The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-09-19
By an untoward chance the Damoo,,.,. o.,

| Dy an uuto"aru cnance the Democratic State
Convention was re-convened on the day follow.
ing the reception of the returns from Maine
| 1t proved the equinoctial storm to the Demo-
Gratis 1t wilted them so completely that they
had not vim enough left to quarrel with each
other. They concluded, as 1 supposed they
| would when they discovered how little chance
they had of carrying the state, to let Gov. Til
oen nave his own way, to nominate his man,
and adjourn as quick as they could. Mr.. Kelly
| prudenty escaped personal defeat at the polls
| by getting released from the electoral ticket.
Lucius Robinson has one merit In the eyes Of
tue governor and his especial friends He was
| once republican. That constitutes in their
| minus tne highest claim to and gives the strong
est assurance of popular support. This is no
small tribute to the Republican party. 1t
| shows their estimate of its greatness and glory.
Ihey have selected two democratized Republ-
cans to head their state ticket One of them
and he was Tilden's first choice for the highest
otfice-deserted the party only four years ago.
because the President couldn't or wouldn't give
him foreign mission. But yet this stone that
the republican builders did reject is thought
good enough to be the chief head of the Demo-
cratic corner
IL won't do though. These men in that they
nave been Republicans, are better than IL they
nad never partaken of that regeneratng grace.
But that they are not Republicans still, makes
them worse than if they had always been in q
state OF original sin, for they have trausgressed
against greater light. In his eagerness to give
q flavor of Republicansm to the ouack nos.
tram which he is advertising under the name
fha /.
OF the soiled doves of the party of equal rights
to travel with his caravan. think he
will find out by and by that he has made
fatal mistake. His acknowledgment of the
superiority of Republican principles does not 60
far enough. If he wanted to select representa-
tives OF those principles in their purity and ex-
cellence he should have adopted Morgan and
Rogers. He has averred lately that the people
are tired OF shams. Then why try on them an
imposture so transparent that it recalls the
fable of Janus?
The time is not propitious for canonizing
tnrncoats. Political opinions are of too serious
import to be capricously changed without par
amount cause. There is growing distrust
alike of the sincerity and the good sense of
these facile changelings This has been re-
by the inability of any deserter however con-
spicuous to take any followers with him in his
night to the enemy. There is a good deal of
rejoicing in the hostile camp on the first ap-
pearance within their lines of man who has
held high rank in the opposing CORDS.
but the feeling very soon gives place to the
more natural sentiment of contempt 1t is
Mighty creditable to human nature that this is
so. Fidelity is duty which has no exceptions
nor limitations. In moral point Of view it is
Just as incumbent on a man to be faithful to
MS party as it is to soldier to stand BY his
nag. The consequences of betrayal may be
much less serious In the one case than in the
other, but the offenses differ in degree only not
in kind -'--
There seems to be decidedly fair prospect
that this sort of tereiversation will meet with
an emphatic rebuke ON the 7th of November,
by the defeat of Robinson and Dorshemer in
New York and Adams in Massachusetts,. And
when the thing is accomplished, have an idea
that the straight out Democrats will smile
blandly, and derive no little consolation from
the fact that so many new recruits are num-
bered among the slain. If the Tilden strategy
fails, as now seems inevitable, he will have to
bear the bruns of the obloquy which will be
heaped upon it. just at present his situation
is by no means enviable. He obtained the
nomination by taking contract through his
friends to carry the election. 1t isn't as II the
party preferred him to all others and deliber-
"~i f""' the "han"As On him He vrtnallu
will give you victory. L am the only man that
can do it. The rest of your leaders are odious
to the country because ttey bear upon them
the taint OF secession, reputation, or some
other. or all other of the innumerable sins,
ignorances and neglgences' which have made
the name of Democracy Kissing and a by
word among free men the world over can
conceal all traces OF these defects under the
broad cloak of reform which have worn
long enough to know that it is a complete dis
guise." So they took his word for il, notwith-
standing many of his near neighbors and politi
cal confreres maintained to tho last that the
mask was penetrable at every point. There Is
no more honest and candid man in the Demo-
cratic family than John Kelly, and when he
told his brethren at St. Louis that Tildsn could
not carry New York he told them exactly
what he believed. Now when the fall returns
corroborate Mr.. Kelly's prognostication it is
not at all probable that his grief will be sbso-
lutely insupportable. There will be doubtless
more of anger than of sorrow in the 81 told you
SOL" with which he will avenge the sights put
upon him in the national and state couven-
tions. Inasmuch as this has been and is grow
ing to be personal campaign ON the part of
Mr.. Tilden the defeat of his party Is political
annihilation to him.
Business is more active than it has been at
any time since the fall of 1872. The trade in
dry goods, groceries and all the great staples
which enter into popular consumption Is brisk
and healthy. Prices are low, as they should be,
but some descriptions of merchandise that had
declined unnaturally fast and far have appre-
ciated iu value. Everybody feels that property
has virtually resumed specie payment. 1t is
high time the government was preparing to do
the same thing. The first duty OF the new ad-
ministration will be to provide for carrying iu-
| to effect the resumption act. A Democratic
| administration would repeal it, Repub-
lican administration must enforce it. The
| moment the voice of the people has
l been proclaimed through the ballot, and
| the certainty made manifest that the
hard-moDey policy is to prevail, the assur-
ance of it will at once give encouragement and
vitality to every kind of business, and SO
thoroughly inspirit the people of the land as to
promote the return of general prosperity.
! YARMOUTH
n~s.- Il