The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-24

performed Dy q Iull Danui tle supper uaDIe was
replete with delicacies of every conceivable
kind solid and fluid, and although there must
have been a thousand persons in the assem-
blage, while the affair was at its hight, there is
SO much space in the Drexel mansion, that
there was no moment of the evening. when
there was any difficulty in circulating around
amid the resplendent throng. Besides the
General and Mrs. Grant, there were present,
Secretaries Evarts and Sherman, Levi P. Nor
ton of New York, George NJ, Robson of New
Jersey, and Charles O'Neil and VIM. d. Kelley
of Philadelphia, members of the present Con-
gress, L. Pierrepont Morgan and Charles Ian
ier, bankers of New York, and all the leading
bankers, merchants and lawyers of Philadel-
phia. The press of that city was represented
by John W. Forney, George w. Childs, Mr..
McMichael, and Edward Mcpherson, and for
that matter dare say there were lots OF other
newspaper men present. The conNivialitles
were kept up (and SO was Mr.. DreXeD till a
late hour. 1t was very near midnight when
the especial guest Of the occasion took his leave
and there were quite anumber whose stay was
prolonged beyond that time.
Gen. Grants engagements cover the whole
of next week, and he has already been obliged
to make known that it will not comport with
his plans of travel to make any more. He will
remain in Philadelphia till about New Years.
He will take day and night quietly mean
while to slip over to Jersey City, car ride OF
two hours, to visit his venerable mother. With
the exception of q cold, which is just what
might have been expected to result from such
continual exposure to changeful weather and
acute drafts as he has been subject to lately,
he is perfectly well. He weighs considerably
less than he did when he went away but he
has simply got rid of his superfiuous flesh and
is more compact and solid than he was before
He has jobs comforter" on his left hand
but it has reached the crisis and will soon dis
appear. In manner and department. he is the
same quiet dignifed, unaffected gentleman that
he was before "a Continent beyond the sea
rose and uncovered before him." adulation
apparently has as little effect upon him as de-
traction. He has shown himself capable of
bearing both with an equanimity which is the
highest test of true greatness.
Gen. Grant will proceed early in January to
Florida, the only State of the Union which he
has not yet been in. He will sail thence for
there he will go to Colorado. He expects to
get back to Galena in May, and remain at ais
home there till he comes East to occupy his
summer cottage at Long Branch.
Amonr the many pungent aphorisms which
Gen Grant has uttered in the course OF his
public life, there is one that is peculiarly ap-
posite Just now l can't quote it literally, but
the substance of it is that The Republican party
has a strong assurance of perpetuity because
the Democrats, as soon as they get toot-hold
in power, can generally be depended upon to
make some blunder which will bring upon
them public distrust and lead to their speedy
defeat. Now who would have supposed it pos
sible that they would have seriously undertake
en- such performance as is going on in your
State capital? If their enemies had wanted
them to advertise their baseness so that there
could be no mistake about it, SO that anybody
could understand precisely how destitute they
are, not merely of principle, but OF all sense OF
shame, they couldn't have asked them to pur-
sue course more absolutely certain to bring
upon them an avalanche of popular scorn and
disgust The general impression here is that
their scheme must miscarry finally. There are
so many accomplices required to make it Gus
cessful yet that there is where lies the chance
of its failure. Every man, for example, who
takes a seat to which he was not elected in
either house of your Legislature must wear
thenceforth brand of shame which time Will
not efface nor the waters Of Lethe wash out L
see names in the list, as printed in your paper,
of men whom Should deem it a cruel injustice
to suspect of willingness to participate IN such
crime. One of your own neighbors, well
known as reputable citizen, is counted IN as
Senator of Cumberland County. | have no
idea he will consent to take the place. Even
if he were not the honest, conscientious man
presume him to be, still think he is altogeth-
er too sharp and sensible person to imperil
his good name by mixing himself up in such
monstrous piece of iniquity. The essence of
all canvassing is to respect the intention OF the
voter. Any decision that ignores that princl-
pie, by whomsoever make, is an infraction OF
the right of suffrage, and cannot be defended,
under any rule of ethics. AS a Republican,
am rather glad that the Democrats who are IN
accidental possession Of your State Government
have shown the country whaJ'manner OF men
they are, because think that will intensity
the determination of the people of the North
ern States to remove every taint OF that kind
from our political system But as native of
Maine, am grieved and mortified that pro-
ject so palpably violativc OF every tenet OF hon
or or equity could ever have been eoncocted,
much less put into operation in Common
wealth which, until within little more than
year has been perfect model of self-govern-
ing community. Still, L know the stigma will
soon be wiped out and the noble State restored
to her rightful place among the glorious sister
hood. YARMOUTH