The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-14
TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST IA.

mefciai one OF the need of greater facilities of
mtercommunication between the metropolis
and the interior. This is a subject which not
"itnssanding Its vital Importance the great
majority OF our citizens are as stolid and in
sensible about as they are in relation to the
1poiiatlon OF their property by political adven-
turers. Other cities, in spite of geographical
disadvantages, are making inroads upon our
sources of trade simply because we do so little
here to maintain our superiority of position.
This is a matter upon which Mr. Conkling has
bestowed careful thought for years, to which
De has devoted infinitely more of his powers of
speech and OF action than he has to mere ques-
lions OF political controversy. There is no
man in public life to-day more earnestly intent
upon promoting the material interests of his
constituents or better able. to conserve them
snan our Senator. But he gets no support in
This direction from the journals of the metrop-
ohs. They are perpetually working themselves
into fever of anxiety over suchItriiing affairs
rs the selection of tide walters and placement,
and their occasional pauses from this exalted
theme are filed up with plaintive whines or
Vociferous shrieks for statesmanship!
1t is fortunate circumstance that in the
order OF autumn elections it devolves upon
MAINE to set the fashion in the construction Of
political platforms. There is no representative
body that more accurately reflects the sentI-
ments OF the people than your state convention.
Inc declaration of principles you have just
enunclated will commend itself to the hearty
approval of steadfast Republicans 1t is as
perfect in what 1t omits as in what it proclaims.
There wasn't the slightest occasion to engraft
upon It any expression of approval or censure
OF an administrative policy in relation to which
oinerences of opinion exist which no amount
OF discussion can reconcile or soften. The
grand old party remains with a history of
achievements which give it claim to the un-
swerving fealty of all liberty-loving Ameri-
leans. Looking back upon the eventful six
teen years of Lincoln and Grant-touchng
Lightly as charity suggests. though sadly as
candor compels upon the johnson interreg
hum-how much there is of progress and of
glory to adorn the historic page, how little,
save OF the carnage of war-grim shadow in
the grand picture-that could be changed for
the better. To hava been always faithful to
soch party-never to have wavered or faltered
IN allegiance to it is something which one has
Alright to boast of, and which Maine Repub.
Acans especially are entitled to vaunt with par
donable self graduation.
The Reunion of the original free soilers'' in
Massachusetts the other day recalls mostjin-
teresting chapter in political annals. That
movement was the beginning of great purif-
cation of public thought. 1t was strong at the
outset and gathered in the best elements Of the
Democratic party of New York. But there
are comparatively few men who are capable of
tue heroism and self-sacrifice of sustaining
principle when there are no hopes of immediate
or early success. The New York allies, most
OF them, faitered and fell back after the first
battle. Thden was one of the leading spirits
OF the revolt, but he returned to the party fold
the moment hostilities had ceased. In 1866
two years observation-disclosures was painful re-
action. The Wings and Democr ats We'd with
each other in craven abjectness of submission
to the South and the slave power. The fugi-
1--we slave law was enforced with disgusting
ostentation. Meetings were held in the great
northern cities, at which resolutions were
passed, so bringing, base, unmanly that they
made the check of every thoughtful American
Jingle with shame. Then it was that Deyens
marched down State street. Boston. at the
head OF file of soldiers conducting an inno-
cent man to the living death of plantation
hondage-that Evarts made speech 10 Castle
Harden adjuring his fellow citizens to turn
slave catchers and blood hounds, and that the
very air of the North seemed impregnated with
residential odors of poltroonery and BRITISH
Less.
Yet all that while the seed of humanity
Z sown by the apostles of free soil was ripening
into harvest of justice. The Wing party met
in 1852 the death it deserved. 1t persisted Gun
wept unhonored and unsung." In its stead
the Republican organization, young, vigorous
and aggressive, placed the emblem of liberty
upon its banner and fought its way to victory.
The Wings who were penitent graytated to
the Republican camp. The Wings who were
defiant crawled into Democratic barracks
There were some Dugald Dalgattys vi
DRAFTED between the two, watching the Oh noes
OF each and leaning as victory general did,
TO the right side, but ready to desert whenever
they thought the fortunes of the day likely to
change. This latter class have always been an
element of weakness in the Republican army.
SA-AAAS w "o VI Az onu yct ueNcE sincerely WlLn
1t; importunate in claiming its rewards, but new
or willing to share its dangers. These parasites
have been more mischievous of late, which is q
sign that they imagine the party is losing its
hold upon popular confidence. They pretend
still to belong to it, but never miss an oppor-
tunity to infct injury upon it, They charge
it with innumerable sins which they know per =
fectly well 1t never committed, and affect to be
grieved over its degeneracy. They are false
accusers OF it, perjured witnesses against it.
1t has been the fate of all dynasties to be con-
spired against by renegades, and to encounter
quite as much peril from traitors within az
nom foes without. If the Republican party
could divest itself of this sort of incumbrance,
would renew its strength and be as imperv-
GUS to assault as it is deserving of perpetual
ton. yARMonrz
ooAn'