The Portland daily press., 1874-06-22
C8SariSM,

that has so long palsied industry. must nave
reached the domain of Journalism else we
should not see so many newspapers engaging
in extended and dreary comments upon the
third term or, to use the New York Heralds
pet term, "C@sarism." A year ago the Her.
aid made "Cesarism'' its pet lunaey as it
had used DIR. Livingstone for pet sensation.
For weeks it tried to get up an interest in the
matter, but only drew upon itself ridicule.
Now, however, it contempates with evident
satisfaction the spectacle Of many excellent
journals commenting on third term with as
much candor and stupidity as they usually
expend upon the most momentous subjects.
With evident satisfaction, we say, for it de-
votes special department to the classified,
ton and republication of these comments
There can't be the slightest objection to this
sort of thing. 1t is most innocent amuse-
ment, and for a hot season (which this is not)
it would be very cool occupation, to write or
lead third term articles. A very large portion
of the people Of this country know General
Grant as they have known no other Pfesi-
dent; indeed, a very large part of the people
have seen him and. the last thing they fear OF
him is that he will set up in the Caesar bust
ness or in any way rob them of their lber-
ties. All the newspapers in the country can
not scare the ordinary citizen into the BELIEF
that Gen. Grant is a dangerous man. j9i Iuy.
We ds not know whether or not the Presi-
dent would accept Office third term. We
know that he will not seek it. And if it
should come about that he should be candi-
date for third term, there is no more reason
to fear what is termed 'NC@sarism" than
there was during the first or second term
Has President Grant shown any tendency to-
ward C@sarism? Has he taken away from
the people or the states any of their rights !?
Is he doing anything or has he done anything
to enlarge the powers of the central govern
uent? No one will be so foolish as to pre-
tend that President Grant, who cannot make
laws or raise revenues, has attempted to
usurp such functions. Indeed, the record of
the last six years of the government will show
that the President has frequently opposed
projects to give him greater power, and has
always been backward in taking action in
any matter where the duty might devolve
upon Congress or state governments.
Csesarism is simply bug-a-boo of the DEM
agogue who is not yet so far advanced in an
acquaintance with the American people, but
that he thinks that they may BIT frightened by
this dreadful name. The danger of Caesar
ism really lies in another direction--in Con-
gress. If that body should ever accept the
theories of certain Western politicians as set
forth in Senator WINDOWS transportation
scheme and 60 to building and running rail
ways and canals, regulating the internal af-
fairs of states and otherwise interfering with
affairs strictly local and not essential to the
safety the government, it may so change
the whole character ofour government that
states will be little better than counties, and
thus establish aspecies of Capitalization which
win be more deplorable than paternal gov
eminent. ~ =, y. ~ .1i'e ~ re
As the present Congress has shown little
inclination to listen to these gentlemen and, as
the only evidences of legislative C@sarism are
found in the Democratic legislature of New
Hampshire, we have no need to become
greatly troubled in what should be hot wealth
er, by any horrible stories Of Grantism or Ca-
sarism. s.., 9aff -, ~ '"l,
~ THESE Maine Republican resolutions con-
tra.t curiously With the Indiana and Illinois
ones. So far as specie payments are con-
cerned, the trumpet cannot be criticised for
giving an uncertain sound. It will be no.
ticed that the convention. while thanking
Gen. Grant for his veto of the currency bill,
omits to Endorse" him in other respects
Blaine lives in Maine.-Sprinafeld Repubh-
can. - .i5-a
1t may be said, now that the subject has
been called up, that the general policy of
President Grants administration was not
''endorsed' simply through an oversight of
the committee entrusted with the prepare
ton of the resolutions. We are confident
that the Republicans Of the state most hearth
ly approve of his policy in the Spanish com
plications, in the policy of the past year
toward the late Confederate states as indicat-
ed IN the treatment OF Arkansas, in his at
tempts to improve the civil service and 9TH
erwise in the general conduct of public affairs,
and, further, that the President has the conf
dencs Of the party in Maine to greater ex-
tent to-day than year since. 40 '''' 1,.
Mr.. SrIcKNEi's post-ofice at Presque Isle
has been Investigated, and, judging from the
three columns of testimony with running
comments which appear in the Sunrise. the
postmaster is not much alarmed about the
result. The complaint was that Mr.. Stickney
was too old and infirm to discharge his duties
II nroperly and the netition for his removal woo