The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-11-06

sonal character is only the second, and party
fidelity is the first consideration" This is
sample of the great reform movement which
is sweeping over the country.
The Republican party can recover the state
and the national House of Representatives
whenever the class of politicians who now
assume to control the party will make 1t 4, eyi-
dent that they care more for the estapiisn-
ment of its principles than tor their own
advancement. Until these self-seekers aban-
don their pretensions and make way for men
more worthy of public confidence, the oppo-
sition party will continue to win victorles,-
unless, indeed, it is so reckless OF It's own IN
terest as to undertake TO settle or .pp1ggihits.-
constitutional guaranter-7f d7rT +
Boston. 4dg Democrats, they are as badly off
as the man who won the elephant at the raf-
file. Their victory is too large to be easily
handled. What will they do with it? What
will it bring? They will have the next
House and the next Speaker, and can make
a vigorous running fight against the admin
istration, but they can't pass bill, or repeal
an act, against the will of the Senate or OF
the President. They will undoubtedly do
what the Republican House did for Buchan-
ans adminstration-s'inves and accu-
mulate campaign documents for 1S76.-N. Y.
Mail. t f
The causes, so far as Massachusetts is
concerned are not far to seek. Broadly speak
ing, they are three in number. First, popu-
lar disgust with an obnoxious sumptuary
code, the partial and itful enforcement oil
which has been equally Irritating and demon
alizing. Second, popular dissatisfaction with
the way things have been going at Washing
ton. Third, a popular conviction that the
state government has been in tue same hands
quite long enough; that the flavor OF ring in
our state and county politics has become toe
strong to be agreeable; that the Buffers and
too fat and SASSY" and that this is as goot
a time as any to hint to them that the people
are still rather important factor in politica
neutrality-suspicious. Republican.
We have called yesterdays result Re
publican defeat. 1t would be great mis-
| to call it Democratic victory. The Demo
| Gratis, as national party, offered the peopl
only one thing. They had no policy to sub
| NIT. They had no record on which the
could ask the people to trust them. The
| had no carefully matured or coherent meas
ures for the future better than or materall
different from Republican measures. The
did offer one thing-a change. The peopl
took the change; they did not take the Dem
ocrats. Whether they will take them r.
mains an open question. Upon change til
people are resolved. If the Republican pal
ty have the wisdom and courage to perfec
the change, that party will still ethe strong
est in the country.-N. Y. Post, so Iii
1t seems certain that the reverses OF Tue:
davis elections are sufficient to give the Den
ocrats strong majority in the next Cor
gress. Admitting this to be the case, thel
is no reason why Republicans should despa
of their party, or good citizens, Of the repu
lie. Sometimes 2 temporary defeat is til
ultimate salvation Of an army, and there
certainly abundant reason why the 9Repu
lican party should be benefited by the affii
tions Of the present moment. Undoubted
the party has erred and strayed into by ar
forbidden paths. 1t has had the fortune
E. all successful parties, to be preyed upon
the camp-followers and booty seekers, til
political rats, who always join the winnin
I Side The great mass OF the party is. and a
Ways has been, sound to the core, but til
who na.vea- Henality OF the office. r rffr
damaged the party's good ihh 4f1e.l Bat =
record, nevertheless, is gIoriout ON.
S egdalled by that of no party since tie natio
vas formed, and it still contains ne pure
and best men in the land. -Harttosd Courai