The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-11-22
The Political Drift.

The great dangers which threaten the ma
tion at the present time are more and more
forcing the attention Of all men. The atti-
tude of the infationists in Congress is omin
Gus. The silver bill which passed the House
by so great majority and seems likely to
squeeze through the Senate, shocking as it is,
appears to be only the beginning of trouble
IN that direction. Mr.. Bland of Missouri.
who has risen to sudden and lurd promi-
nence as the father of the silver bill, has
opened his heart in the heat of controversy
and has disclosed the still blacker designs
which he cherishes. To committee of
bankers, who were having a hearing before
the Senate committee on the subject of Mr..
BANDS bill, that gentleman threateningly
remarks, ''Unless you pass this bill we will
come to the next Congress and, as with
sponge, we will wipe out all your bonds"
Though this Of course was empty gasconade,
the hint it contains of tendency toward
reputation renders it well worth while to
look in that direction and see what may be
behind the savage Bland.
In the first place the Southerners would,
almost to man, be ready to assent to the
wiping out of the national debt. 1t is to them
the symbol and constant reminder of their
crushing defeat. They are called upon to help
pay what it cost to beat them. Their own
bonds and government notes became mass
of worthless paper. They will not regret
seeing the bonds and notes of their enemies
go the same road. They have a large proper
ton Of representation in Congress, for the
numbers of the negroes go to swell their pop
ulation but do not interfere with the unity OF
their voting. The whites alone, excepting
such negroes as 60 with them, vote in the
South, and they are all Democrats. So that
sslid delegation from that section may be re-
lied upon for all movements destructive of
the public credit and menacing the nations
obligations. Add to these the wild Drained
infationists of the West-men OF the Bland
stripe-and you have a force capable OF con-
trolling the counsels of the Democratic party
absolutely. That great organization, disloyal
to the nation on the only occasion when the
test has been applied, can be used and will be
used to further these designs. Some Demo-
Gratis, particularly in the East. will protest.
but of what avail will their feeble resistance
be against the overwhelming power of their
brethren of the South and West who have
votes behind them. Look at the situation,
sensible men of both parties, and see if the
danger be not formidable.
To meet this we have the strong Republican
party organized to save the country from one
great peril aud ready to rescue it from an
other. The Republicans must and will take
positive ground in favor of hard money and
fulfiment of all obligations. The party EN-.
braces the bulk of the intelligence and de-
cency of the North and West. The few Re-
publicans who have weakness for soft
money-not one would 90 farther than that -
must reform their opinions or go to the other
side; while the few Democrats who have
sound financial views must abandon their
party and come to our side. The line between
the parties will be the money question, and
the great party which stood for the integrity
of the nation through four bitter years of woe
and bloodshed must again gird up its loins
for warfare with the wicked and misguided
men who seek to debauch our currency and
sully our national honor.