The Portland daily press., 1877-10-30

he has been Senator two years already and
acquitted himself creditably in respect of his
official obligations and that in spite of his associ
atlons and calling he is rather puDctilious In the
observance of every engagement. he makes. He
holds himself bound by the law of honor, the
only code which he processes to believe in or
live up to-
However, it will not make much difference
whether the Republicans divide their votes be-
tween these two unsatisfactory nominees, or
withhold them from either. The Democrats
will fight the matter out among themselves.
There has been some talk of O'Brien's running
with view of defeating horrissey on account
ot personal dislike. BE will probably think
better of it. He is not as popular with the
east side Democracy as he used to be and
wouldn'tbe likely to make much of show a.
against man who has al the means Of captur-
ing the class of voters on which he would have
to depend for whatever support he did get.
The state campaign is assuming q vigorous
tone and the Republicans are growing ener-
getic and hopeful The SOLDERING influences of
the Ohio election have had q perceptibly salu-
tary effect upon the administration, and they
are not evincing as much determination as they
were before that instructive event occurred to
force their innovations upon an unwilling pee
pie. The forbearance which the Republicans
OF the state have shown toward the President is
an earnest of the sincerity with which they
have striven to avert discussions in the party.
The aggressiveness has been all on one side.
The self constituted champions of the Execu-
tive policy unwisely tried to interpolate it into
the creed of the organization and falling in
that, to denounce the majority for preventing
it. That was little more than human ma
ture could be expected to submit to, and for
while there was serious danger Of an intestine
strife that would have imperilled the cause.
The lesson of Ohio came opportunely and
served as an effsctual admonition against any
attempt to inject new issues into the canvass.
Happily there is virtual end of elimination
and abuse of the old guard, who while man.
fully refusing to surrender their principles,
manifested most commendable spirit of pa
tience and consideration. Under these circum-
stances the ranks are closing up and the out
look is steadily improving.
There is nothing so likely to soften
the ssperites of politics as to infuse into
them an element of the ridiculous.
What could be more amusing in O way
than the curious complications in which
the question of filling the English mission has
been Involved by the diplomacy of the Secre-
tary of State? There are so many different
sides OF it that are ludcrous that from which
ever point OF view the case is looked at the
sequent must be laughter. The selection Of
Simon Cameron by the Pennsylvania delega-
tion has every appearance of q practical joke
But then what shall be said Of an Administra-
tion which after starting out with the portent-
ous declaration of the infexble purpose to ig-
more the recommendations of members of
either house of Congress-even of Senators,
who by the Constitution are charged not merely
with tie duty of ''consenting to" but advising
Of executive appointments-literally surren-
ders the function of filling one of the chief
offices in its gift to the very men whom it had
Heretofore pronounced unworthy OF its conf
dence. This sudden summersault, taken In
connection with the Attorney Generals re-
markable modification of the order partially
disfranchising Office holders, looks as If the
President in his haste to recede from untenable
positions was going a little too far in the oppo-
site direction. 1t is all very well to consult
Senators about appointments. 1t is one of
their constitutional prerogatives to deal with
them. But not think the public mind is pre-
pared for a transfer of the right of deciding
who shall receive distinguished diplomatic
positions to council composed Of the repre-
sentatives of any particular State in the popu-
lar branch of Congress. The first experiment.
under this novel system has worked 80 alb
surdly that it is not likely to be repeated. But
it has set ths country into such broad grin
that the chances are small of its creating any
permanent ill-feeling. YARMOUTH.