The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-13
Spirit Of the New York Press.

Dlscoursing of the idotic dryel, which mar
vades several journals seeking for a sensation
in dull times, about "C@sarism.n "Third
Term" and such, and referring especially to
the Herald, the Times SAYS:
There are doubtless some of our readers
who are not in the habit of following the
course OF politics with very close attention,
especially at seasons like the present, when
no question of absorbing interest is before
the country. To such persons, the discussions
now going or in some of the papers must
appe9r almost inexpIicable. In the midst
of summer, and sson after a Presidential
election, some foolish persons seem to fancy
that it is possible to get the public mind
excited over the question, ''Who shall be
elected President in 1S76?' 1t is necessary
Tor their purpose to compare the plainest and
most unassuming man in the country with
Caesar. The intense and hopeless ignorance
which has been shown in the treatment Of
this absurd theme is worthy of the "inte'lect-
ual department. of a journal which derives
considerable share of its profits from the
trade of publishing obscene advertisements.
We have been told in the organ of the slums,
that the President can, if he please, make
himself all-powerful, and completely suppress
the coordinate branches of the Government.
This may be the view of the European"
element of the ''intel,ectaal department.;
but it is not quite borne out by facts. An
drew johnson did not seem to be capable of
exercising any alarming authority when once
he had placed Congress IN an attitude OF per-
manent opposition to him. The truth is that
many persons then understood for the first
time how powerless the Executive would be
when it was placed in permanent conflict
with the Legislative. The President could
neither remove nor appoint an officer; he
could not suggest or alter given line OF
policy; he could not resist the passage of an
act, for it was instantly passed over his veto.
The Legislative branch OF the Government
might possibly become omnipotent, for there
is no check upon it except such as the balance
of parties, and the tardy action of the Su-
preme Court may impose. But that branch
of the Government which is intrinscally the
weakest is undoubtedly the Executive.
The shrewdest politicians
in the country cannot form the least idea now
who will be elected President in 1875. No
combinations that could be formed now would
be of the slightest weight or service then.
The unforeseen always happens in politics
and the Presidential election of 1876 will prob
ably turn upou some issue of which no man
living has now the slightest suspicion or con-
ceptiOn. Put in motion wha' machinery We
| will at this moment, it cannot possibly have
| the least effect in 1876. 1t is a subject not
worth talking about, and we refer TO 1t now
the purpose of showing how absolutely beg
| CARED the Democratic party must be for ideas
when it is obliged to set its skirmishers to
work to raise an agitation over an event which
| Is three years and half distant, and which
| no human being can control. We might as
T. well waste our time in considering whether
we shall, any of US, have headache four years
hence, or what sort of weather it will be, or
what we shall be eating for dinner.
1 The World 1iSpIgsps the nr0nOsiti0n tn
make the Philadelphia Centennial worlds
exposition and thinks the Nat;on and COM
mission do not appreciate the magnitude Of
the undertaking. The article closes thus;
| We have national conceit enough to make
us think that, if our people once thoroughly
| realize what an international exhibition in
this day means, they will not be found want
ing in the substantial things, but they must
be informed and inspired. The example and
| standard Just set before them at Vienna sur
pass everything the world has seen before
| To prepare for it the Government of Austria
1 has worked with tremendous energy over
| tUo pears and expended out of the Govern
ment purse more than ten millions of dollars
| and this enormous sum Is but 1.-THE of what
Austrian exhibitors have expended in prepar-
ing for the display. Our countrymen may
depend upon it that their country has en-
4 DdIhCu O1 a ifciuCuuCuS uuucEtdkIIlg, WHICH
will require the best efforts of every citizen
North and South, East and West.
The Herald continues its stereotyped
Cesarism leader seeing dreadful phantoms
and lashing itself into very fever of appre-
hension about "despotism," Dictatorship
! ct id omnc genus, the Jeremiad ceasing as
follows:
We have acquitted General Grant all along
| from any completely with any conspiracy
| looking to his reelection. We would not
to the President the injustice to suppose that
he wishes to set aside the traditions of the
| Republic, almost as strong as constitutional
| provision, that he may hold The reins of Of
flee for longer time than any of his predeees-
| sors. But as good men as he have been over
| come by tatterers and place hunters. As
| good as he have become despots and lived on
| ly to perpetuate the one-nan rule. Should he
be again reelected, it might easily become q
| matter of form that he should be reelected
over and over again. Finally even the form
might be dispensed with, for then it would be
only forbearance on his part that would pre-
serve the semhlance of liberty. This
| country is too great to be at the
mercy Of any man, under any con-
ceivable circumstances. Instead, then, of
wasting time over little jokes about Caesar
aud Ulysses; instead of making divisions by
uumanly and unjust charges against the phi
vate character of General Grant; instead OF
drawing overtime theories in regard to free
trade and tariffs for protection or for revenue
instead of parposeless twaddle over dead is
sues and indulging in heatel and violent Ian
guage abont copperheadism and niggerism,
\ we should address ourselves to the real ques-
| tion of the hour and avert probable danger
by providing remedy in the beginning. A
general discussion OF the question viii
bring out the remedy. and we ask the press
and the people to ponder and talk over Il till
! this remedy has been found ard the danger
? no longer EXISTS