Daily Kennebec journal., 1876-04-01

tive and we may well feel our courage enforced
By the late overthrow of the New Hsmpshire de-
mocracy whose hatred of rcpubicanism suffers no
diminution from any disadvantage of a northern
latitude. A sad mistake as it turns out was made
in the selection of General Belknap for Secretary
of War-a mistake now happily corrected by the
selection Of successor OF unquestoned fitness as
well as of upquestoned republcapism. Yet, even
those who may have had most cause to dislike the |
late secretary never suspected his personal integ-
rity until he dropped forever from his high posi-
ton. In fact it is the truth of history to say that
military officers have almost universally escaped
such imputations, and deception being so rare as
to provoke worldwide commentary. But even
military men, had they been placed in the garden
of Eden might not have done much better than
be who said. The woman gave me and did eat.
The flaming sword is already drawn to execute
Justice No true republicans desire that any guilty
man shall escape, and they have pursued and Will
pursue and punish rascals swiftly when found
stcaling1n their own party as when found In any
other but they do not connive at the escape of
Tweed, nor do they stop the pursuit on any trail
because it leads to their own camp. The republi-
can party does not attempt to crock all mankind
by one general indictment, based upon the offence
of single individual although it will be found
to possess sufficient health and righteous wrath to
cut off all offending members knowing that 1t VIII
then still hold in its patriotic ranks large major
ity of the people, A house Of representatives
whose northern democrats mainly excluded by
their speaker from the lead on committees and
mating influence, cannot be expected to act with
exalted ideas of patrioism but, solely inspired, as
it would seem, with the purpose to rule the gov
ernment they so basely sought to ruin, the meas
ures proposed under the plausible guse OF reform
may be so gaUnt and grotesque as to raise pam
full doubt whether or not the real design may not
be to cripple the ordinary administration OF the
government, and to produce at length imbeciilty
by slow starvation. Some better return Tor am
nesty might possibly have been exhibited Ever
thpc cIo pFtb tbn rpnlhlFan
gress has resolutely reduced by many millions the
annual expenditures of the government, and IN
no equal portion of our history tor half OF cen
tury has the percentage of losses been SO small ny
detalcaton in the collection of customs and inter
nal revenue as in the terms of Lincoln and Grant
All Just and reasonable curtailments OF expendl-
lures, however, should be eagerly accepted, wheth-
er coming from unusual and reckless quarters or
otherwise, but absolute public necessities should
not be left unprOvided for, even though the dem
ocratic party never more needed TO talk loudly OF
economy, credited it is everywhere with so little,
and to that little nowhere holding any valid title.
WARN DEBATE on THE MISSISSIPPI
QUESTION.
The debates in the Senate during the present
session have generally been characterized by tur-
gid verbosy or mechanical repetition, but thus
afternoon there was decidedly spicy talk between
Messrs. Bayard and Boutwell,. The Senator from
Maryland was proposing investigation into the re
cent elections in Mississippi, and dwelt on the cost
of previous Investigations at the South, when MIR.
Boutwell, reminded him that these expenditures
had been rendered necessary by his political asso-
ciates. Mr. Bayard took exception to this and MIR
Boutwell, retorted, declaring that the men who
had deluged the country in blood, alluding to the
| Confederate element in the House, were now en-
gagged In investigating the men who had saved the
Union. Mr.. Boutwell, then proceeded with unu-
sua warmth to arragn the Democratic party OF
the North as responsible for the outrages visited
upon the colored people of the South. The peo-
pie of the North, be said in conclusion, would
take care of themselves, but it useless to ask
them to take by the hand the men who had en-
deavored to destroy the government and failed,
but who now insisted on trampling upon the rights
and the Liberties of millions of people at the
South.
Mr.. Bayard replied by a vindication of his own
patriotism and that Of his ancestors. Then Mr..
Morton had few ncisve remarks to make, fol-
lowed by some points well put by MIR. Freling-
huyseu. Messrs. Withers and Maxey, who were
both in the Confederate service, endeavored to
pour oil on the troubled waters, and expressed be-
lief that Mr.. Boutwell, could not represent the
public sentiment of Massachusetts. Mr.. Bruce
then took the heor, but it was near dinner time
and the Senate adjourned.-l Special to Boston
Journal 3lst.