The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-12-07
Tho Message.

III AHCtuCl SOlttiliil Will DC IOullu 81
much of the Presidents message as is of
special interest. 1t is difficult to say what
the opening portion is, or what its mean
ing may be. 1t reads like the talk Of an
egotist in his cups-foolish, maudlin and
incoherent. This may sound harsh, but
would sober man i'll that high office, in
this centennial year Of reconciliation and
good feeling, take special pains to make
such illusions to the late war? Why at
such a time go out OF his way to utter Il
harrangue calling up the dead hatreds Of
OF the war, and to insult u large portion
OF the people OF the country? The most
charitable suppositon is that the Presi-
dent has been oyertaken by one Of his pc
riodical fits Of intoxica.ion.
There is a conspicuous absence of any
allusion to the pending Presidential diff
culties. We are glad Of the omission. for
ii his eycellency talks so foolishly about
matters as remote a. the rebellion, Heav-
en- only knows what lie would have said
OF the still flaming excitement OF the
present contest. Let Us lie thankful that
the nation was not till further dlsgraced
in that state paper
The exploded scheme for the anneXa-
ton OF Gen Domingo is again preached
with no better prospect, let us hope of
its success. That maggot of the Presi-
dental brain viii never hatch
A weaker message was never sent To
Congress let ~ give thanks that wt. are
soon la see the last of its author, officially.
II i amusing TO witness the sudden change
which has occurred in the democratic party
here at the north since the election. For the
past ten years their cry has been, "hind4 of the
southern states, let each State manage its own
affairs in its own way. Down with centralza-
| 1on up with local self-goyernmeut Fedora
interference with State governments and State
laws is usurpalion.' This has been their sen.
tment ever since the re-ttms>ion of those
States. But what do we hear now They AN
nounce that if South Carolina. Louisiana anu
Florida acting in pursuance Of their state lass $
return their electoral votes for Hayes, they vii
not submit to the count, but Will take an appca
10 congress-. Progressive Age.
The Democracy are in favor Of state
rights, but not of state wrongs The Age
very we'll knows that the carpet bag state
governments Of the south, during the las
| ten years, propped by federal bayonets
have borne no semblancc Of Justice, right
or decmcy. They have been mere rottel
boroughs, to vote rs the index finger il
the White House might direct. When such
state wrongs as these are perpetrated the
Democracy are prepared to take appeal:
to any proper tribunal that can right them
! Appeals to Congress would have at leas
the support of precedent by Republican
authority In counting the Presidential
vote of 1877, Congress- then overwhelm
ingly Republican in each branch. threw
out the electoral votes of Arkansas anC
| Louisiana 1t was a cheap concession t.
| decency and fairness because Grant ha(
votes enough without them. But there
were no greater reasons in law or justice
| for discarding them then than now-nor 81
much The Democrats ask only that tn,
Republicans shall abide by the rule
and precedents that they have themselves
made. They are opposed to the illega
and dangerous see-saw game, by Whlcl
the federal administration shall sustain b,
the army a set of scoundrels in stealing thu
electora! votes OF certain states, and thel
receiving those votes tor its candidate.
he Republicans declare that the dimin
isled vote for their party in certain pre-
cincts OF Louisiana is evidence of intimi
dation and sufficient reason tor throwing
them out. But it happen that lcnnsy Iva
MIA. which in le'2 gave Grant 1876, 900 ma
jority, gave Hayes but !. 900 in 1876 o
course the Democrats inundated tn,
| Republicans there, also Why 5houldn
| Pennsylvania be thrown ont