Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-09

From the Bangor Wing and Courier.l
We commend the whole of Mr.. Blaine's
able and statesmanlike letter to the earnest
consideration of our readers. 1t is clear and
forcible in its statement of the issues before
us, and lis sentiments are worthy OF one VINO
has been so highly honored by his constitu-
ents and who in return has reflected such high
honor upon them and upon the State OF
Maine.
From the Portland Press
The letter of Mr.. Blaine, elsewhere pub
lished, is An important and significant docu-
ment as are all his public utterances. He
shows in strong light the absurdity of the
dogma, enunciated by the Democrats of
Maine, that taxation should be direct and that
there should be not even a revenue tariff. lie
also concurs fully in the views of the Press
that the operation of the ninth article of the
proposed Reciprocity Treaty, permitting free
trade in ships, would be disastrous to our re-
viving snipbulding and should on no account
be adopted. His position against the adjust
ment of revenue questions by the treaty max
ing power is fairly open to criticism The
business relations of two nations so intimately
associated as our country and Canada must
suffer if subjected year by year to the vicissi-
tudes of legislation. Men will not have con-
fidence to engage in enterprises of any col-
siderable magnitude, with the risk that the
conditions upon which their action is based
are likely to be modified to an indefinite, and
possibly, ruinous extent. Thus treaty with
distinct specifications and an exact limit of
time is much more favorable to trade than
system dependent upon the decisions of two
legislatures acting from opposite standpoints.
We need Reciprocity Treaty, but not one
which will desolate our ship-yards and drive
our coastwise commerce into foreign bottoms.
From the Portland Advertiser.
Mr.. Blaine, in his letter accepting seventh
nomination for Congress from the third dis
trct, attacks the resolution of the Democrat
ic State Convention in favor of free trade,
and goes on consistently to argue against the
pending reciprocity treaty. He protests
against any interference with the revenue
laws by treaty, as an infraction of the right
of the House of Representatives to originate
bills of revenue, and thinks "this great power
should be kept where it can be controlled by
the direct vote Of the people every two years.
VIVA: this means is, that instead of settled
and permanent policy, to which trade might
adjust itself, Mr.. Blaine prefers shifting
tariff, varying from year to year in direct pro-
portion to the strength of the lobby and in in
verse ratio to the power of resistance in Con-
gress. What sort Of revenue laws we get by
that process, the country has seen with great
dissatisfaction, and would be quite willing to
witness the inauguration of a new policy. 1t
is quite possible that some provisions OF the
pending treaty are disadvantageous to this
country but the service we ought to be able
to expect from our statesmen, would be
faithful endeavor not to defeat and destroy
but to improve and perfect the treaty.
From the Boston Journal
The vigor and success with which Mr..
Blaine demolished the new ultra free trade
doctrine preached by the Maine Democracy
make his letter very interesting reading, even
to those who are so handsomely routed. The
other topic principally dealt with by Mr..
Blaine is the prospect of Reciprocity Treaty
with Canada, and his statements and argu-
ments thereupon, though chiefly designed for
the consideration of the people of Maine, will
command attention throughout the country
In all respects, the letter is able, timely and
significant.
From the Boston Globe.
The letter of Mr.. Blaine, again accepting
the candidacy for Congress in the Third Dis
trict Of Maine, will be an effective campaign
document in that State. He displays his re.
markable sagacity and skill in securing the
favor of the people whom he addresses by an
appeal in behalf of their special interests. He
takes up the most vulnerable feature in the
Democratic platform-that in favor of abso.
lutte free trade-and the exceedingly vulner-
able declaration of the Democratic candidate
for Governor in favor of direct taxation for
revenue purposes, and shows what draft
upon the pockets of his constituents would be
made if this policy were to prevail. He also
glances at the question of reciprocity with
Canada and plants himself on the grounds of
Names special interests in a manner sure to
win applause. There can be no doubt that
his letter will strengthen him greatly with the
people of his own State, though elsewhere it
will be received with more disposition to ques-
ton its soundness.
From the Boston Advertiser
Mr. Blaine's examination of the effect of
free trade on Maine is very clear and forcible,
and his conclusions will bear any test to
which they may be subjected. We fancy that
few of the Maine democrats realize that to
substitute direct taxation for customs duties
would compel levy of nearly four million
dollars in gold in addition to present taxes, or
would impose upon that State an internal tax
on manufactures and commerce of even a
greater amount
The subject of reciprocity is, however, one
of more pressing importance at the present
time, inasmuch as free trade doctrines are by
no means popular in Maine, and are making
little progress elsewhere, while treaty is
pending to establish reciprocity with Canada.
Mr.. Blaine. representing a shipbuilding dis
trict, may well speak with warmth of a treaty
that admits vessels built with the cheap ma
terials and labor of Canada to American reg
istry, and the illustrations by means of which
he shows that the people to be benefited and
to be injured by the treaty are not the same
are forcible and ingenious. Mr.. Blaine is Sc
cure in the confidence of his constituents, and
need not have expressed any opinions what
ever on the topics he discusses. We presume
he intended the letter as a sort of political
to give direction to whatever con-
test may be waged this fall in Maine. As he
is not only Maine representative but the
official chief of the house of representatives,
MS letter will be widely read through the |
country. His sentiments on the tariff ques-
ton have never been concealed, but this bold
repetition of them shows that he feels he has
nothing to fear from any free trade element
within the republican party.
4 TORNADO on TIE FOURTH
destructive tornado swept across Mary.
and and adjacent territory on the Fourth.
At Baltimore it was accompanied by numer-
Jus electric FIRE balls. A dozen houses were