The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-17
New York Letter,


The address of Gov. Bullock on taking the
chair at the Massachusetts, State Convention
was in many respects noteworthy. 1t bore cyl
dent marks of careful preparation, and was
scholarly production. But strange to say there
lurked among many Of its ornate sentences, an
unmistakaole tone of apology for the Republic
can parry. He speaks of the common BELIEF
that ''scandalous irregularities and immorali-
ties" had ''sprung up in the public service,
and of the suspicion cherished by stern and
Just people, where there is so much smokeof in
vestigation, that there must be some fire Of
truth"
Now all this simply goes to show that the
Governor has not kept up with the history of
his times. He was abroad when the Presi-
Dental election occurred and very likely some
of the inventions of the Bohemians who promo
ted the Cincinnati Convention shook his faith
in the integrity of the Republican adninistra-
ton. 1t is difficult for an American residing
10 foreign capital to conceive of tribe of
penny-a-liners base enough to coin falsehoods
in respect to the conduct of the government of
their country which would bring reproach
upon it in other lands, for the mere purpose Of
Strengthening partzan cause. And yet this
scandalous spectacle was conspicuously wit
messed last gear.
That Gov. Bullock was deceived by these idle
tales of political adventures, is less surprising
than that he should have chosen a Republican
State Convention, as She place in which to pre-
fer an arraignment of the existing adminstra-
ton, based On an entire misrepresentation of
thn faofS 1-,n &c mt
ground for such an Indictment, but in this case
even that ground was wanting. IL is not by
apy means the general belief, that s'scandalous
Irregularities and immoratieS'' mark the con-
duct of public affairs. That issue was settled
last November. The question was souarely
put to the nation, and squarely answered. Al
legations were made in the most positive
terms, and with minuteness of detail of every
species of wrong doing. They were promptly
met and refuted. The verdict of the people
followed and overwhen inely indicated the
motives and the integrity of the government.
There were no less than thirteen inquisitions in
full blast at one time. They were pursued by
desperate men in desperate earnest. And yet
not one of these elected any proofs that there
was so much as spark ofthe fire of truth in
all that smoke of investigation
subsequent inquiry brought to light the
story of the Credit MobIier;" but the admin
istration of Gen. Grant is in no wise response
BILE for that scheme. All the scandal which at
taches to that organization dates back to Andy
Johnson's accidency 1t will be found, think, as
a matter of strict historical accuracy that since
the Inauguration fthe present incumbent of the
anti al nf43
executed with fidelity and honesty never ex-
ceeded in any epoch of our national existence.
aud not equalled during any Presidential term
for generation.
In view of these facts it is by no means pleasant
to hear apologize addresses like that of Gov.
Bullock, uttered in patronizing manner. but
virtually declaring that the Republican party
has gone as far in the direction of corruption
and iniquity as popular patience will permit,
and that it must now retraee it's steps and bring
forth fruits meet for repentance. All this NAV
be well meant, but it betrays an understandable
ignorance of current events. The governor is
the more censurable because, having been an
absentee when the trial took place and iudg-
ment was rendered, he has no right whatever
to reopen the case
1t will be conceded on all hands that there
never has 5eena time when such glare of light
was reflected upon every act of the admipistra-
ton as now. Not only the President but every
Cabinet minister performs his duties under the
surveillance of the press and every government
subordinate, civil military, AT home OF abroad
Is subjected to the same watchful scrutiny. IT
is this, perhaps which has led to such genera
purlhcatlon OF the service. But without dis
cussing motives, it is simply just to chronicle
the fact that these unsparing critics and detect
ives have found none occasion nor fault'' IN
the public servants they have stood guard over
Now, as fast as charges are made they are HINT
ed down and very soon proved to be groundlass
There are certain newspapers whose labora tory
OF lies is SO prolific that every political item thew
publish is presumably untrue, and of which no
notice is taken, but when any decent journal
arraigns the administration, its structures are
promptly met, and complete vindcation en-
sues.
But we have had altogether too much of mere
assumptionin these criticisms of public men. 1T
is reported" sit is rumored,' 1--WE are inform
ed" and oozen other vague phrases of similar
import, form the text of unnumbered columns
of denunciation of the Republicans in authority
Mr.. Godkin will take one OF these floating tic-
tons, a pure unmitigated fabrication, and dress
it up in his unexceptionabe English into col
umn OF editorial for the Nation. His part of it
will be draped in such decorous literary costume
that the poison will be swallowed for the sake
of the coating. Every body certainly will re-
member how last year when the san and Tri-
bune had got SO low down in the slough of
mendacity, that they hadn't reader left credu
lous enough to accept one of their statements
unless were strongly corroborated, that the Ma
ton used to catch the refrain adapt new words
to it and try to make music of it. This isan in
genous but not manly way of attacking the
national ruler. ! am always suspicious of
those questionable friends who think it SO nat
ural to err that they are ever ready to plead
guilty of error.
Now let us look for moment at Gov. Bull
locks position. He goes out of the country.
and leaves his Republican friends to fight
against the attempts of the democrats to recov-
er control of affairs through coalition with a
knot of disappointed office seekers, who desert
their party and assail the President with
every epithet of vituperation which malignity
can suggest. He remains in Paris through the