The Portland daily press., 1874-12-14
The SenatOrship.


HAT confidence is plant of slow growth,
Ie man has told us, and the experience OF
nv one confirms It, That it is sometimes
bid in its decay, is the lesson which Republic
MS may learn from the result of the late cleo
,ns. When men lose confidence in their
aders, whether on the field of battle, or the
ore peaceful arena of politics, defeat may al
avs be predicted and defeat is sure to come.
[onest politicians believe in their principles,
nd select for their servants men in whom they
AVE a correspondent faith; but when for good
cause, their trust in men is shaken, then In
q obedience to the instincts OF honesty, they
abandon them, and fall back upon their princi-
ples, and there intrench themselves, until wor-
thier champions can be found TO take the
field
Distrust! Distrust! Distrust! This unpleas-
ant word explains the reverses of the last few
weeks, and under its impending shadow, the
Republicans of Maine are now preparing for
decisive action; and as result, either some
mon in high position must be deposed, or else,
in the not distant future, political integrity
will only be-preserved at the expense OF party
defeat.
But not to delay in generalities or cifcumlo-
cution, allow me to define my position by say
ing, that aodS supporter of Mr.. Hamln-l
am SO no longer. L was called by his imme-
dia;e friends to be present at Augusta and aid
him in the last senatorial contest; and were
no other reasonito be given for withdrawn OF
confidence in him, it is sufficient to refer to
that disgraceful and demoralizing exhibition O.
Democratic tactics, which so grievously sui
lied the fair fame of the Republican party
10 this state. Six years seem altogether
too soon to allow a repetition of such
Saturnalia. In that brief term OF time
there is too short an interval for that inward
penance and publication through which more
than one honest man must go, in order that he
may be willing to renew anything like intima-
CIV of acquaintance even with himself 1t will
hardly be necessary to summon poor Lady
Macbeth from her grave, to give any additional
intensity to some modern renderings of her
words:
What will these hands meier be clean?
No more O. that, my lord, no more O. that.
Were Mr. Hamln on trial before his fellow
citizens, and to be judged for what he has done,
the verdict must inevitably be, Found Want
ing His great deeds are all written in water;
but the severity of judgment rests upou him
opportunities of high craftsmanship and noble
manhood. How often have his longing friends
exclaimed, 80! that those lips had language"
and has often been disappointed, while ram
pant and defiant disgrace and dishonoI have
stalked by him unnoticed.
Thousands 10 the state like myself, not OF,
fice-seekers, and therefore neither disappointed
nor revengeful, demand that the occupants OF
high office shall be, not merely men of average
honesty, but raised above all suspicion OF bar
gain; men who not only love righteousness but
hate iniquity; and so declare, always and every.
where, with Saxon vigor and plainness of
speech.
In the old DAYS of Southern supremacy. men
who were not Chevalier Bayards but skillful
and sharp at thrust and parry, were on ihat
accountlretained long in office that they might
match their willy adversaries; such necessity no
logger exists. Now, the people prefer to try
the mettle of their young and stalwart knights,
to bestow their rewards, as well as posts OF re-
sponsibility and trust, upon rising merit where.
ever it exists. Must the gates to this place OF
honor and usefulness, be barred against de-
serving and honorable men through the life
time of generation, because its present occu-
pant is so comfortable that he must not be dis
turbed? Shall it be said to the discledit OF our
state, 'sThat the whole of Rome contains but
one man.?
As short relief from our present embarrass-
ment, might it not be we'll for Republicans to
forward addresses to Mr.. Haml!n, suggesting
.
the interests of harmony and Cancellation Inc
patriotic Surrender of the Boston collectorship,
supplemented By graceful laying off OF the
enatoriaI robes, would be shining examples OF
lf-sacriice, that would gid such voluntary
trement with unwOnted glory Thus also
our retiring statesman now on the verge oil
three score and ten, would happily escape that |
inevitable decay of body and mind which over
takes all mortal men, and which elevated posi- |
ton serves to make so painfully conspicuous. |
Such retirement also, would bring 10 large
harvest of truth, being in strict accord with the
OF the ssaaIaa aonampagn
nG .isnlIs1NT6at delightful consistency be-
tween promise and performance, which should |
always exist, but which the mere politclan TOO |
often disregards |
Although asserting that the political virtues |
of our senator are largely of negative charac-
ter, and that his errors are toe well Defined 1t
must be admitted that he is not sinner above
all others. Strange it is, that men in office are
the last to the rising tide of revolution, or
to believe in danger, until the flood comes and
sweeps all away. Democrats OF course desire
a change of administration; but by and by,
the idea will cease to be disagreeable to the
Republican rank and file, if their public ser
wants do not chasten their inordnate amb.
ton to obtain office; to continue in office; and
by kind of interdependency, to retain their
willing satellites and servitors in office
In what other state have congressional
efforts been SO vigorous and successful IN
keeping out all admixtures and crosses, and in
begetting and perpetuatin2 race OF thorough
bred Office holders?
How thin the veil of neutrality, under which
our servants at Washington so many of them,
are aiding the return of this brother beloved
Nevertheless, the principles of justice do not
slumber in the great heart of the people; they
still live, tempered only by the sublimer in
stincts of mercy; and without doubt the de-
cree will go forth, that it is better that one
should die. than that all be destroyed. So
that, as the necessity of some sacrifice, the
merit of Nervousness, and the hour and the
man shall blend in harmonious conjunction
we shall see the patriarch of all office holders
reegatei to private life. CITIZEN.