The Portland daily press., 1875-01-26
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.

virtually ended. Until he is called to it, it can
hardly be said to have really begun. The pre-.
lmlnary skrmishing is more a matter of form
than of substance and the dull and wearisome
repetitions of Statements which have grown
stale by constant iteration would render attend
ance in court uncomfortably monotonous, if it
were not for the amusement afforded by the
gladiatoral contests of the opposing counsel.
The best that Tilton's sympathizers hope for
and the worst that Beecher's friends apprehend
is disagreement of the jury. Either that or
a verdict for the defendant will lead to a con-
clusion of the whole matter. Life is too short,
to justify the consumption of so much of it in
an inquiry of this kind. And law is too ex-
pensive to warrant any one party in appealing
to it a second time. Unless the lawyers in this
case give their services gratutously, it must
make fearful inroad upon the means OF eth
er litigant to pay the bills.
The Ways and Means Committee after wad-
ing through an immense amount Of bar room
gossip and curb stone little tattle have traced
the money which Irwin is alleged to have spent
in procuring the Pacific Mail subsidy, to the
persons he paid it to. The parties most deeply
implicated are our Democratic Congressman
from Brooklyn, Mr. Jno. G. Schumacher and a
Republican Representative elect from Minneso
ia, Mr.. W. s. King. Nearly all the others are
chronic lobbyists, who are perfectly well known
at the capital, and pursue their calling with a
charming atfectaton of Inconsistencies that it
is disreputable. In fact they call themselves
attorneys and hold that they are a necessary
adjunct of the national legislature, preventing
bad and promoting good legislation. If you ask
them how they can excuse the taking of money
for influencing the votes of members, they will
answer as the journalist did to Talleyrand
"We must liver Talleyrand's rejoinder never
could have applied more admirably, 81 really
don't see the necessity of it"
The revelation shows that there are no pol
itics in jobbary. 1t also shows that subsidies
are demoralzing alike to those who give and
those who receive them. There never viii be
another measure pass through Congress,
which "has money in il" as the phrase goes,
which will not subject those who vote for it to
the imputaton of dishonesty. Whatever the
fact may be injurious inferences will be sure
to be drawn from every such affirmative
vote.
But while the committee have been in pur-
suit of information about the subsidy, the rec
concentrations of the President respecting ad-
ditional revenue are permitted to lie unnoticed
and the session is already near its end. 1t is
is an objectionable blunder that the Pacific
Mail investigation was ever referred to this
committee. Their business is of different
and vastly more important kind. The ex-
chequer should have been there foremost and
constant care. The government hasn't in
come enough. Congress has recently declared
in favor of specie payment but in spite of that
gold is going out of the country rapidly and
the premium increases The next Congress
will be more Of an electioneering than of a
legislative body. The anticipation of the
Presidential election always has produced, aud
always will produce, that state of things. And
such will be so much more the case when one
house is Democratic and the other Republican.
Consequently there is an overwhelming neces-
sty that such provision should be made for
meeting the current expenses of the govern
ment by this Congress as shall relieve the ad
minstration of all the embarrassments which
partisans may seek TO throw in its way in
view of possible advantages to be gained at the
polls If we are to make the resolve to re- :
thing more than hollow pretence we oughtto
adopt financial policy which will check the
outflow of the precious metals. The Presidents
mode of strengthening the public credit is one
that can be resorted to without perceptibly in
creasing the public burdens. The tax on tea
and coffee ought never to have been remitted.
That was device of the protectionists to save
other articles in which they had a pecuniary
interest from curtailment. As for whiskey,
that may properly be taxed all it will stand.
1t is fruitful source of evil in every communi
ty.
Some people may argue that it is better TO
let the new Democratic house take the respon-
sibility of providing means for the support of
the Government That is rather a narrow
view to take of the matter. The deficiency has
arisen and ought to be taken care of 'here and
now."
The dominant party is in honor bound to as
sumo all responsibilities which actually belong
to it. Everybody remembers when Democracy
| abdicated its sceptre what a forlorn condition
the treasury was in. The first thing the sue
cessor of the outgoing Secretary who fed to
the rebel camp did was to negotiate loan for
temporary necessities at twelve per cent per
annum interest ...
The re election of Mr.. Hamlin is hailed with
great satisfaction by the Republicans whose
| recollections date back to the Fremont cam
| paign, and who have never faltered in their
| allegiance to the cause of equal rights. His
| triumphant election as Governor that year
| his return to the Senate-his subsequent asso-
citation with Lincoln in the revolution Of 1860
4l,o ali ffar tba,
| latter's martyrdom that he was not on the line
| of succession to the Chief Magistracy-and his
| upright and consistent private and public
| life, have given him strong hold upon
| the sympathies and the respect of loyal people
| all over the Union. His political career has
| been marked by degree of success, which has
| few parallels in American history. 1t must be
| thirty years since he entered the House Of Rep
resentatives. 1t is twenty years since his first
| election to the Senate, and though he has been
chosen to that office five times, if my memory
| is not at fault, be never has served out COM
| plete term. He began as the successor of Mr..
| Fairfield deceased, in 1S4S, the term expiring
March 4, 1857. He was reelected but resigned
| in the summer of 1856 to run for Governor, and
| Nourse served out the remnant of his term. He
was sent back in 1857 and resigned to run for
| Vice President in 1860. He was elected again
as you know in 1862 and when the 4th Of
March arrives he will have finished his first
full term in senatorial life of eighteen years.
1t has been his good fortune during this long
and conspicuous public service to enjoy the
high reputation for probity and honor which
his exemplary character entitled him to. 1t is
not always the case that man gets good
name even when he eminently deserves it.
| YARMOUTH.
| Contemporary Opinion.