The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-10-30
watterson Reconstructed.
Extract from Speech by the Editor of
the Louisville "Courier-Journel."

The present situation of public affairs in the
United States is something more than anoma-
lous. 1t is in the highest degree whimsical and
picturesque I should insult your intelligence
and discredit my own If I should perpetrate the
conceit of attempting to overreach xour
credulity with the pretense that there is
crisis. There is no crisis. Dangers there are,
indeed, az always; for, amid the prevailing
incertitude and Indifference, the absence of
organized conviction indicates rank, unwhole-
some growth, which, whilst giving show of
current prosperity, is calculated to deceive the
short-sighted, superficial observer. Our body
polite, however, is not going to the dogs. 1t
has, at least, escaped the dogs of war. Our
national unity is stronger than ever it was
Among the people there are no longer any
irrepressible conflicts. Peace prevades the
states, and the sections which compose our
federal fabric. The war is over, and the issues
that begat itare settled irrevocably and forever
Slavery is no more thought of or regretted in
the South than in the North, and secession
raises smile even in its very baunts. The
frictions and collisions growing out of the war
have passed into history. Our government has
survived the deluge. mistaken and an
furnished, our constitutional system has
emerged from an era of mischieveus theory,
which beginning with false notions of recon-
struction TO end with illusory notions of finance
for a long time threatened it. All the while
the people have got on, somehow, in spite of
their demagogues. And now with Gen.
Butler as the Democratic standard bearer in
Massachusetts and Gen Chalmers as the
Ron hanp s.N Msratoa
surely the country is safe; it is more than safe;
because what those great warriors and states
men lack OF making 1t SO, we may confidently
look to be supplied by Gen. Malone.
There used to be two parties i i the country.
To-day 1T is question requiring the incest
casuistry, a field map and an eye-glass to
determine whether we have one big party
divided into dozen factions, dozen little
parties, all protesting much the same thing,
and each wrestling with the other.
'.To git some on 'em offs,
And some on EN- votes.''
We have had hard money Democrats and
soft money Republicans. We have free trade
Republicans and high tariff Democrats. Fortu-
nately, however, we have one question on
which there is no disagreement at all. EVERY
body, from Jay Hubbell to jay Gould, includ-
ing the fusionists Of Maine and the straight
out stalwarts of South Carolina is for civil
service reform, SO that whoever is tormented
with an apprehension that there is crisis any
Wn0Ic1 dho OuIy " array himself QQO6f ne
banners of the two Georges Senator George
I'll. Pendleton and Editor George William
Curtis, to ind Surcease for his sorrow and
remedy for every ill. 1t is true the Senator
calls himself Democrat, and the editor has
been sometimes mistaken for Republican,
But what does that matter? In our politics. as
in cur decorative art, the lily and the sunfisw-
er may be made to pool their issues without
affront to the laws of true aesthetic taste. or
outrage to the understanding of well ordered
political conscience.
am afraid of too long a domination Of one
party. saw how that was and what it means
under conditions fayoring my partisan preju-
dices and predictions. saw q noble party
like noble ship, full rugged and carrying the
ensign OF the republic, Bail out upon the broad
open waters OF American politics. The mis-
sion OF this party was human freedon and ma
tional development. 1t was the defender of
the constitution. 1t was the friend of the
union. 1t was the enemy of close corporations
class legislation, patrcianism, oligarchism end
sumptuary laws. 1t was for honest money
home rule and free trade. 1t was the party Of
progress and national honor. It represented
the aspirations and needs of the people, 1t
grew and grew and grew in popularity and
power. At last it elected it's national ticket BY
the votes OF all the states except four, and
returned to power after brief interval upon
pledges which constituted the issues of the
campaign which it had won by such an amaz-
ing majority / saw this great party disregard
these pledges and yet still retain its power.
saw it, maddened by the arrogance of success,
abandon its hottest principles. saw it throw
over the doctrines of Jefferson and the pre-
cepts of jackson. 1 saw it become the organ
of oligarchism, the advocate of slavery, the
promoter of a weak, costly, splendid and cor
rupt government. And finally, saw it so
powerful that it was able to make its exit
from Dower-which had only been brought
for the greatest and most useless war of modern
about by division in its own ranks-the signal
times. l saw all this. / was a victim to it;
for loved the union and hated slavery and
yet, with thousands of other young men of the
time was borne down in the vortex and
made--not by Democratic principles or tradi-
tions, but by irresistible conditions created by
that devil of party spirit--to raise a sacrelig-
ious hand against the flag and the honor of my
country. Thank God, am here tonight to
confess it, and thank God can say, with
full heart, standing upon soil which, when
Virginia gave it to the union, she stipulated
should be forever free, that it is mine again
no less than yours, and that though you, who
have never parted from it, may prize it, I,
who know what it is to be an exile and an ali
en- in my own land, love it, and would willing
ly defend it with nv life