The Portland daily press., 1875-12-11
Current Notes.

Those who are fond of political contracts
may amuse themselves by placing side by side
the action of the Democratic Constitutional
Convention ia Missouri in annulling the edu-
cational qualification, and the action of Re.
publican President of the United States in
recommending the imposition of such a
qualification by constitutional amendment
1t is almost as hard as it ever was to mistake
a Democrat for Republican.-St. Louis
Globe.
There was enough in the first days debate
in the House to show that there is formid-
able element in the Democratic majority,
with which its recognized leaders are in SYM
pathy, that intends to break down wherever
it can the settlement of the most serious dis
putes growing out of reconstruction in the
South. The attempt to reopen the Louisiana
question was in the nature of violation of
contracts or the breaking of treaties-the
most serious otenses that can be committed
by goyernment.-Chica Tribune.
We deem it safe to predict that as whole
the mass of his recommendations which look
to the future constitute body of political
doctrine which will be accepted by the peo-
pie as the platform of the second centennial
era OF the republic, and whose adoption will
swing it forward under happy auspices into
the second century of its existence. His dec
laration of the danger-ignorance misled bv
unconsclentious ambition-and the remedy
education as the corner stone of political
franchises the keynote of the message, and
will in all probability mark the crucial
struggle OF our social and political history for
this Observation-Disclosures Press.
No one knows at what time or from what
place Tweed did actually.go. AS he has been
at large ever since he has been in confine-
ment the selection of the time and place for
his departure was simply matter of taste,
and, instead of finding fault with him, it
seems to us that we ought to be grateful to
the ''old man" that he has been willing to
stay so long among us, giving great deal of
employment to some of our ablest lawyers
and judges, and furnishing constant topic
of discussion for the press. His willingness
to do so under the annoying circumstances of
the past two years shows that the place is
still endeared to him by MANY associations.
and if, instead of offering rewards for his ar
rest, proper inducements were held out, he
would return at once. 1t can hardly be ex-
pected that man will remain permanently
in city of his own accord where people are
all the time denouncing him and threatening
to take away his property or put him in prs-
on.-Nati0p.
Right at the outset the President touches
upon an allied group of questions that great
many people are thinking of as very nearly re-
lated to the sources of national prosperity
and the perpetuity of republican institutions
the diffusion of free education, the guarding
of the public schools from sectaranism, and
the taxation of Church property. While poll
ticians whose interests run in the opposite
direction will say that President Grant is,
in this portion of his message, bidding for a
denomination on class policy, the majority
of the American people will recognize that he
has uttered words of wisdom at time when
they are greatly needed. u n
While the President has nothing to say direct
ly on the third term matter, his use of the
language that "as this will be the last mes
sage which I shall have the honor of trans
mitting to Congress before my successor is
chosen" may be taken as an Indication that
he meant to indicate his expectation of retir-
sng to private life without saying so in exact
words. The message is clear, concise and
readable document, and will be generally
satisfactory. american.
While the Democrats are tossed hither and
thither on the troubled waters of politics,
the although in a minority in
the House lof Representatives-have firm
and righteous policy before them, and they
will prove to the people that they know how
to defend it. The Presidents message will
immensely strengthen the party all over the
country, and will make fair men forget minor
mistakes of his administration. On all
great questions of the hour he is thor
oughly sound, sensible and straightforward.
Compare his course on the financial ques-
ton, for instance, with the cowardice and
trimming of the Democratic party. In the
house, the Republican leaders showed their
strength within six hours of the meeting of
Congress. Mr.. Blaine landed the Democratic
majority in deep quagmire, and trans
formed them into mere mob OF angry dis
putants. The party which represents the
intelligence and honesty of che nation has
been temporarily under cloud. but we ven-
ture to predict that before the close of the
present session it will have aroused the old
enthusiasm in its favor, and stand forth
stronger than ever.-N. Y. Times.