The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-12
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.
Current Notes.

The printers tournament. presents a good
example to the professional idlers who travel
about the country holding billiard tourna-
ments for the edification of those who are as
useless as themselves. II these supple
wristed knights OF the cue would put them
selves in training to compete with the nimbe
fingered printers, they would do themselves
much more credit and do the world much
more service.-Louisrille Courier-JourndI.
1.-THE Dist'ict'' is our national No-man's-
iand-a beautiful opportunity for all sorts of
experiments in government. Il is now to be
treated as "a political unit" By the number
of bills that have been passed "for the better
government of the District OF Columbia
one would think it might have progressed o
Utopan perfection by this time.-N. Y. MaiL.
Somebody asked Beck of Kentucky what
the policy of the Democrats would be when
they got control of the House of Represent
atives, and he replied: "We shall have no
policy. If we attempt it we shall break
down. But we can, with safety, undertake
to show up the rottenness of the Republicans
and thus put them and keep them on the de-
fensive."
Ii the Republican party has bondholders at
its head and negroes at its tail, and the Dem
ocratic party has bondholders at its head and
Irishmen at its tail, what is TO become OF the
blessed country? Gen. Butler suggests that
the only chance of salvation is in the estab-
lishment of a party which shall have thieves
at the head and Communists at the tail -
Chicago Tribnne.
The Hartford Courant in noticing the re-
suit Of the Proctor MouIton suit, says that
Mouton has succeeded SIN escaping the pun
ishment he justly dererves, and, not being a
convicted felon, his testimony against Mr..
Beecher will still be given some weight in
court 1t is better termination of the suit
than he was entitled to-"
The Toronto Globe, in an editorial on
President Grants Message, says: "Alto-
gether the Message is eminently peaceful,
moderate, and practical. The tone assumed
toward other Governments is conciliatory,
yet manly. The view taken OF internal
trouble is moderate and impartial; while the
changes recommended are both practical and
practicable. The document will give the
writer an additional claim to the character OF
a prudent administrator, and an eminently
safe, if not brilliant statesman and First Mag
istlate.'
Senator Stockton is now said to be slated as
his own successor by the Democracy of New
Jersey. He has made but feeble mark in
the Senate, but he is a pronounced Bourbon,
and therefore available.
Gen. Butler has had various views of bis
defeat. The first one was because he was
for woman suffrage; t6at of his currency
speech, on Tuesday, was because of his IN
flationism; and now, by way of Chicago, We
learn he told an inquirer that the Boston cap
italsts inimidate6 the manufacturers OF his
district so that nearly every shoemaker had
to suppress his love for him and vote fpr the
other man.
Many of the prominent leaders Of the lob
by are already here, which is something re-
markable so early in the winter, and it is OBJ
served that some of the noted women who
were widely known in Johnson's time as
successful lobbyists, and who have not been
seen in Washington for sore years, have
already taken up their winter quarters at
the capital Chicago Tribune's Special.