The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-07-08
Current Comment.

1ne EOtter Commitlee SHOWS Signs OF
panic, and well it may.
Convulsions in Eliza Pinkston's conscience
appear to be periodic as well as violent.
1t is poor Southern claim that does not
double itself in amount with every succeed.
ing session of Congress.
Webber's most incredible statement is that
Captain jerks was once detailed to get An
derson drunk and failed. This is too much.
Webber has the same fault as liar which
Anderson had. He is too enthusiastic. His
lies OF to-day are in perpetual collision with
those of yesterday.
Philadelphia is visibly disgusted that Mr..
Randall should make lame apology there
for public acts which he openly exults in
when in New York. The two speeches
came so close together that the dimensions
of the straddle are protruberantly apparent
Even his friends are forced to say he has
made mess of it.
There is well developed suspicion that
General Buffers ambition is to run for Gov
ernor of Massachusetts, this fall, not as the
Greenback candidate alone, but as the DEM
ocratic candidate also. 1! the Democrats
consent to such a grotesque combination it
will make things Lively in the Bay State. 1t
is an ominous thing for Bntler, however, that
the principal candidate for the Democratic
nomination is ex-Congressman Thompson,
the man who defeated him in his old district
In 1874.
Even Mrs. Jenks's impudence is surpassed
by the Democrats who persist in shouting
''fraud' in the face OF the revelations of the
Potter Committee. Absolutely nothing has
been proved except that the Democratic lead
ers were canvassing the country from Florida
to Oregon in 1876, trying to buy an elector
at any cost. Not a particle of Republican
fraud has been discovered, but even the most
careful management has been unable to pre-
vent the uncovering of Democratic rascalty
in nearly every State investigated. Yet when
Mr.. Randall says ''fraud," the Manhattan
Democracy fairly howls with delight!
Minister Noyes isn't an out-and-out third
term advocate, but he comes near enough to
being one to give Mr.. Halstead fresh tre-
NOR. He said to a reporter of the Philadel-
phia Press OH Tuesday; 1 believe that if
General Grant were before a National Con-
vention to day, he could be, and 1 think,
would be nominated. What may be the re-
suit two years hence it is hard to tell, but
would not be surprised if he got the nomina-
tion If he desires it. do not believe he will
return here before next summer or fall. He
is going to have splendid reception when
he comes" Touching for moment on the
Potter inquiry, Mr.. Noyes said: ssIt is sort
of tragical farce, and the people are tired of
it. The Southern Democrats are to blame
for ii. They have broken faith with Presi-
dent Hayes and If he desires to leave them
to themselves hereafter they can't blame
him. He was actuated by the sincerest pat
rlotism when he began, but friendly offices
should not be all oR one sde." Mr. Noyes
ought either to have explained what he
meant by ''broken faith" or else refrained
from using the expression. In the light of
events it is not happy phrase for the conf
dental friend of the President to use.
What disabled soldiers, soldiers widows
and orphans are to expect from Democratic
Congresses or Legislatures may be reasonably
well made out in advance from the specimen
of Democratic legislation respecting soldiers
widows and orphans in Ohio. In May last,
the legislature Of Ohio, wel-nigh two-thirds
Democratic, by strict party vote, enacted
law introduced by deserter, bounty.jumper
and convict by profession and confession, to
destroy the Soldiers Orphans Home at
Xenia! This in effect, for it specifically pro-
vides that no child of soldier "shall be re-
cieved into or retained in the Home unless it
has attained the age of twelve years, and its
father, in his lifetime, drew pension"
This effectually bars the doors of that institu-
ton against the very class of children who
need its aid. Hitherto the Home has re-
ceived all soldiers orphans between the ages
of three and sixteen years, without any ques.
tions. But there is another provision worse
than the one above recited. 1t discriminates
against poor soldiers widows whe have chill
dren in the Home by compelling them either
to take their children out, or go themselves
to the Home. Without respect of party, the
soldiers of Ohio denounce this law and are
petitoning the Legislature to repeal it, And
now what kind of a light does this place the
Democratic party in as it enters the Ohio
campaign, asking the voters of that State to
indorse the party and the Legislature that
enacted this Infamous law by voting the
Democratic ticket in Octobero