The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-10-16
Our New York Letter.
Wednesdays Meeting-The Lesson or the
Elections-The Outlook in New York
The Necessity of ToleratioD.
NEwYoRK. Oct. 13. Is

The meeting CT the 10th inst to endorse the
administration was on the whole very decorous-
ly conducted. Prof. Dwighfs speech was SEN
sible and conciiatory. Here is an extract from
it which will commend itself to general appro-
baton:
''We are not here tonight to indulge in criti-
cisms upon the conduct or views of any Repub-
lcaD. We are here for two purposes Only-to en-
dorse the National administration and also the
State ticket nominated for your suffrsges in
November. We fully and fairly recognize the
fact that there are honest differences of opin-
ion in the party as to the propriety Of certain
measures of the administration. These differ
ences must be respected and men are not to be
Ostracised by reason of them"
If this spirit of toleration were more preva-
lent there would be less danger of dissensions in
the Republican party. The country has had some
instructive experience already in respect to the
endorsement business. California and Ohio did
endorse, Maine and Iowa didn't. There you have
perfect demonstrations of both propositions. If
New York had committed itself to unqualified
approval of the course of the administration the
Republican vote above Albany would hardly
have been worth counting, and it never does
amount to much below. The state, 1t must be
borne in mind, has two distinct and different
kinds of population. They are as wide asunder
in feeling, principle and train of thought as
people can be who live under one government
and speak the same language. As matter OF
fact they do not all speak the same language
for the foreign element is very powerful in
numbers in the city and its suburbs. Now
hereabouts the Republicans are not only in
hopeless minority but the Republicanism of
great many of them is of very mild and inde-
cisive type. This class, composed mostly OF
men of wealth and high social position-men
s'clothed in purple and fine linen, who fare
sumptuoHsly every day are politically mere
reeds shaken by the wind "tossed to and fro
and carried sbout with every wind of doctrine
by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness."
They are the readiest people in the world to
give their endorsement to anything that comes
along except pecuniary liability. They will
sign anything but a subscription paper. Out
of this material it is always easy to get en-
dorsers for something in which there is the
promise of future quiet and tranquility. L
recognize quite number of the most respecta-
BILE names of the officers of the Cooper Union
meeting as the same that appeared in the list
of indorsers Of Tweed on the 1st Of March
1871-just four months and twenty-nine lays
before his downfall. They were beguiled into
that certifcation by the assurance of Tweeds
henchman, Nathaniel Sands, that their taxes
should be lightened. They drop into this new
political current partly because theyifancy the
tide is running that way. and partly because
they have an idea it will be for their advantage
in the way of business and property interests
They are not always, indeed i should say not
Often right in their calculations. Men whose
vision is circumscribed within the narrow linn
its Of self-interest seldom are 1 saw a great
many of the same .Iridingtup. Broadway
eleven years ago as tall to the kite of An
drew johnson. They were as jealous in their
defence of the Presidential policy then as they
are of the same doctrine now. They renounced
it and denounced its originators few months
afterwards. when Gthey saw that it was the
object of popularI- -execration, but they were
equally ready to go forloraagainst it. as the
drift might carry Them
In the rural districts public sentiment is alto
gether more stable and conscientious The
Republicans there are steadfast in the ancient
faith; they believe the war against rebellion
was a righteous conflict, and that its results
ought not to be imperilled by any Qaixotic ex
pertinent. 1t offends their pride and their pat
riotism to hear it proclaimed that there really
was no difference between the lost cause and
the successful one-that both were meritori-
ous-that it was mere question of strength
and that, as usual, Providence was on the side
of the heaviest artillery. Neither, to tell the
truth, are they entirely satisfied that the South
erners left to.themselves will respect and obey
the constitutional obligation to maintain
Republican form of government in their re-
spective commonwealths. They remember
that they suffered their local governments to
fall into sthe hands of earpet-baggers and ad-
venturers gin Johnson's time rather than to
recognize the negro as apolitical equal. 1t GER
tainly is open to doubt whether they will now
do voluntarily what they.then stubbornly re-
fused to do even to save their estates from
spoliaton. 1t is the .theorylof the executive
"policy' that they will. 1 hope lit may prove
so. But really, it does not seem to me entirely
| Just to condemn men who, in the light of past
history, are slightly sceptical ION the subject
At any rate, the Republicans in the agricultural
districts will not be coerced into. a sudden con-
version. The result in Ohio proves that the
grand old Western Reserve, the healthiest ter
rtory in the state politically or morally, mani
tested its displeasure at the attempt to force
! them into premature sympathy with the new
| creed, in a way that ought to convince every
unprejudiced person of the folly of pursuing
! an aggressive line of conduct towards the old