The Portland daily press., 1872-04-11

THERE Is NO OPPOSITION
to Gen. Grant among Republicans 1t is uni
versally conceded that his Presidency has been
a great success, and all who have property in
terests to conserve deplore any change, least of
all such change as we should be likely to have
by a coalition of disappointed ofice-seekers,
original Copperheads, unrepentant Ku-Klux
and the odds and ends of all kinds of political
factions. r.
There isn't a doubt, but if q single one of the
charges, banded about in Washington ever
since the session began, with SO much loose
ness, had been established, the face of things
would have changed marvelously. The people
never were so M - e.
INPATIENT OF DISHONESTY
in affairs as they are now. What would have
passed without comment four years ago would
be considered objectionable to-day. The strict
est accountability is demanded of every FEEDER
al officer. Poor Hurlburd is obliged to leave
the Office of comptroller of the currency be-
cause he was weak enough to t
ACCEPT A $500 CARRIAGE
and harness, pressed upon him by man who
doubtless followed precedent long before es-
tablished among suitors in that department of
the Treasury. Not but that it served him
right, his offence was by no means SO heinous
as that of U. s. Snator who zaaq
CHARGED AND RECEIVED A 900 ils
counsel fee from the government during John
sons term. But the ''tu-quoque'' defence is
not tenable one, and Hurlburds retirement
is a necessity. 1t is safe to say that for forty
years there has not been SO rigid a standard of
official conduct maintained, as has existed since
the 4th of March, 1869. And that is why the
TREASURY IS SO PLETHoRIc,
and the burden of taxation so much lighter
than at any previous period since the war be-
gan.
1t is absurd to suppose that an administra-
tion which has made such record at home,
and which has been equally fortunate in its for
eign policy, and which gives to the industry of
the nation that E4 a .34l
SENSE OF PERFECT SECURITY
which is the only incentive it needs to full de-
velopment could meet with any serious oppo-
sition from practical business men, Hence it
will be found that all the hostility evinced to-
wards the present Chief Magistrate has been
provoked by the manner in which he has dis
pensed his patronage. There were not offices
enough to go round, and the outs think they
have been badly treated 1t always was SO and
it always will be. The office holders are no
help to party, the soured office-seekers are a
great damage to it. A President must be
strong in the ssq
AFFECTIONS OF THE PEOPLE
who can withstand the torrent of invective
that is sure to be poured out upon him by the
multitudes who have been turned away from
the public crib unfed. Lincoln had that
strength because nothing could shake the pop
ular conviction of his honesty. Grant has it in
equal measure and for precisely the same rea-
son. ~ - rI
SENATOR SUMMERS ENMITY
to Grant recalls his course towards Lincoln,
pending his second election. Even after Lin
coin was re-nominated by the Baltimore Con-
vention in May 1864, Sumner exclaimed to your
own Senator, Mr.. Morrill,: "It is an INFAMOUS
nomination, Sir; an INFAMOUS nomination.
the people ought to rise and PIT it doacn by
.forcer'
The opposition to Grant seems indeed veryir
significant compared with that with which
Lincoln was assailed in the ranks of his own
party. THERE WE'RE ONLY FIVE SENATORS
who were firm supporters of him. and all but
seven were more or less bitter in their hostility
to his denomination. They declared that the
Baltimore Convention was mere office holders
convention and that it met simply to register
the ediets of the power it served. Thus history
repeats itself and the issue of the next election
may be safely trusted to the rank and file of
that great party which saved the Republic from
dismemberment and has governed it SO
well dnring seven years of the peace it conquer
ed. YARMOUTH.