votes in two
representative districts would have changed
the complexion of the State government
A few scattering votes in one city in dis
trict decidedly Republican gave the election to
the opposition.
II we accept the reports of the party Jour-
nails in New Hampshire, their defeat was
partly due to injudicious nominations. This
will be good lesson not only to the Repub-
leans of that State but others. The Republic
can party must select such men for candi-
dates as commend themselves for their integ-
rity, ability and devotion to their principles
to the rank and file of the party
There are other lessons but these suggest