The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-07

'Indiana probably supports more political
enthusiasts, ignoramuses, tricksters and trim
mers to the square acre than any other state
in the Union."
''If" says writer in the New York World
"when you were boy, you ever carried the
family saw to the locksmith's to have it filed
and set, and waited until the job was done,
you may have some conception of speech
oy Congressman Holman of Indiana"
Inc future of the Republican party is not
bound up with the fortunes of any of its
trusted agents, however highly placed.
When it has proved that the party, as such,
has extended its confidence to anv man
after he has been shown to be a rascal. there
will be reason for disputing its title to nublc
confidence. Gen. Belknap, like some other
Republicans who have departed from the
path of rectitude, was trained in the Dem
ocratic party, and never abandoned certain
Democratic associations. Neither party need
be called upon to share his disgrace, for his
fall is simply another lesson in human frailty,
and another testimony to the prevalence of a
debased standard OF public duty, of which
all our political life has shown too many ex-
amples during the last ten years.-N, Y.
Times
But supposing the Secretary of War has
fallen, what then? A good cause is never to
be stained, though it may be startled by the
lapse of its leading representatives. The
Republican element of the country is no
more to be arraigned for the sin of these Bel
knaps than was Washington for the treason
of Arnold, or the beloved apostle for the
crime of Judas.-Bro oklyn Union.
An analysis of the Democratic votes in
Congress convinces the Chicago Times that
the little hard-money tail is not strong enough
10 wag the big rag-money dog.
The last time the Democrats had their
hand at administering the national govern
ment, about the whole of Buchanan's cabinet
turned out traitors or thieves, and during
the fifteen years of Republican administra-
tion, the party and country have been well
served in respect to the fidelity and honesty
of cabinet ministers. Belknap's disgrace is
his alone, for neither the President nor the
Republican party has sustained him in his ir-
regular practices. es.-Nor,oich Bulletin.
My representations then are for a sweep
ing Republican triumph-the election of a
Republican governor, a Republican House of
Representatives, and consequently Repub-
lican United States senator. And if these
things do not come to pass you may put
black mark over the name of yonr usually ac-
curate correspondent.-Nelu HAMPSHIRE cor
respondence Boston Advertiser.
1t is row more than likely that the "tome
guards" of both parties in Indiana will
slaughter the Indiana candidates for Presi-
dent in both national conventions. The Re-
publicans of Indiana have greatly damaged,
if not already killed, Mr.. Norton's chances
by loading him with the shinplaster platform,
and now the Democracy of the same State
propose to perform the same office for Mr..
Hendricks. Chicago Tribune.
How long has Gen. Belknap constituted
the Republican organization that the New
York Herald should declare that his down
fall ''means the ruin of the Republican par
typ Parties in this country don't quite ex-
ist by the one-man power.
We learn from Dover, N. H., despatch
that "the Democrats are jubilant over Bel
knap's downfall and predict gain of one
thousand votes" Nice little electioneering
dodge! We think we see thousand New
Hampshire Republicans concluding that, be-
cause Mrs. Belknap and her husband took
money from Fort Sill trader, therefore DAN
ell Marcy is the best man to be elected Gov
ernor of New Hampshire. They don't get
befogged in that way up in the air of the Old
Granite State.
In Germany the Monarchists tried to ex-
ult over Thomassen. the dynamite monster,
as "peculiar product of American civiliza-
tom; Helster Clymer tried to console his
Democratic brethren in the House with the
notion that Secretary Belknap was the natur-
al outgrowth of Republican administration.
How candid in both cases!