Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-11-15
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PEprRITCAN RERLL.

npst he understood to be after the manner
Of John Phenix, who boasted after fight
tina. he held his adversary down, by In.
ssrting his (Phenix's) nose between the
teeth Of his antagonist and compelled
.urrsxasr.~The democrats struggled to
defeat Grant. They declared that his
election would endanger the government.
They accused him of ineompetency, mis-
demeanors, of deeds which if they be-
lieyed them to be true they could only re-
gard his election as dangerous and dis
graceful. Few have forgotten the labor
ed speech of Sumner upon nepotism, the
charges of Schurz in connection with the
French arms scandal, the denunciations
Of Trumbull as q reformer Of the civil
service, or the grave accusation that
Grant intended to play the part of aCasar
or Napolon and sacrifice the Republic to
his, personal ambition. Then there was
the one-term principle, and the idea Of
clasping hands across the bloody chasm,
Mr.. Greeley's particular notions, which
are probably kept in remembrance. Yet
Grant is elected. and now we are told that
the democrats have accomplished great
deal by his election
When we come to investigate this John
Phenix claim to victory, we find it amounts
TO lust this: That Grant has beaten Gree
ley SO badly, that the republicans are so
strong in the country and Congress, the
consequence will be foolishness. corruption
and lissension in the management OF the
dominant party, which will fall to pieces
and give place % the democratic party.
This Is novel manner in which to wiring
victory from defeat We doubt if Mr..
Greeley and those who labored with him
at that "other line of business in which
he embarked at Cincinnati and Baltimore,
feel much consolation in this kind of cal
culation. Men who rush into a political
contest sanguine Of success, claiming that
the Lord and the people are on their side,
that the enemy is to be swept away by IL
ial waves or engulfed by earthquakes,
ere not supposed to be very successful
when they are crushed under popular
majority of million votes. What the
democratic party may do in the future is
vet to be determined; that it has nothing
to boast of in the last dozen years Of its
existence and particularly in the last cam
paign is settled If the democrats would
disavow any claim to merit or success in
the late election. and declare the fact that
the overwhelming victory of the republic
cans is perilous to the party, they might
be listened to respectfully by sensible peo-
pie. For here is undoubtedly vital truth.
Large maiorities make the parties which
hold them subject to evils that endanger
their existence And this is what the re-
publican party must consider at this time.
They carry more of the elements of dis
solution and weakness under this great
outward apparent strength than when the
popular majority is less and parties are
more equally balanced in Congress and
the State legislatures. The republican
party is not unadvised of its peril The
most of the mistakes which it has made in
the past have come OF its superiority in
numbers, and the leading men know it.
In its strength measures have passed Con-
gress that never would have been attempt
ed against a strong minority, and the pop
alar will and popular rights have been
oftener disregarded than they would have
been with closer division of parties. 1t
is precisely in circumstances such as the
republican party is placed in by the late
elections, with victory all around them,
that they need the most discreet. able and
trusty men at the helm. There will be
rush of incompetent, scheming. dishon-
est men for places, and Congress will be
hesieged with applications for the passage
Of measures not demanded by the public
welfare, all of which should be discour-
aged, and the true interests of the country
made the touchsone OF every public act.
Let the work of reforming the civil SER
gice, so well begun by President Grant,
go on. Let dishonesty and inefficieacy be
weeded out. Let agriculture, commerce,
manufactures, education, the development
Of the varied resources of the country, all
that affects the material interests Of the
people. receive the support of the admin
istration, while it continues its policy of
peace with all nations. Ii the republican
party holds fast TO its promises, and adj
ministers the government with the ability
and integrity which it can command, it
will disappoint the hopes of its enemies
md prove that large maiorities are not
dangerous to parties wisely conducted.
GIFIL SER VICE Reform.
Mr.. George William Curtis, in this |