The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-03
Our New York Letter
The New York Campaign--Questions Of
Currency and characterization of
the Revenue--Figures for Study.
NEW Yong Sent IN 1879

So far as New York is concerned this Presi-
dential campaign has been much less exciting
and absorbing than any preceding one within
the memory of the Oldest nhabtant. Busi-
ness is more active than it has been at auy
time since the panic. The city is full of people.
The hotels are crowded. A remarkable reac-
ton from the dulness and depression which
have prevailed for three years is perceptbe in
all directions. The workshops are getting into
notion The furnace fires are beginning to-
blaze once more. People are looking cheerful
aud animated. There is growing belief that
the storm of revulsioh is over, that thrift and
energy will speedily repair its ravages and lead
the way to an era of genuine and substantial
prosperity, and that the severe discipline to
which the country has been subjected has had
Christening and renovating influence.
1t does not require any great acuteness of
logical perception now to reach the conclusion
that the paper fortunes which were built up so
profusely during the ten years following the
rebellion were to great extent illusory; that
the destruction occasioned by the strife impov-
erished the nation, and that there was need of
| the utmost effort and economy to repair the
losses incurred in the frightful struggle against
treason. 1t was prodgious and unpardon-
| able mistake not to have set about the work of
financial restoration the instant the reyolt was
| suppressed. Every hours delay only enhanced
| the difficulty of the undertaking and intensi-
| fled the aversion to entering upon it, until at
last we were driven by the stern law of neces-
sity to do what ought to have been accom-
| plished several years earlier by the admoni-
| tiors of experience and the promptings of wis
dom, at much lighter sacrifice.
The only peril that lies in the way row is the
| possibility of taking step backward. Such
folly, to be sure, would only retard the consum-
nation. To prevent it is beyond the power for
| mischief of fanatics or politicians. But the
sl lghtest obstacle interposed TO retard the good
work OF financial recovery is to be deprecated
| as grievous injury to the welfare of the Re-
| public. The proposition to repeal the resump-
| tion act furnishes an irrefragible ground of
| opposition if there were no other, to the Demo
cratic party. The tame submission of their
| candidate for the Presidency to the crazy de-
| mands of the inf1ationists ought to insure his
overwhelming defeat. If by any chance be
| should be elected he would be so hampered and
embarrassed by this abject concession of prin-
cple to expediency as to render him practically
| his associate on the ticket Even assuming
that his uttersnces on this subject are insin-
cere-that they were merely put forth for
electioneering purposes, like his professions of
"reform"-they will nevertheless ''return to
plague him" if he should ever be in a position
| where their good faith can be tested. His
| promise in regard to reform" will never be
| pressed for fulfilment. His party invariably
| drop that subject whenever and wherever they
! acquire power. But his virtual pledge to blot
from the recor date FOR redeeming the ma
| tional currency will be exacted of him with
| pertlnacity he cannot resist. The only method
| of extrcaiion from the dilemma, which is avail
/ able to him, is to fail of being elected. Hap
| PLY the chances of bis escape in that way are
decidedly preponderant.
1t IS to be regretted that the questions of cur.
rency and finance have not had more promi-
| nence in the campaign. The introduction of
| serious and prac Ical issue would have impaired
| some dignity to the canvass. The Democrats
| fight well, considering how utterly barren they
are of any ideas to contend for They have not
a single rallying cry that was not conceived in
falsehood and born in imposture. To suppose
they can be successful is to place the lowest
possible estimate upon the intelligence of the
American people. They harp necessarily upon
the cor riuptions of the administration. But the
facts are entirely against them. 1t is mathe-
natcally demonstrabe that no administration
has ever existed since the Republic was founded
that was so free from corruption. The figures
that show this are attainable by every citizen
| who knows enough to read, write and cipher
At no previous period in the history Of the gov
| ernment have the revenues been so faithfully
| collected, so rigidly accounted for and so pru-
| dently disbursed. The ale CATION of CORFU ption
whenever and by whomsoever made is not only
unfounded, but never has been and never can
be accompanied by any specifications to justify
its imputation. Respectable men may aver
that it exists; they may believe so; but they do
so in ignorance of the facts, and ignorance is
very lame excuse for bearing false witness,
whether against men in public or in private
life. 1t would be well if in this respect the
code of morality were revised and amended. 1t
is just as bad to slauder men who are in
official station, as it is those who hold no
place of trust. AS matter of honor there is
no difference. The one is far less risky than
the other. and with sadness it must be said, far
more prevalent The inference is natural,
albeit not creditable 10 human nature that be-
cause there is so little danger to any thing but
the reputation of the accuser in the practice, it
has grown painfully common.
III any calumny could gain credence by in
cessant and "damnable iteration" this afro
| cious libel upon the rulers of the nation would
have duped great many more people than it
has. Proclamation has been made of 1t in
| print and in speech more widely and co1tin-
uously than any lie OF equal grossness was ever
| circulated before. But fortunately for the
cause of justice, every effort that has been
made to prove it has helped to show its utter
ialsity. 1t was an exceedingly lucky thing for
the Republicans that the Democrats held pos
session of the House of Representatives of the
present Congress. They had full swing and
spent most of their time in Investigating" the
wholesale charges OF corruption" concerning
which so much ado had been made They were
not at all nice about their methods of doing
things. They were packed to convict. They
ignored the rules of evidence, heard witnesses
IN secret, adopted the worst features of the star
chamber, hunted up adventures who were
ready 10 make accusation from Eastport to
Arizona. Members who had been officers in
the Confederate army explored the archives
of the War department and sat in review Of
the Union Generals by whom they had been
conquered, They had the run OF every bureau
IN the governmentservice. If any ''corruptions"
could have bten unearthed they had the oppor-
| tunity and the will TO bring them to light. But
it was like dropping buckets into empty wells !;
they brought nothing up Oh! yes; they did
make one discovery. They found out that
member of the Cabinet-or his wIfe-had been
sharing the profits of post-tradershp 1t was
most humiliating deve lopment, and brought
upon the offeuder irretrevable disgrace and
ruin. There was not man in the Republican
party who was implicated with him, not one
who rendered him sympathy or sought to
shield him. He would have been impeached If
some of the ablest legal minds in the Senate
had not held the opinion that that body had
no jurisdiction in the case The weight of ar.
gument and the force of precedent were in fa-
1 ne fhn.r ~