The Republican journal., 1872-07-25
Mr.. HIchborn's Little Dodue.

document briefly goes over the history OIL
the efforts to get favorable consideration
for the shipping interest during the six
years past, and states the measure of re-
lief that has at last been accomplished
The letter concluded thus
Is it too much to hope that this business, 50
essential to the State and nation. will now he
revived in Maine; and that the men who have
been mainly Instrumental in securing the EN-
actment VIII be kindly remembered:
Much gra' tude is due Speaker Blaine for
timely and effective service in the premises. Sc
of the earnest and vigiIant Representatives from
the LIST and 9th districts; so of the Senators; in
fact, to the efficient eXertions of all the deega-
ton from Maine.
The 9th district embraces almost one half Of
the ship-building interest of the State, and de-
sire publicly to express obligation to Mr.. Hale
for so essential and efficient service. He did
not make the discovery that wood and all ships
We're among the things of the past, and that
British steam and iron ships we've to exclude
all else from the ocean-a heresy now fast being
exploded by a general demand for wood sailing
vessels.
been felt and expressed with Congress and l. he
party i'll power, and the few earnest men who
have labored IN faith have been answered At
almost every corner of the street. 'Nothne
will be done, 1T is all futile" SC. Sc. call
attention to the fact that something has been
done. and that croaking should nov Us lar rs
possible. give away to earnest effort inr the
restoration of the business.
We call attention to the matter at This
time for the purpose of showing how
readily the writer ignores the promises,
actual and implied, which he has made
that no party bias should enter into the
labor of reviving the shipping interest
and hastens to make capital Tor his party,
by claiming tor its members who are can
didates for reelection all the credit iol
the recent legislation.
The reader would think, from the pro
fuse thanks of the above extract, that
nobody else than the radical members OF
Congress of Maine had been appealed to,
or had raised a hand in behalf Of the new
enactment Were they the only ones ap-
pealed to tor revival of the dead interest ?
Let Mr.. Hichborn himself answer Ia the
pamphlet issued by him last January, lie
said
And why not grant the relief: Where rests
the responsibility? We answer with the mem
bers of Congres>-all individually admit, Int
too many of them it is to he feared vote upon
their preludiceS. The Western man is hostile
TO the last. the New York democrat wishes TO
throw the Odium upon the dominant party, ana
too many of the dominant party fear certain
local opinions and doubtful STATES, and tile
great interest goes to the wall. Is, we ask, this
statesman-like--i> it really and truly American
Cannot the Western man feel that commerce
Is National not sectional: Cannot the New
York democrat, above all desire TO favor or
punish party, come to the rescue aud cannot
the dominant party feel that 1t sadly fails to Ito
lis duty to the country and the people ii GOV
erns. if it allow n branch Of industry so essen
tial to national thrift and safety to 90 10 decay
through untriendly legislation
And elsewhere is testimony to the zeal
of democrats in Congress in behalf of this
dead interest of our state In meeting
of shipbuiders in this city, in March, 1870.
Mr.. Hichborn said
He hoped no question of party politics would
be suffered to enter into this. 1t is and should
be above and beyond politics. And he wa,
gratitied to say that the Democrats of the Con
gressonal Committee We're as active and Zeal
Gus as the republicans upon the subject,
The representatives of Maine have
simply done their duty. They were sent
to Congress to represent the interests OF
their constituents, and to be vigilant i'll
their behalf. They are entitled To the
praise that belongs to officials that have
dore their duty, and no more But ii ha,
been charged in republican papers, and
only last week in the Portland Press, that
the democrats in Congress had heret olore
prevented the relief to the shipping. Ii
this be true, they must have welded, ana
the praise that is 50 lav,shly bestowed
on the Maine members really belongs tn
them.
But it seems that after the enactment has
been secured, Mr.. IIichhorn conveniently
torgets his declaration that politics should
not enter into the subject, and that demo
Gratis were Jealous in the cause. But he
does not fail to remember that he can give
his party friends who seek re-elettion 4
puff in this connection, and particularly
Mr.. Hale, in the fifth district sug@cstively
adding that it "embraces almost one hall
of the ship-huilding interest Of tie state. N
If it is time for compliments, why are
not some bestowed upon the Democrats,
to whose zeal this gentleman has else
where testitied2 Why, except that the
letter is a shallow party dodge, which
will earn for its author nothing but the
contempt of honorable men.