The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-02
THE PRESS
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1872
s.-n,a Wind Of Partisanship.


M. en- ~ burning down ones house for
the sake of setting the buildings OF neighbor
on fire is not to be compared with that OF the
Aro,.s and other Democratic sheets which do
NOT hesitate to take the British side of the Al
ALBANIA case and strengthen the hands of the
enemies of the country on the ground, appar-
emily, that anything is fair that has tenden-
cy to "defeat Grant," The constant denun-
cation of the course the administration mas
seen fit to pursue in endeavoring to settle our
difficulties with Great Britain, must nave
decided effect in inspiring the GLADSTONE mih-
istry with assurance in repudiating its solemn
obligations. The course of the Federalists in
onnosino the war of 1912 resulted in the COM
plete overthrow of that party, while the in
conceivable wickedness of the Democracy in
Joining the Rebels of 1861 will cause their
memory to be abhorred as long as men read
history. But what shall be said OF the party
that follows up one mistake OF this KIND by
another of a still more inexcusable nature
of party that first undertakes to destroy the
Republic by means of civil war and, falling
in that, gives its moral support to a foreign
power that was allied with it in its first at
tempt to overthrow democratic liberty, and is
now reluctant to make any reparation for its
crimes?
1t is no answer to these charges to say
that many Republicans, notably Mr.. Peters,
Congressman from the fourth Maine district,
regard the positions taken in the american
case" presented to the Geneva Commission
as susceptible of modification without preju-
dice to the interests of this country and the
honor of its rulers. Mr.. Peters and those
who act with him do not sympathize at all
with the opinion of the Democracy that the
administration has failed either in patri-
otism or wisdom in taking the course it has.
five understand the position Of those Repub-
licans who are in favor of modifying the
terms of the American case, it is simply and
concisely this: ssGreat Britain objects to our
claim for indirect damages, and threatens
to repudiate the treaty of Washington if
we persist in urging it. Rather than
lose wholly the benefits of a compact, which
is so clearly favorable to this country, it is
better for us to waive the claim to which
12h6ioAAd ohJOSbo, SoAAoAeaSA&Dioh VI pAAAD
concession, Great Britain will formally adopt
the principle fer which it now contends, and
agree in advance never to prefer claim like
that which it regards as unreasonable"
There is nothing in this which calls in
question either the wisdom or the integrity
OF the administration. 1t is merely the sug-
gestion of plan for saving the treaty OF
Washington from utter wreck, through the
same arrogance and want of principle on the
part of England, that led it to commit the
crime against civilization of which the
American people complain. While patriots
and statesmen are thus devising means for
protecting the interests and saving the honor
of the Republic, the Democracy are only con-
sidering how they may take advantage of the
embarrassments naturally arising from a
grave international dispute to make political
capital and get into office!