Daily Kennebec journal., 1875-06-14
q TIE TEyDEYcI OF THE P1RII,.

i
THE TENDENCY or. THE PdRlI
The New York Times expresses good
deal Of the philosophy OF the present po-
liticai situation when 1t says: WHAT
ever was calculated TO allenatc or diseon-
tent sincere republicans year ago exists
now In far less degree" No one can
stop to reflect upon the facts without rec
ognizing this truth, There is great and
manifest Improvement The tendency OF
the party is upward, and it cannot fail to
appeal to those who have been dissatis-
fed.
The republican party has been in power
for nearly fifteen years. suffering no check
except during the accidental Presidency
Of Andrew johnson. 1t is an unusually
long period Of uubroken ascondency In
the whole history of the country there has
been nothing like it since the career OF the
old republican party under jefferson,
Madison and Monroe. From 1928 to 1860
NO party succeeded in retaining the ad-
miuistration continuously more than
twelve years. and there was only one in
stance even of that. Usually the ebb and
the Aood Of the political tide have come
every four or eight years. and that par
" should remain on the top.wave for fif-
teen years is itself a remarkable fact. But,
still further, during that protracted period
the republican party has handled the grav-
est questions and dealt with the most gi-
gantic interests. II these great exigen-
cies have tended in one respect to prolong
its power by rallying the people to one
standard Of national safety, they have al
SO tended to weaken the sense of respon-
bility and to deyelope unwholesome in
fluences. 1t would be very strange if such
an extraordinary tenure of power, con-
cerned with the management of billions
and with the greatest stakes OF national
government. had not been marked by
some mistakes and some unwelcome ex-
hibitions. The chief wonder, consider
ing the magnitude OF the interests. is that
there have not been more.
But whatever they have been, they were
on the surface, and did not strike down to
the heart Of the party. Herein is vital
difference between the republican aud
democratic organizations. The spirit of
the republican party had only to assert it.
self to correct the mistakes and the evils
which have appeared. 1t has manifested
itself, and Its influence is perceptiblc in
that marked improvement which the Times
points out. If there were grounds for crit
icism they have been largely removed. A
better feeling everywhere prevails. While
the exhibitions of the democracy during
the past year have been such as to in
crease the public distrust. the manifest
tendency Of the republican party is of
character to reawaken public confidence
and restore to its ranks those who have
been alienated.-Aibany Journal.
The potato bug is Just now threatening
the crop in Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Maryland and Delaware, and spectators
are perhaps exaggeraling the danger.
The Philadelphia Times says that dealers
in that market are wearing doleful face
at the dismal outlook, and predict no crop
At all. 1t is reported that the early potato
crop around Norfolk is being destroyed
by the bugs. Delaware is overun with
them. and some farmers are ploughing
their potato fields and rcplanting with
corn. In New Jersey special efforts are
made to kin the bugs, children being en-
ployed in thst work al two cents a hun
dred bugs Or twenty cents quart.
The liberal committee of New York at a
late meeting adopie cd !. resolution in favor
of holding a State convention. Resolu-
tions discountenancing union with the
straight republicans and favoring an al
lance with the democrats were voted
down by large majority. y discussion
which ensued on the resolves demonstra-
ted that the tendency of the liberals is
towards the republicans rather than
toward the democrats.
The Secretary of the Treasury has or
dered that no more permits be granted for
strangers to visit the coin vaults aud bond
room of the Treasury Department These
have come to be regarded rs among the
most notahie sights Of the capital. and the
actual expense to the government in ap-
pointing men to guide visitors about has
often exceeded s1oo weekly. But the re-
cent mysterious robbery has prompted
the prohibition.
The republican State convention at
Portland. tomorrow viii open the political
s,arnusiru. q The State Committee will be