The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-17
POLITICAL.
Letter from Charles Francis
Adams.
Too Much TO do to be President.


of myself better than ought to think. With
regard to the suggestion made IN the article to
which you call my attention, am sure that it
would be very agreeable to me to undertake
the work, but have, fear, already on my
hands qnte as much as 1 dare hope to accom-
piish during my term of life, approaching SO
near to the three score and ten prescribed as
the limit OF usefulness, as can do. shall have
to make haste or run great risk of leaving
matters in confusion. 1t is for this reason
that | have been, perhaps too Indifferent to
the wishes of many who have desired to have
me called again into public life. l see nothing
there just now which promises happy results
within short time Meanwhile am steadily
releasing myself from the responsibility, it not
of writing history, at least OF putting out of
reach of accident the valuable materials for
writing it, which have been placed in my hands
or which have myself gathered in my own
career doubt whether could be made more
useful to the world in any other way.
Pray excuse me for this egotism, and believe
me very truly yours,
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
New York Democratic State Convention.
SYRACUSE, N. Y Sept. 16.-The Democratic
state convention met at MEETINGS Hail. Every
seat is occupied. There are not less than $500
in the hall and many were unable to get inside.
Daniel McGore of st. Lawrence was elected
temporary chairman. In his speech on taking
the chair his alluson to gold and silver as the
proper currency elected moderate applause.
Gov. Tilden's name was also received with
much applause. Among the credentials sub
mitted were those of several contesting delega-
tons from New York City and Albany. De-
witt G. Littlejohn appeared as delegate from
Oswego. committee was appointed on per-
manent organization. A committee on creden-
tials and resolutions was appointed Ira
Shafer, contestant from New York City, at
tempted to speak, but was ruled out at the
instance of John Kelley until his case was de-
cided.
A recess was then taken till o'clock.
AT the evening session report was made in
favor of the admission of the Tammany delega-
ton, but inviting all contestants to seats on
the floor. Adopted.
The committee on permanent organization
reported in favor of Geo. Hezekiah Sturges of
Ostego for permanent president, and vice.
president from each congressional district, the
New York City districts blank for the present
Sturges on taking the chair made speech.
Mr.. Sturgis. in the course of his remarks
said: 81 know, gentlemen, that it is said that
the Democratic party in these days are tender
footed on the currency question, but it was no
Democratic congress that authorized the issue
of greenbacks and called them money Zap
plause) and it was no court with democratic
proclivities that decided that the words in the
constitution giving power to Congress to coin
money and regulate the value thereof author
lied the issuing of paper and calling it money.
(Great applause.) 1t was no court of demo
cratic proclivities that turned somecsault on
this question. (Applause and laughter)
Gentlemen, on this question the history of
the Democratic party is written. The past is
secure and whenever the party shall take up
that question at a proper time, no man need
fear that we shall falsify our record. ZAP
plause.) So far as this question is concerned
it seems to me that it is a self-evident propo-
sition that the party now in power at the helm
of the general government are entirely incom-
petent to take care of and discharge their
duties in that behalf, for the reason that now,
after more than ten years since the close of the
war, the promises OF out government are 10,
p and Is per cent below par. (Applause)
And say that with any proper administration
of the affairs of this government during that
timeAthere is no reason why the promises of
the government, considering its vast revenues
should not be worth as much to-day in the ex
change of New York or in the city Of London,
as the gold dollar or the eagle. fApplause.)
What is to be done on that question is this: :
"You are to bring your government promises
up to par, and you cannot do it by legislative
enactment. You can no more make paper and
gold OF equal value, or bring paper at par with
gold by legislative enactment, than you can
convert the article of paper itself into gold by
legislation. (Applause.) That must be done,
gentlemen, by outstanding the resources of the
government, curtailiDg its expenses and Great
Jag confidence in the government. Applause. J
Our duty is to put men at the helm and at the
who will curtail these expenses and crop off
all that are unnecessary until their promises
are up to par. Great applause.) And then
repeal your legal tender act that is resump
ton, and not by legislative enactment. When
you have created confidence in the people that
men can pay, that is all you desire. When the
government has the confidence of the people
that it can pay when they want their money,
the promises of your government ara at par.
