The Portland daily press., 1873-12-02

The last days of autumn have been unusu-
ally prolific of notable events. The most i'm
portant, that which overshadows all others. is
of course the peaceful disposition of our claims
upon Spain for redress of national indignities.
The administration has achieved immortal
honor by the skill and address with which it
has dealt with this momentous question. The
Secretary Of State has fully established his tt
tie to rank among the most eminent OF all the
incumbpnts of the Office of prime minister OF
the Republic. His share in the negotiations
with Great Britain concerning the Alabama
claims would alone have entitled him to an en-
viab,e place in American history. That mas
terly adjustment marked an advance in civili-
cation, and progress towards an era OF uni
versal peace, far beyond any precedent chapter
in diplomacy And now. an opportunity has
been afforded to Mr. Fish to bear the most con-
spicuous part in counses which have resulted
in a satisfactory vindication of the honor of his
country, and at the same time averted the I'M
mitigable horrors of war. Not less iu his
methods, than in his answering adherence to
them with cam indifference to impatient
clamor OF fierce denunciation, the distinguished
Secretary has demonstrated his admirable
craftsmanship. He went into office with only
a moderate reputation for ability. His prev-
GUS legislative and gubernatorial experience
had not been marked by any acts of peculiar
brilliancy His course in the Senate was quiet
and unobtrusive He seldom took part in the
debate, and was in good degree overshadowed
by bis colleague Mr.. Seward. At home he was
known as gentleman of the old school, of
liberal education, elegant manners, ample
wealth, spotless integrity, and somewhat
courty til ough never austere bearing. He was
always considered safe man, with decided
tendency to conservatism. Originally Wing,
he has been identified with the Republican
party from it's inception, but has never been
reckoned with the Radicals. Gen. Grant is
entitled to the credit of having placed him in
sphere of public duty which has served to de-
velop his rare qualities as a statesman. The
productions of his pen, as we'll as the wisdom
of his counsels, during the four years and eight
months that he has occupied the first place in
the cabinet have not been surpassed IN the rec
ords of any previous administration. Seward,
maugre his flowing sentences and ornate peri
DDS. made some grievous mistakes OF policy,
which the impartial historian will be compelled
to record and condemn. Among them may be
cited as the most glazing and the least defensi-
BILE, his detention of the rebel ENJOYS seized
in violation of international law, from an En-
glsh vessel, and his acquiescence in if not en-
dorsement of the reasonable conduct of An
drew johnson who, but for the tirmness of
Grant and Stanton would have virtually re-
manded the control of the government to the
outlaws who had been engaged in instruction
against it. But Mr.. Fish has made no blum
ders. Delicate and intricate as the questions
have been which from time TO time threatened
disturbance to our peaceful relations with other
governments, he has proved equal to every
emergency, ensuring to his country the bless
ings of peace and the respect of the world. 1t
seems to me alike a duty and a privilege that
the press should award high need of praise
to SO useful and accomplished public man,
and it is il that spirit that make this recogni-
ton of services which have so largely pro-
NOTED the happiness and prosperity of the
whole people,.
The Caucus of the democratic members of
the House of Representatives has at its very
first session, put its foot upon any preten-
sions of repentance for the past or reformation
for the future, among the leaders of democracy.
To have nominated Fernando Wood for Speak
er on the very day when Tweed was con-
signed to twelve years term in the Peniten-
tiary, was to invite a comparison of the merits
of these two Observation-Disclosures of the demo-
cratic party. Mutations of fortunes have
placed them in extremely different positions,
but in point of character and desert they are
about alike. Each thrived for decade by
crimes against the municipality of New York.
Wood was the older and the earlier sinner, and
in that he had the advantage of personal safety
for judicial virtue had not then attained the
exaltation of dealing severely with official
REGULATORS. But it must be remembered that
before his mayoralty of New York he had
been arraigned in the criminal dock for series
of forgeres and frauds on his bro her-in-law
Mr.. E. E. Marvine, from the terrible penalties
of which he had the narrow escape of the
doubtful ruling of the Judge that the statute
of limitations protected him from prosecution
"a decision, the honesty of which was widely
impeached for the reason that the common
opinion was that the limitation was not really
reached until the following day. Be that as it
may the manner in which he got clear Tas not
calculated to inspire any distrust of the COR
rectness of the charges, which were in fact
substantiated by an overwhelming array of
sworn testimony.
Woods official career was not essentially
different from that of Tweed on the score Of
morality but he was undoubtedly more cum
ming and secret in his transactions But on
the other hand he resorted to practices for
which a bold depredator like Tweed would
have evinced genuine contempt; one of
them was the bestowal Of the Office of Receiver
of Taxes in consideration of half the salary
for which he took promissory notes payable
every three months during the term of the ap-
pointment. Wood was virtually the pioneer
in that disgraceful history of corruption, by
which the city of New York has been SO scan
dalized. His IMMUNITY no doubt emboldened
the Ring to pursue their schemes of rapine.
When, like stated leech, he dropped full, he
turned his attention to national affairs and
sought seat in Congress Decent newspapers
demonstrated against sending such man to
the National Capital to make laws, but any
thing labelled democratic" went through in
those days without a why or wherefore, and he
was elected. By his experiences in the use of
the means by which elections here are too
often carried he has managed to retain his
seat ever since with the interval of single
term, when Republican candidate succeeded
in getting the votes canvassed correctly and
thereby secured the certificate. During his
life. he has amused and sur
prsed New Workers by appearing in the novel
role of an austere reformer His first appear
ance in this character was on the occasion of his
attack On Gen. Towards bureau. He didn
make great deal of capital out of t but those
who beheld him for the first time and heard him
decam in well affected tones with stern sever
ity, against Interpretations of money would
not for moment have guessed the truth-that
ne had been living and fattening on that sort
OF thing, until he had grown SO rich that he
could afford to quit the business and try and
mingle among honest men on terms of equality
1t was Tweeds misfortune to be born too late
If he had been contemporary of Wood, both
might now be occupying places in the National
Legislature and both aspirants for the Speakers
chair, beacon lights as it were, to show us