The Portland daily press., 1874-07-17
Mr.. Hale's Acceptance of his Fourth Nom
inatiOn to Congress.
ELLSWORTH, July 10th, 1874.

AAuOiV" w OOb5ASoos
ELLSWORTH, July 10th, 1874.
s. L. Miliken, Esq, President Of the RepubE-
can Conventioa OF the FIFTH Mdine District.
DEAR S1R:-Your letter notifying me of my
unanimous nomination by the Republican Con-
vention of the 9TH Maine District. holden at
Ellsworth, on the 23d day of June, as a candi-
date for the 44th Congress, came to me in Wash
iugtOn and take the first opportunity since
my return home to notify you of my accept
ance, and through you to tender to the Repub-
lican party in this district, my grateful thanks
for this renewed manifestation OF its regard and
confidence.
The 9TH District has important industl les in
q large degree dependent on the legislation of
Congress. 1t covers one-half of the sea coast
of the State, along which lie our shipbuildng
cities and towns, and from which also set sail
our hardy fishermen. Here too are the months
of our rivers and our harbors, in whose safety
and navigabillty almost our entire population
has near interest, while little farther out is
the chain of light houses giving security to our
commerce. The numbering interest farther in
the interior, and the granite quarries of the
mainland and islands are Inseparably connect
ed with the navigation interest, by the tact
that their products are shipped in vessels en-
gagged in the coasting or foreign trade, and
thus nearly all branches of human industry in
the district are welded together in a common
concern.
These are things that affect all alike whatev-
er may be the party bias of the individual To
see that the material interests of such district
do not uujusty suffer in Congress, and yet IT,
bear fairly i'll 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 sustained under
such double responsibility, who has at his back
an intelligent and trusting constituency. | be.
lieve that in all public life nothing should be
so much priced such a 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 pol
itics and | heartily accept them as sound polt-
.ica doctrine, 1t is matter for sincere con-
graduation, that upon the great questions af
feeling our rational currency, and the finances
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 specie pay
ments. / trust AMI believe that events are
tending rapidly to that cad, AMI. thanks to the
tirmness and patriotism Of the President, joined
with wise and temperate action on the part of
Congress-, that any real danger of a departure
from sound principles upon subject 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, saescriee n,ost resrrssss
1t declares that 'the Republican par shonld
not be content with its past record, but, reiter-
atng its former declaration of principles, 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 inyolv-
ed the life of the Union, the Republican party
should not present these alone in its claim to
popular support. 1t mu 20 farther. II must
be equal to the duty of the hour and with each
year of protracted power its responsibility in
creases, and its self scrutiny should be all the
more searching. Upon this we can well afford
to 90 to the record. In the great election of 1872
the country by vast majority re elected Pres
ident Grant and Republican majority of two
thirds in the lower House of Congress- The
Senate has for years been as largely Repubi
can.
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, manufactures and
commerce, and thereby SO shrunken the public
revenue that to carry ON the government, new
taxation was threater ed. To have at such
tine imposed new burdens upon an embarrass-
ed people. would have been especially offensive,
and the Republican majority in Congress set
itself 10 the only alternative, the reduction of
the running expenses of the government. The
result is now before the people. The expendi-
lures OF the last year were reduced nearly ten
millions of dollars, and for the current year over
tweDty-seven millions of dollars. AS result
of this, the treasury is again in sound condi-
ton. The public debt is being reduced and
net single new tax has been levied Que of
the duties of the hour is economy in the expen-
dture 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 investi-
gated alleged malfeasances most thoroughly.
When il was urged that the government of the
District CT 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 a
new one has been committed to a commission.
at the head of which is ore of our honored
Senators, Hon. l.. M Morrill,. Here was no
shrinking from another of the duties of the
hour the reform of abuses.
10 pr vious Congress The same partv had
laid bare the whole subject of the MANAGEMENT
of great ratoad corporations, sustained by
subsidies of government lands and moneys and
the result has been that in the present Copgr SIS
land grants and subsidies have received no re.
cognitiou.
Moreover, and this is no small matter the
whole array OF anfonnded claims, smackino of
lobbery and fraud aud of enterprises douhtful
in their public character has been by this Con
gress met fairly in open fight, and everywhere
beaten and trampled under foot venture the
assertion that the "lobby' never left Washing.
ton so desperate and hungry 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 put its foot firmly on
every dsorderly 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 nearly unanimous public sentiment.
1t revised and consolidated into convenient
and attainable form all the various statutes of
the United States, giving in single volume
what has heretofore been searcred for by law |
yerS and business men through seven cen |
volumes
1t repealed the law which set a-foot the San
born contracts and struck down the abomina-
tionS of the moiety system.
1t provided for the distribution of the money |
awarded by the Geneva Trbu lal so that the, |
actual losers of vessels or freight by the Con-
federate cruisers that We're included in the re-
port of the tribunal, will soon receive their
money and interest. The State of Maine will |
especially benefit by this Distribution.
Other sound measures might be instanced, |
but L have perhaps said enough to show that |
10 man should assaii the Republican majority |
in Congress, without careful examination of |
its real work. That has only to be realized
and have no fear that it will not be appreci-
ated. 1t will do US 10 harm to contrast all this
with the NANTES rationS which have attended
the temporary reinstatement of our opponents
IN power IN Two OF the New England States
Connecticut and New Hampshire. If any hon
est Republican has felt that be had reason to
find fault with his party because of certain
shortcomings let him look at these two states
under Democratic misrule and see whittier he
is travelling when he leaves his old orgapiza
ton. If he will come nearer home, let him
read the declaration of the aims and purposes
of the opposition this state, found in the
platform of the late Democratic Convention at
Portland, wherein the dogma of free trade pure
aud simple, and direct taxation, is land down,
which means, If 1t means anything, til 1t a sys.
tenn of taxation should be adopted that would
tire ole the burdens of our tax payers, admit to
our coasting trade the vessels built By our pro-
vncial neighbors, and shut up in silence and
decay every .hipyafd on our coast which is just
beginning to resume some of its old-tme pros
Derty.