The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-06
Current Comment.

Judging from the number Of suspensions
reported daily in New York, there is great
rush to take advantage of the United States
bankrupt law before its repeal Is accom-
plished.
When the true story comes to be written,
it will be found that Mr.. Conkling has worked
less for his own personal ends than almost
any other person who can lay claim to the
title of statesman, in the history of our
country.-Albany Express.
The present Congress is likely to initiate
its predecessors by leaving large deficiency
bills TO be voted at the next session. 1t is
only sham and fraud to appropriate three
dollars where five are required, aud then to
bury million OF two in some dry river or
unused bayou.
Financially as well physically, what goes
up must come down; we cannot have infla-
tion without its consequences of depression
and pain, and to prescribe more initiation as a
permanent escape from that consequence
is like charging the drunkard's headache to
his unnecessary sobering.-FIndncial Chron-
icle.
Secretary Schurz has directed each en-
ploye and clerk of the Interior Depart
ment to state in writing whether ''you have
father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sis
ter, nephew or neice, either blood or mar
riage employed in the Interior Department
or any of its bureaus" Civil service reform,
you see.
"Several thousand years ago, seven per-
sons engaged in deadly combat in what is
now Lyons, Ky. Their skeletons show by
the attitudes that they were fighting when
they died." But why continue to publish
items calculated to retard Southern immigra-
tion? Let by-gones be by-gones; what the
country wants is reconciliation genuine
reconciliation.-Worc rPess.
When we consider the number of idle per-
sons to whom the new profession of confess
ing other peoples sins under the spur of a
quickened conscience offers steady employ
meet, with chances of a greater or less de-
degree of remuneration, we cannot help
thinking that the business is destined to ex-
tend over the whole country.-N. Y. Iri-
bune.
The fact is, the business OF our national
government is and always has been efficiently
administered in its minor details. There is
more system in any one of the departments
at Washington than in any private business
house in America. Adams Express company
with pecuniary liability for negligence always
before it as an incentive, is not more system
attic or reliable than the mail delvery.-Louis-
uiIe Courier-JourndI.
If the Democracy insist too strong upon
opening the presidential question and in
vestigating frauds. let them have chance. If
the legal voters, robbed and outraged, and
denied their rights in four or five States of
the Union, will not Offset the so-called con-
fession OF couple of disappointed Florida
tricksters in regard to few dozen votes in
back township, then we want to know it,
| Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Portland Argus is just now angling
for gudgeons. 1t has been revealed to the
editor that altogether too much abuse has
been heaped on the Greenbackers; that they
are pretty nice set OF fellows, and this call.
Ing names ought to stop. Indeed, the Arqus
Is quite sweet on the new party, and if it can
make the connection there will be a we'd
ding this fall. There is room however to
doubt the sincerity of the new born affection
OF the Democratic organ for the Greenback-
ers. -Biddeford Union.
There can be no doubt, in fact, that bust.
ness is becoming better every day, and the
bankruptcy lists are no evidence to the con-
trary. The war period was fruitful in specu-
latve enterprises of all kinds; huge fabric
of credit was erected, and the tottering of
establishments built in this way should not
be taken as proof that the country is going
to destruction. These failures only prove
that business is being placed on healthy
basis, and that we are getting down to bed
rock, which is the only sure business founda-
tion upon which to build. N. Y. Herald.
Few note the remarkable fact that each of
the three bankrupt laws enacted by the gen.
eral Government was adopted under similar
circumstances and repealed in the same way.
All were intended to relieve the country from
the consequences of overtradng or specula-
| tion. They accomplished their purpose, and
were repealed, in each instance, amidst
whirlwind of popular indignation, with no
thanks for their past good services, and no
recollection of the fact that they were en-
acted to meet a popular demand just as
strong as that in obedience to which they
were repealed Chicago Tribuue.