The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-08-23
The Issue Fairly Presented.

The following letter from Judge Hoar has
been received by the Ohio Republican COM
mittee:
CONCORD, Mass, Aug. 13, 1872.
Charles C. Walcutt, Chairman Republican
Executive Committee, Columbus, o.:
Dear Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the Goth ult., in
viting me to unite with the Republicans of
Ohio in opening the political campaign on the
Goth inst. The invitation is so agreeable,
and the opportunity its acceptance would
afford of visiting your State and meeting
gentlemen for whom | entertain sentiments
of the highest regard, that have delayed an
answer perhaps too long. But it Is hardly
consistent with my occupations and private
obligations to accept it. The only part L
have taken in the pending election was in
tended rather as an expression of opinion
than as an argument, and was, Of course,
of interest only to my little circle of friends
and neighbors. have no taste for political
contests, and am conscious that | have no
particular aptitude to engage actively in
them.
But you may be assured of the interest and
warm sympathy with which 1 shall regard the
efforts of the Republicans of Ohio to maintain
in full vigor the organization and principles of
our party, and to insure the success of its
candidates. Your great State has contributed
its full share to making the record of the party
honorable in the past May it have a like
part in making it more glorious in the futurel
No doubt we, as party, are open to some
criticism. The President, as he himself so
modestly stated, has made some mistakes;
aid the action of Congress does not always
come up to the highest standard of statesman
ship. For my own part, i did not like
the San Domingo project, and was glad
when the President so frankly and gracefully
gave it up. / think the loss of Gov. Cox TO
the cabinet great misfortune to the admin
istration and to the country. Our irredeem-
able currency / consider a discredit and a
scandal, and am utterly opposed to the office
iObbing which so many senators and repre-
sentatives ON both sides of politics have been
so long practicing. i think our revenue
system. though somewhat improved, needs
much more improvement, and that bargains
between private interests have too much in
fluence in legislation. But what of it?
Where is the remedy? Clearly it would seem
within the party whose great principles and
general purposes we approve, and OF who's Q
history we are proud. Let our criticisms be
friendly as well as honest If we object to
some unworthy promotions, or think We have
reason to grumble at our rations, let us not
desert to the enemy. l think the gentlemen
from your State, who promoted the Cincin-
natl convention and gave it mnch of what
look for reform to the men who captured it.
The spectacle of the benevolent Mr.. Greeley,
supported on one side by Andrew johnson
and Gen. Blair, and indorsed by Senator
Fenton and Tammany hall, and exhorting
the republican party to turn from violence
and corruption, is perhaps almost too edi-
flying. As King Jamie says in the Fortunes
of Nigel, it was grand to hear Baby Charles
laying down the guilt of dissimulation, and
4 fIa Of
tinencel
think Gen. Grant able, patriotic and up
right. Whatever mistakes he has made, do
not know any man ir public life who has
been much named i'll connection with the
presidency whom l should think preferable
on the whole. His magnanimity since the
war has equaled the courage ard persistency
with which he conducted it. Following the
declaration, ''let us have peace" he sought
in the most direct and simple way to COM
plete the restoration of the Union by recall
ing The last OF the seeded states to their
proper relations to the government and the
country; and it i, to him that Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas are largely indebted
for the opportunity to throw their votes
against him, if they see fit. The country
under his administration is prosperous at
home and honored abroad. The public
debt has been largely reduced, the public
credit improved, and the public burdens
diminished. He has been the unpretendng
but steady and efficient friend of the colored
race. He has exercised no military power
except for the protection of rights which
law, national honor, and official duty required
him to protect. With the efficient aid of
two eminent citizens, of your own State
| Secretaries Cox and Delano-he has pre-
served peace and promoted civilization among
| the Indians. He has kept peace with the world
and has steadily repressed violation of law,
| within our borders. In the treaty of Wash
| ington he has made our country party to
| the greatest contribution of modern times to
| the cause of peace and Christian civilization.
! His conscientious care in the selection OF
| high judicial officers deserves grateful recog-
| milton from the people whose security and
| welfare are so deeply and permanently con-
| cerned in the learning, ability, and upright
| ness of judges.
With such and many other titles to con-
fidence and honor, the great mass of the par
! ty which conferred the Office of president up
on him, and induced him against his own
wishes and interests, to accept it, have NOM
mated him for reelection. The personal at
tacks made upon him are trivial and pitiful.
The Baltimore convention might have adopt
ed for its candidate, as a distinct issue, if it
had seen fit, Artemas Wards announcement
| during the war, that "he was ready to sacri-
flee all his wite's relations;' but they did not,
and doubt whether great parties can be
| maIshaled on such issues.
No! there are larger consequences involved
in this election than those which would allow
our action to be controlled by personal tastes
OF preferences. The alternative presented to
us is Just this: Shall the Republican or Dem
ocratic party administer the government for
| the next ten wears? The thin veneering
which disappointed ambition or personal ha-
tired may furnish cannot deceive us as to
what lies behind. 1t is the Democratic party
we join when we leave the Republican; ard
holding up Greeley fan before him will not
| change the features Cf a Tammanv saphem