Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-17

en- at Ellsworth on the 23d day of June, as a
candidate for the 44th Congress, came to me
in Washington, and take the first opportu-
nifty since my return home to notify you of
my acceptance, and through you, to tender to
the Republican party in this district my CRATE
full thanks for this renewed manifestation OF
its respect and confidence.
The Fifth District has important Industries
in large degree dependent on the legislation
of Congress. 1t covers one-halt of the sea
coast of the State, along which lie our ship
building cities and towns, and from which
also set sail our hardy fishermen. Here toe
are the mouths of our rivers and our harbors,
in whose safety and navigabilty almost our
entire population has a near interest, while
little farther out is the chain of lighthouses,
giving security to our commerce. The lum-
boring interests, farther in the interior, and
the granite quarries OF the mainland and isl
ands, are inseparably connected with the nav
igation interest, by the fact that their pro-
ducts are welded together in common con-
Germ.
These are things that affect all alike, what
ever may be the party bias of the individual.
To see that the material interests of such
district do not unjustly suffer 10 Congress,
and vet to bear fairly in mind the needs and
wants of other sections of a united country,
presenting diverse claims, is no light duty
laid upon a Representative. He is best sus-
tanned Under such double responsibility who
has at his back an intelligent and trusting con-
stituency. l believe that in all public life
nothing should be SO much priced as such
support. 1t should make its Representative
independent in the best sense of the word.
The convention over which you presided,
adopted the resolutions of the Augusta State
Convention as its expression upon national
politics, and l heartily accept them as sound
political doctrine. 1t is a matter for sincere
congratula,ion that, upon the great questions
affecting our national currency and the tpanc-
es of the country, the sentiment of the State
of Maine, SO far as it can be judged from
public expression, is strongly set in favor OF
sound currency and an early return to spe-
Gle payments. | trust and believe that events
are tending rapidly to that end, and, thanks
to the firmness and patriotism of the Presi-
dent, Joined with the wise and temperate ac-
ten of Congress, that any real danger of a
departure from sound principles upon a sub
lect so vitality affecting the nations honor and
prosperity has passed away.
To the first resolution Of the State Conven-
ton, adopted by the one that has put me in
nomination, / subscribe most earnest assent.
1t declares that "The Republican party should
not be content with its past record, but reit-
should move forward to meet new issues as
they arise"
These words embody our present duty as a
party. Splendid as is its record in the war of
the rebellion, and upon the great measures of
reconstruction at its close, and sacred as are
the memories of that mighty conflict which
involved the life of the Union, the Republi-
can party should not present these alone as
its claim to popular support. 1t must 60 far
Their. 1t must be equal to the duty of the
hour, and with each year of protracted power
its responsibility increases, and its self-scru
tiny should be all the more searching. Upon
this we can afford to go to the record. In the
great election of 1872, the country by vast
majority reelected President Grant and
Republican majority of two-thirds in the low.
er House of Congress. The Senate has for
years been as largely Republican.
The first and long session of the Congress
then elected has just closed, and it is worth
the while to examine some of its work for
which. whether good or bad, the Republican
party will be held responsible
Its opening found the country Frustrated
by monetary panic, which had disturbed
business relations, depressed trade, manufac-
lures and commerce, and thereby so shrunken
the public revenue that to carry on the gov
eminent, new taxation was threatened. To
have at such time imposed new burdens up
on an embarrassed people, would have been
especially offensive, and the Republican una
jority in Congress set itself to the only alter
native, the reduction Of the running expenses
of the government. The resnl. is now before
the people. The expenditures of the last
year were reduced nearly ten millions of dol
lars, and for the current year over twenty
seven millions Of dollars. As result of this,
the Treasury is again in sound condition.
The public debt is being reduced, and not
single new tax has been levied. One of the
duties of the hour is economy in the expendi-
ture of the public money. What record
could be better upon this point?
Nor has the party been lacking in its efforts
towards the reform of abuses 1t has inves-
tgated alleged malfeasance most thoroughly.
When it was urged that the government of
the District of Columbia had become reckless
and corrupt, the Republican party committed
the Investigation to able and honest men of
both parties, who after long examination
united in report which abolished the whole
form of the District Government, and the
task of framing new one has been commit
ted to a commission at the head of which is
one of our honored Senators, Hon. Lot NJ
Morrill,. Here was no shrinking from anoth.
err of the duties of the hour-the reform of
abuses.
In a previous Congress, the same party had
laid bare the whole subject of the manage
ment of great railroad corporations, sustained
by subs sides of government lands and monies,
and the result has been that in the present
Congress, land grants and subsidies have re-
ceived no recognition.
Moreover, and this is 10 small matter, the
whole array of unfounded claims, smackiDg
of jobbery and fraud, and of enterprises
doubtful in their public character has been by
this Congress met fairly in open fight, and
everywhere beaten and trampled under foot.
| venture the assertion that the ''lobby" never
left Washington so desperate and hungry as
at the close of the last session of Congress.
Herein millions of money have been saved. !
Nor are these all the good things done by
the present Congress. 1t puts its foot firmly
on every disorderly scheme to involve US in
war with SPAIN and yet sacrificed no whit
of the nations honor.
1t repealed the salary bill, thereby respond
ing to a nearly unanimous public sentiment.
1t resolved and consolidated into conven-
lent and attainable form all the various stat
utes of the United States, giving in single |
volume who has heretofore been searched for
by lawyers and business men through seven
teen volumes.