The Portland daily press., 1875-12-13
Current NOTES.,

By peculiarly annoying blunder, Pem-
cratic weeklypaper printed at Augusta was
spoken Of, yesterday, as Mr.. Blaine's home Or
gan. The dispatch was received at halfpast
2 o'clock in the morning-an hour at which
telegraphic editors sometimes nod, like the
good Homer 1t does not as yet appear how
this Democratic weekly became possessed of
private letter directed to Mr.. Blaine, and
the "document' itself has a very "ancient
and fish like SMELL" If not forgery, it is q
pretty clear case Of abnormal cerebral ex-
element. The purpose of the publication is,
OF course, to iDjure Mr.. Blaine and President
Grant in the opinion of public that doesn't
take kindly to the dark-lantern style of poll
Tics. But, even supposing the letter to be
genuine, it isn't clear how Mr.. Blaine can be
held responsible for the folly of an exuberant
Jersey admifer who has felt moved to give
him bad advice-Sprinafeld Republican.
1t will be more sensible and creditable,
however, to believe that the President lrecog-
nizes the insidious dangers which threaten
the public schools of the country. and, like
prudent man, recommends that the neces-
sary precautions be taken in time. No we'll
informed Connecticut man needs to be told
that the danger actually exists and Is slowly
and secretly gaining ground, in spite of pres
ent supposed safeguards. The recommends
alton of the President upon the subject is
wise one, and we do not doubt will eventu-
ally prevail. The same may be said of his
views upon the taxation Of church property
Hartford C0lTdnt.
The Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, writing in
the E!mira N. Y. Gazette, takes decided
ground against the reading of the Bible in the
public schools. He says: "Good morals,
that is to say, good manners, can be taught,
learned and practsed without religion. Re-
ligion cannot be taught in our public schools
except by grieving few tender conscences
and provoking nOa few nominal Christians.
1t Is therefore wise and best for our public
schools to work toward good health, good
manners, good intelligence, according to
standards accepted by all, and leave religion
to the care OF parents, priests, preachers and
churches"
Now let us see what the Democratic party
propose to do about the currency. The lead
ers of that party have talked much, but talk
is cheap. Now they are called upon to act.
They are in corner, so to speak.-Cincinna-
tt Gazette.
President who can dare TO recommend
that the separate and sovereign states shall
be compelled 10 provide free schools, and pro-
hibited from making sectarian appropriations
or exemping church property from taxation,
is certainly statesman who is fully in accord
with the most enlightened and progressive
statemanship of the age, and worthy exem-
plar of genuine Republicanism. With all our
admiration of General Grant as a soldier of
consummate skill and unequalled success, we
are still prouder of President Grant as Re-
publican statesman.-BWfalo Com. I'D.
Mr. Blaines non -sectarian amendment re-
ceives this warm support from the Lndepen-
dent: "Such an amendment would not only
represent the present sense of the American
people, but it would make it absolutely sure
that no state, either by its constitution or
legislation, could run counter to this sense.
The other branch of the amendment relates
to appropriations OF the public money.
Whether the wording of the idea is the best
attainable we do not here decide; yet the
thing aimed at by Mr.. Blaine we heartily APP
prove, and we believe that at least three
fourths of the states would sustain it. Our
hope is that the eX-Speaker will carefully
study the phraseology of the amendment, and
perfect it in such way as TO give it the large
scope which it needs, aud then show his ear
nestness by offering it as joint resolution for
the adoption of the two Houses of Congress"
While politicians whose interests run in the
opposite direction will say that President
Grant is bidding for denomination on class
policy, the majority of the American people
will recognize that he has uttered words of
wisdom at a time when they are greatly need
ed.-Bdttinl0re american.