The Portland daily press., 1875-04-12
Current Notes.

On the reverse, too, this Connecticut con-
flict, as every one before has, demonstrates
the integrity and vitality of the Republican
party as party. Whenever principles are
put forward and men or personal interests
subordinated, there we win. The Republican
party instinct with the new life of the nation
the incarnation of the living principles OF
freedom-foows the fortunes or person OF
no man. Whenever the attempt is made to
attach the party to the fortunes of any man,
no matter how good or strong the man, we
are weakened. Whether it is General Grant,
or Speaker Blaine, or Butler, or 1.-THE MEM
Der, sir, from the seyenty-second ward" alike
the tendency of result is the same. The par
ty, its ideas, its cause, its traditions, is the
strength. No man can add to its life, al
though he may do much to guard and defend
it.-PhiladelphiG Press.
The inference from the whole result is that
the reactionary wave manifested in the fall
elections has not yet fully spent its force in
states, like Connecticut, conservatively in
clined. They need more evidence of the total
unftness of the Democratic party to take
control of the United States government in
this crisis and of the serious danger OF allow
ing such step; ard that evidence can prob
ably be more quickly and impressively pro-
duced by the Democrats themselves, acting
themselves out freely under the influence OF
these party successes. State more favorably
situated, like Michigan, appears to have got
light enough already.-BOston JOurnG.
The total vote for governor in Connecticut
was 10O,8S9, the largest ever polled in the
state excepting that of 1868 by 1861. The
total vote for Congressman is 100,214, or 8S7
larger than any previous vote in the state,
annd on this vote the Democratic majority is
only 2,012.
As regards the general significance of Con-
necticuts vote it is not to be rated high. The
democratic victory of Monday was but part
of the great democratic victory of November
in New York. Messrs. Garfield, Blaine, Og-
lesby and the others made plucky fight, for
which they deserve credit; but, really we
ought to have known better than to expees
that, while New York was fifty thousand DEM
ocraIic, its political dependency could be re-
conquered for republicanism. Finally, it
should not be forgotten that in New Hamp-
shire the republicans captured democratic
state, while in Connecticut the democrats
merely hold their own.-Sprinafeld Union.
What are we to think of state that elects
William H. Barnum to draw pay for staying
at home, and allows Joseph r. Hawley to be
defeated by an unknown mediocrity? We
used to look on Connecticut as state re-
markabe for the intelligence, culture and
public spirit of her citizens. This illusion is
going like so many others. The one man in
the Connecticut delegation in the House who
had a national reputation for ability, eminent
services and character, is defeated, in a dis
tricS noted for its intelligence and virtue.
General HaWley can stand it we'll enough.
He falls back on his most important Office
that OF editing the best paper in Connecticut,
and will be free to do tine work that he has so
long neglected in the public service But
the Connecticut delegation in Congress will
sadly miss his influence, power as debater,
and personal prestige. York Euening
Mail.
Whatever is not right within the party
must be made right. However strictly any
may construe the constitution against what
is called interference with the disturbed and
lately rebellious states; however earnestly
they NAV try TO believe that there are no
dangerously reactionary forces in the democ-
racy, they cannot deny that the absolutely
safe, and only safe course, the prudent patri-
otlc course. is TO keep the nation in the hands
of those who love the new ideas, not those
who at the very best, only profess to submit
to them. There is great fight coming in
1876; it can be won and must be.-HdrG0rd
COHrGnt.