The Portland daily press., 1877-12-03
Current Comment,

Perhaps it would not be unwise just now
to give the Democratic party all the rope it is
reaching for.
man who startles the public ear with good
word for Patterson.
Whenever Mr.. Tilden utters new varia-
tion of the fraud cry the smile of Mr.. Hen
bricks illuminates Indiana like burst of
Aurora Borealis.
1t might be polite for the Republicans to
be sure Of Kellogg's stability before admitting
him.
Speaker Randall's wrestDe with the subsidy
question is moving enough to draw tears
from all other Democratic Presidential can
didates.
Patterson's grip on the Democratic party
tightens in proportion as the door of the
penitentiary yawns wider and wider. He
probably has doubts in bis mind whether
that 100000 which he paid for his seat in the
Senate was good investment.
Senator Barnum is travelling through the
West, and his progress is marked by a pan
icky rise in the mule market. The hungry
interviewer is unable to extract much in-
formation from him, beyond the emphatic
assurance that "there is altogether too much
dirt-throwing in politics just now" That is
what Patterson thinks
A new element has entered into the discus
sion of the Ohio Senatorial question. 1t is
the familiar aud often ridiculous claim Of To-
cality. In this instance, however, there is
something to be said in its favor. Southern
Ohio has furnished every Democratic United
States Senator for twenty-five years, and
judging by the recent weakness of Mr.. Thur
man, on the financial question, it is a good
time to change the locality. By going North
to Cleveland desirable improvement could
be made, but the trouble is the party would
be misrepresented by an honest money man.
The Northern Democratic editor has not
yet found time to comment on that vote of
the solid South for the repeal of the Resump-
tion Act. 1t is pretty large and .meaty sub
ject, and the more it is examined the uglier it
looks for the Democratic party.s The country
cannot look, except with alarm, upon the
spectacle of the controlling element Of party
which has prospect of getting possession Of
the Government voting as one man for incipi-
ent reputation. And when back OF this vote
there is plainly visible another one just as
unanimous for wholesale raid on the Treas
ury, the most generous friend of the South
must admit that implicit trust of section
which develops such dangerous proclivities, is
not the safe or the patriotic course at this
time.
Butler, the new Senator from South Caro-
lima, is now about 45 or 46 years old, of dis
tinguished appearance, with the imperious
Southern manner born and bred with him,
and the martial air acquired by years of camp
and command. His complexion is forid, his
hair and moustache iron gray, his address
pleasant and courty, and in speech he is at
once easy and elegant. The family nobility
and the pride of lineage areall there in full pre-
sence and all justified. Giving nature and in
heritance their full due, it should in justice be
said that General Butler has not attained in
nis practice preeminent distinction beyond
the average county lawyers OF South Carolina.
His natural ability is not large. nor have his
intellectual abilities in the line OF his protes-
sion or outside of it been conspicuous. That
he is popular in his state and locality is inev-
liable and from variety of causes.