The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-08-22

discretion in conducting his branch of the gov
eminent. tits no light matter for the Chief Mag
istrate to be confronted with an adverse House.
And such Housed Its policy was directed, it's
business shaped by men whom Gen. Grant had
encountered on the field of battle, and whipped
into submission to the authority of the govern
ment. "They sought occasion against him" as
sedulously as the Congressman of Darius
did against the prophet Daniel. And they
found as little. Once, they ventured on a
petty piece of insolence. That was when they
asked him by resolution-how he spent his
time The answer they got was precisely what
they deserved. 1t was caustic without being i'll
natured and severe without any tinge of ped
antry. If there was decidedly contemptuous
tone to it, every body will admit that it was all
the more hearty and sincere for that The
General has rare faculty for Withholding his
opinions, but he is not an adept in the art of
Disgusting them.
His messages from first to last have been re-
plete with common sense and wise recommen-
dations There has been no end of SWIVEL for
craftsmanship of late years, without any
particular definition of the article called for. 1t
craftsmanship consists in doing plain straight.
forward things in practical and sensible way
without any parade, or circumlocution, we are
supplied with the article already; if it means
illimitable talk and iDinitesimal action-a
plethora of words and scarcity of deeds-it
does not seem to me very desirable to hurry
about getting that sort of thing.
I am parfectly willing to admit that the
President may have been fallble in the exer-
else of the appointing power. 1t is quite posi-
BILE that Nubley would have made better
postmaster for Kuddihunk than Stubley; that
the preference of Virgins over Sprggns for
lighthouse keeper at Stony Neck was terri
bic mistake inasmuch as it drove Higgins and
Stiggins into the reform" ranks. and that the
nomination to the Senate of Spiker for the
Consulate of Iambazee, because he thought
him honest when five hundred Newspapers
mostly dailies-had averred he wasn't, evnced
marked indifference to that somewhat ephe-
neral and thoroughly eccentric sentiment
ycleped public opinion. And yet candor COM
pels me to aver that Judging by such examples
as have had opportunity to note, his mistakes
in this line are altogether fewer In number, and
of less gravity than those of his predecessors
whether Republican or Democratic.
1t is reasonably safe to predict that after the
7th of November there will be an end of the in
coherent gable about the Chief Magistrate and
his administration, of which we have had such
sickening surfeiu too long. 1t is to be hoped
for the honor of the American name that
wholesome reaction will follow. and that hence
forward a sense of shame, if not of propriety,
will effectually check the propensity of partisan
declaimers and licentious pubicists to defame
their country and its chosen ruler.
Our Republican State Convention occurs on
Wednesday the 23d inst L judge from the
composition of the de- egations that a candidate
Tor governor will be selected who meets the tre-
BILE requirements of fidelity, availability and ca
pacity. IL would be as great a mistake to nomiu-
ate man who had often or ever wavered in his
devotion to the Republican cause, as it would be
to choose one who, whether justly or unjustly
was presumably Objectionable to the class of
voters who are inconstant and changeable in
their political sympathies. An extremist
might lose some supporters among the few
who float with tho tide as nearly as they can
discern its course, but hybrid would be much
more likely to ALLEVIATE far larger number of
the steadfast adherents of the party. who in
the vulgar parlance of the day, belong to the
"machine." 1t is not a good year for consid-
ering anybody's claims to the nomination
The man who can in all probability command
the most votes-who will strengthen the Presi
dental ticket, instead of being carried along
by it, is wanted at this crisis. If he is not
pronounced Republican it would be fatal to
make him our standard bearer. The party IN
New York is earnest and true. 1t sustans
Hayes and Wheeler Loyalty, but the rank and
file have very little federation for, or patience
with the ineffaple poltroopery that displays
itself in slight or disparagement of the present
administration. YARMOUTH.