The Portland daily press., 1872-05-24
THE PRESS.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY "a, 1872
A Frank Confession.

Frank Confession. "
IT, would he idle for us to dispute the proofs
exhibited by the argus of the inconsistent
utterances of this paper on the It'll of May
and on the 21st of the same month. On the
first day we laughed at our neighbor for pre-
cipitating itself SO madly into the Cincinna-
ii movement. We predicted that it would
be obliged to take the back track when 1t
heard 'Jrom the men who hare some PRINCE
PIE in their Democracy" On the 2lst we
confidently predicted that Greeley would be
adopted by the Democrats, thus making IL
certain that the Argus would not be COM
PEELED to recant.
We admit that it was stupendous blum
der. The idea Of basing an opinion on SO
wild a conjecture as the existence of princi-
pie in the Democratic party was inconceiva-
bly, stupid. The whole transaction does
smack of inexperience, as the Argus says.
1t knew its own party better than we did, of
course, and went singing on its way, rightly
trusting to the straightforward recklessness
and answering lack of principle which from
intimate association, sympathetic union and
long experience it knew to be characteristic
of its party. ......-.-.,.....
Having thus frankly confessed its error the
PRESS is now entitled to claim that its reason
ing, from the falsepremises it was SO unfortu-
nate as to adopt, was correct. Given the fact
that there is principle in the Democratic party,
and the endorsement of Greeley is impossi-
BILE. And to show that Republicans alone do
not cherish this opinion we are induced to
make two or three extracts from the New York
World, the leading Democratic journal of
the country and the reputed organ of Mr..
Belmont, the chairman Of the National
Democratic Committee. The World pro-
fesses to have some regard for consistency,
some reference to principle in the view it
that defeat is preferable to victory bought by
so dear sacrifice as the pretended abandon
ment of all the theories of government and
all the political dogmas that Democrats have
cherished for half a century. The extracts
we make are only few of the hundred that
we might use to illustrate its position. 80
The chief and controlling reason why the
ate Mr. Greeley, is, that, Of all the public men
of the country with any kinds of tpretensions to
the Presidency he is the very farthest from rep
resenting its principles. t9b* - s.{,
cratic party is the moral, political, social, and
economical inlpossibility which every self-re-
speeding Democrat would have instinctively de-
clared it to be at any time previous to the Gin
cinnati Convention. 21q-e +
But if Mr.. Greeley has no Republican
strength, why should Democrats support him?
Laying principles and consistency quite aside
land we should be sorry to think these count
for nothing in Democratic estimation) but Law
ing them aside and looking only to mere sue
cess, it is obvious that the Democratic party
would make a losing bargain by endorsing Mr.
Greeley when it is SO evident that he cannot
split the Republican party He is certain to
drive off multitudes of Democratic voters who
value their principles; and unless he has an
outnumbering body of Republican supporters,
it would be an unspeakable folly to adopt him
as our candidate, even OF the sordid calculation
of bartering principles for votes If he is GER
tain to repel three or five Democratic votes for
every Republican vote he brings us, it would be
an egregious blunder for us to take him up 1t
is notifying enough to descend from the high
ground Of principle and discuss this question on
q mere arithmetcal basis; but as Mr.. Greeley's
Democratic supporters have nothing else to
stand upon, we consent to meet them on their
own ground. In this low UietD, it is mere mat
ter of arithmetic; simple question whether
his Republican supporters outnumber his ire
concilable Democratic opponents. y
Was there ever such piece of political folly
and impudence as to ask the Democrats of this
State to support Mr.. Greeley for President,
when there Is no proof that he can detach any
considerable number of Republican voters,
white or black, from Gen. Grant? If there be
such proof let his friends produce it, 1t there
be none, why should Democrats sacrifice their
principles and self-respect by adopting an out
side candidate who can add nothing to the in
dependent strength of the party?
The Argus is heartily welcome, then, to all
the selfcongratulation it feels like bestowing
on itself on account of forming a lower esti-
mate of the morals of its own party than a
political enemy could, and proving to be right
A WASHINGTON special says that the en-
tire Maine delegation were before the Senate
Finance Committee Thursday afternoon,
making united effort to save the portion of
the tariff bill putting shipbuilding materials
on the free list, and it is thought that they
will be successful. An effort will be male to
extend the time to three months in which
vessels built under the provisions of the bill
may engage in the coasting trade. The ship
building interest will appreciate the continued
efforts of our representatives in its behalf e
--eNl ~ .7af
SOME Democrats carry that snnobling
fundamental principle of their present can
vass, Anything to beat Grant," to curious
extreme. Seymour, for instance, is reported
to have written letter inclining toward
Greeley, at the very moment when the New
York papers are reproducing the latter gen.
tleman's editorials headed 'sGovernor Sey-
mour as Liarr' l
WE don't have much faith in votes taken
on railroad trains, as they do not elect Presi-
dents, but as our late Democratic friends are
fond of publishing them we present "straw''
picked pu on train from Boston to this city
Wednesday. The vote being taken on prefer
ence for President resulted as follows: Grant
72, Greeley %. I'D
Political Notes. -.. d.
1t is an unpleasant fact that the blunders
of the Administration have left this country
with no present market for our bonds abroad.
Eastern Argus AH -2i7l 7o-
But perhaps we can find some compensa-
ton in the fact that they have left the mark
ct glutted with Democratic principles for sale.
IN. Y. Commercial. .lL s.5
The New York Herald says the question
now among Democrats in Washington is
whether it be Voorheesion to old landmarks
or adhesion to the principle of the cohesive
power of public plumber"
The Waterbury Conn. American contains
this suggestive notice of the work of saving
souls in that community: "Of the five lady
converts baptized by Rev Mr.. Bailey on Sum
day three were gentlemen" And so out of
every hundred Republicans who support Hor-
ace Greeley, ninety-nine are Democrats.
Y. Commercial.
A person signing himself ga Member of the
Liberal Republican Club" writes the Presi-
dent from New Iberia, indicating his willing
ness to accept a certain Office under the pres
emit Administration. The President has not
yet decided to give him the office he seeks.
Gen. Winn, President of the Mechanics
State Council of California, and recognized
leader of all the trades organizations in the
Golden State, and an ultra Democrat withal,
has informed tbs San Francisco Bulletin that
ne shall oppose Greeley, preferring Grant to
all others, If Republican must be had. He
says the laboring men of California are nearly
all of the same mind.
The N. Y. Herald says that during Cen
Grants second term of Office the Greeley let
ter, neatly printed and framed, will be an in
teresting addition to the walls Of the farm