The Portland daily press., 1872-06-25
PORTLAND June 22nd 1872

PORTLAND June 22nd 1872
To the Editor of the Press.
have read with interest the article that re-
Gently appeared in your paper respecting the
qualifications that the candidate for Congress
sional honors from the first district should pos
sess. am of course ignorant of the name or
location of your correspondent, but l thank
him for the suggestions that he has made and
know that when do so, express the thanks
of large number of the Republicans of the
district who have read the communication re-
ferred to with interest and profit. This is in
deed critical moment in our history, both as
country and party. While look upon our
party as one of which the nation should be
proud, as one that has marched from con-
quest to conquest, and by its invincible de-
termination to ask for only what is right, and
take nothing wrong, has become power
in the world, yet in our love of country we
should be willing to sink party and party affin-
ties and know nothing save our country and its
interests. In addition to the issues usually
presented, and which are staple articles,
Presidential election is about to be precipita-
ted upon us. Under these circumstances. and
many more, it behooves us to candidly con-
slider the premises and place on our tickets for
standard bearers, only such men, as are known
to the people to be without fear and
without reproach." The demagogue and
political fugler must be laid upon the shelf,
in order that we present bold and united
front. Let us have men of weight, men
whose characters stand high-whose reputa-
tions are known and read of all men-in or
der that our candidates shall lift us up BY the
mere force OF their moral stamina, and not by
their immoral and low reputation drag us
down, and make us a by-word and reproach
to our enemies. If ever in cur history as
party the times demanded great caution in
the selection of candidates that moment is the
present. The opponents of the Republican
party will place their strongest men in the
field, and will take advantage of even the
simplest mistake we may make, and magnify
1t to our injury. Since your correspondent
suggested name around which the Republi-
cans might rally-certain inquiries have been
made respecting Mr.. Burleigh, as MANY of us
did not wish to enter the contest without I'M
derstanding fully the merits of the case Be-
sides we did not know but that the article in
question might have been inserted for effect.
Therefore we believed it our duty to fully in
vestigate the subject, and see if these things
were so. After the fullest inquiry that we
have been able to institute, 1 am satisfied,
and l know speak for many other Republic
cans in my part of the district, that no better
man can be presented for the position than
John I'll. Burleigh.
1t is not expected to find man for candi-
date who is perfect. but upon instituting a
comparison, it will be discovered that Mr.. b.
possesses in an eminent degree those requi-
sites so indispensably necessary and without
which the office is one of dishonor. The
times demand that we should have man of
high moral character, liberal and broad in his
ideas, and one on whom the people of the
district can depend. Not man who will
merely represent clique, and whose little
ness of character will crop out on all occa-
siOns An honorable man. one who has rem
resented us well, and of whom the people are
proud, is about retiring. Let his successor
not bring discredit upon the position. Let
comprehensive, sagacious business man enter
the arena, and take up the work where the
other lays it down. A man that is faithful
and successful in his own affairs, will general
ly be so in the concerns of others. Our af-
fairs can be safely trusted in the hands of
such an one REPUBLICAN,.