But they think the Democratic party propose
fN Ill
the Republican propose to pay in gold. Well,
we have about $35O,OO0,00O of gold in this
country, and l have not seen the problem
solved how our friends over the way are going
to pay 1870 900 with $3.50, 100000.
The truth IL, gentlemen, that that debt is a
mortgage upon the agricultural, the mechani-
cal and the commercial interests of this coun-
try. That debt has goSto be paid as the farmer
pays the mortgage upon his farm and the me-
chanic pays the mortgage upon his house-by
the earth and what IS manufactured therefrom
is what our crediters are to reiy r.. .to;n
daht-~-s efroE se OF the currency is to equaliZe
exchange in the business of the commercial
word (applause), and hence it is that it is en-
tirely impossible for US to do a safe business
with fluctuatiEg currency.
Why, to me, gentleman, it is a humiliatiDg
spectacle to see our government once a mouth,
yea, twice month, gambling in Wall street
with its own money. (Applause) Hence it is
that the proper course is entered upon. Ave,
gentlemen, so far as we are concerned in this
state we have entered upon it by the result of
the election last fall, (Applause) and he who
holds the helm of the state has entered upon
that stern duty of reducing the expenses of our
state and the people within very few months
will feel the benefit of it. (Applause) This
revolution is to go on. The people are aroused
to this question. We celebrate, 1 trust,
the great, centennial year of our indie
geendence by putting leagues or domination
OF leagues OF demagogues in allegiance,
lapplause) by putting at the helm of the gov
eminent men of experience, men of ability,
men OF integrity! or, with the definition of the
father of the Democratic party, men houest,
faithful and capable. (Applause)
1t was resolved that hereafter the state COM
mittee shall in all cases of contested seats adj
init as sitting members those only whose pres
emit credentials are from sources recognized as
regular by the last preceding state convention.
and such members shall participate in all the
proceedings OF the convention except as to con-
tested seats, till the convention shall decide
upon the'case.
Vacancies IN committee on resolutions from
the city of New York were filled, and the
convention adjourned till o'clock tomorrow
morning.
At the meeting of committee on contested
seats, Morrssey addressed the committee for
the eleventh district, making quite lengthy
speech, and Kelley responded. Morrissey's
speech was an able one and vote was taken
on the district. 1t stood 10 for admission of
Morrlssey's delegation to II against The vote
on the other New York districts stood IS to !
against admitting the contestants, the commit
tee acting on the principle that the districts
mustSfght their battles at home and settle ali
their difficulties before coming to the conyen.
ton. Nothing new has transpired concerning
the ticket and situation. 1t remains about as
last night.
Liberal Republican Manifesto in Mnssa-
chusetss.
BOSTON, Sept. 16.-The State Committee
representing the Liberal Republican voters of
Massachusetts have issued lengthy address to
the people of the state, claiming that the same
reasons exist to-day for independent action as
threesye ago, when they left the ranks of
the Republican party. The document gives the
history of the Liberal movement and details
the causes that led to it: 1t does not advocate
separate nomination, but favors the SUPPORT
OF Castor for 70 election in preference to either
Loring or Rice, the Republican aspirants for
the gubernatorial nomination.
The National Union Party.
The Massachusetts State Central Committee
OF the National Nnon party to the number of
fifty met at their rooms this afternoon. Letters
were read from Col. L. r. Stockdale of Missis-
sippi and Gen. Jubal A. Early of Virginia,
expressing cordial sympathy with the new
party movement and pledging cordial CO.
operation. Owing to the unavoidable absence
OF zen Banks, who was to have read several
letters from prominent men i'm different parts