The Portland daily press., 1879-10-14


dissatisfaction, but the procession is moving
with such energy and spirit that nobody in it
has time to turn aside to give ear to the dis
cordant sound A great many men who were
passive and lukewarm three years ago, and
didn't exactly know whether they were Re-
publcans or Democrats, are so thoroughly
braced UP now that they have as little consid-
Grafton for deserters as they had for Copper
heads during the rebellion. 1t is first rate
year for conspirators to show their hand, for
there are not enough to do any harm, ana what
there are will be SO absolutely extinguished
and crushed out that apostasy under the guise
of independence will not be practiced to any
great extent after this
If any proof were wanting Of the extreme
disfavor in which every phase of political inf
deity is held just now among Republicans, it
is furnished by the action of the Richmond
County Convention in promptly accepting the
resignation Of its Chairman, Mr. George Will
liam Curtis The Staten Islanders have here
tOfore permitted Mr. Curtis to cherish his re-
sentiments without stint. They have chosen
him as delegate to every State Convention
that has been held since he first showed signs
Of weakening in his allegiance. Up to 1878 he
had more or less following That year he was
virtually alone, and finding that there was no-
body to assist him i'll bearing aloft the standard
of revolt, he made virtue of necessity and
fell into line with the rest. This year he was
again representative of his District and was
one of the minority who opposed the nomina-
tion of Mr. Cornell. Instead of abiding by the
popular will as he did before lie has ever since
,lor IF NVaaL-
ly to scratch the head of the ticket. This
caused great dissatisfaction among his friends
and neighbors. By way of testing the numeri-
cal strength of the opposition, he rendered his
resignation in order to give his constituents, as
he expressed it, ''an opportunity OF declaring
whether in their judgment the interests OF the
Party can be better promoted by its accep-
tance." They embraced the proffered oppor-
tunity with prompt alacrity. There will To
many and hearty regrets felt that Mr.. Curtis
has thus severed his connexion with party of
which he was so long an able and faithful
champion; but everybody can see that this is
no time for dalliance with wavers, and the
most humored and petted of all the soldiers in
the ranks is dropped from the rolls by general
consent when his conduct gives occasion for
distrust. The political situation is too critical
to admit of any forbearance towards the whim-
seys and caprices of eccentric literdteurS who
are so apt to lose sight of the practical value of
a vote. The common sense OF the people is, in
great emergencies, a far safer guide than the
pen of the readiest writer, and that sets very
strongly in condemnation of everybody who
seeks, on any pretext, to impair the chances OF
a complete Republican triumph this Fall.
If there has been doubt in anybody's mind
of the earnestness with which Mr.. Kelly would
strive to compass the defeat of Gov. Robinson,
the fact that he has actually started in stump
ing tour through the State is enough to dispel
it. The large meetings at which he has been
received at Albany and Troy indicate the mag
nitude of the detection. 1t was generally sup
posed that his appearance at the State Capital
would prove the signal for disturbance, but
it seems his supporters were numerous enough
to proceed without interference. No light
cause would induce the Tammany chieftain TO
absent himself from the metropolis at the pres
ent moment. The time is at hand when the
local nominations are to be made, and that is
business which demands the personal attention
of the leader of the party. He has evidently
TedCueu t1lc COlCluolOH luttb SiSS
is of minor consequence compared with the
one supreme object of reducing the vote for
Robinson to the lowest possible minimum. He
is not content with merely beating him; he
aims to submerge him beneath such wave OF
adverse ballots that there will be no trace left
of his political remains around which his friends
can gather to chant funereal dirge. There
are no enmities of life so bitter as those between
partisans who have once been in accord, and
have afterwards become involved in an irrecon-
cilable quarrel. Mr.. Kelly in absenting him
self from his post of official duty as Comptrol-
ler of the city has opened way for the Gov
ernor to strike back if he has the pluck to do
it, Nothing is more simple than for the May
or who is devoted to Robinson's interests, to
prefer charges and summon the delinquents to
appear before him to make answer thereto. If
he returns to meet the complaint his election
eering journey is interrupted and his answer
would probably be regarded as unsatisfactory.
If he fails to appear he can be declared to be
in default. In either case his dismissal is de-
pendent solely on the will of the Mayor and
the Governor. He has by no means reliable
tenure of office. Such an episode in the CAM
paign would enliven it very much, though
the chances are that it would increase Mr..
Kelly's gubernatorial vote. But for that mat
ter it is of very little consequence whether he
gets few thousand more or less, as the num-
ber in any event will be sufficient to accomplish
his purpose. 1t would afford some little salts
faction to his victim to drive him out of lu-
crative office, before he was compelled to re-
inquish his own. Stranger things than that have
happened, and it would not be surprising if
some such scheme was at this very moment ag-
itating the minds of the conclave that derived
their inspiration from the millionaire of Gram
ercy Park, YARMOUTH