The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-09-17
Interesting Letter from Democrat.
HE TAKES NO CROW IN HIS.

HE TAKES NO CROW IN HIS.
NEwFIELD Sept. is, 1872
To the Editor of the Press
When it becomes duty to separate from our
political associations and connect ourselves, and
be identified with another political party for the
benefit (as we believe) of the public we deem
it Just to ourselves and courteous to our former
associates to briefly state the reasons publicly
for such a separation.
New issues are continually arising for the
immediate action of the people in a country
where progress makes such rapid strides as it
does in ours; but the issue of the greatest mag
nitude, and always before the people is, in what
manner the government shall be supported
And now, friend Democrats, what are you 60
ing to do with the cherished principles of your
party, that the government should be support
ed by the wealth of the country, that all classes
should be taxed according to their property as
nearly as possible, that the poor have as much
right to Injuries as the rich, that it is bet
ter and more direct way to tax a man accord
ing to property than to tax his appetite or his
propensity to follow fashion.
These principles were settled by the Demo-
cratic and Wing parties several years before
the rebellion by the establishment of a specific
tariff, slightly tinctured with protection, but os
tensibly for the support of the government
with the least possible oppression to the people.
The enormous expenditures which the govern
ment was subject to, changed the whole fea-
lures of the revenue system and rendered it
necessary to collect taxes from all available re-
sources, and now whom do we see for the can
didate of the Democratic party? Is it man
of liberal views? No; it is one of the leading
ADVOCATES of protection, and one who has taken
advantage of the necessities of the government
to press upon the people system of protection
Will some one be kind enough to tell me what
Horace Greeley has done to entitle him to be
the candidate Of the Democratic party?. Per-
haps it may be reward for his efforts to cast a
stigma upon every Democrat in the North,
whether soldier or civilian, for all alike have
been subject to the same detcsted name, "trdi-
tor"
The greeting perhaps fingers in my memory
with more clearness than with those who were
at home throughout the contest. 1t happened to
be my fortune to be appointed (by Gen. Hal
leck) in April, 1862, Military Road Master of
all the military railroads of the Western De-
partment, which position occupied until De
cember, 1862, when was taken prisoner sent to
Vicksburg, paroled and returned home sick and
emacisted from hardships received while was
a prisoner, to be greeted as traitor by the
disciples of Horace Greeley because was a
Democrat One reason for supporting Grant, is,
that he has shown himself to be above party
prejudice or party hate; that he cherishes the
same kindly feelings towards the North as the
South; that with him it is one common coun-
try, with equal rights to all citizens regardless
of race, distinction or color; that he s man
eminently qualified for the place which he row
occupies. 1t seems singular fact that his op-
ponents uniformly present the same reasons for
his success Fortune, they say, follows the
man. How strange it is that fortune should
commence with his first military movement.
and continue from the capture of Fort Donel-
son to the surrender of Lee. The opposers of
Hannibal the Great in the Carthagenan Sem
ate ascribed his success in maintaining an army
in the heart of the Roman Empire for twenty
eight years 10 fortune; but the pen of the his
toran attributes itto capacity. When the envy
and malice which characterizes the opposition
| is yelled by the hand of time, the pen of the
historian will ascribe the success of u S. Grant
to the same source. Let us one and all put our
shoulders to the wheel and we are sure to elect
GRANT AND WILSON.
Respectfully Yours,
| JOHN M THOMPSON