Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-03-18

At last, with the aid of half dozen repub-
licans, the Fitz John Porter case which has
hung FIRE for twenty years. nearly, has passed
the Senate, and having now passed both
Houses it needs but the signature of the Pres.
idenr TO become q .'Vindication," as Gen.
Porter's friends choose to call it. Porter
goes on the retired list as a colonel with pay
from the passage Of the act The vindication
is dearly earned and many another man would
have rather retired into utter oblivion than
be Obliged to pass such scrutiny of his pub
lie acts The more light thrown upon his
case and the manner in which his vindication
has been brought about, shows that Porter
| has the weaker side of the question and there
/ fore his success brings no credit or lustre
upon the man himself. Impartial history
will still index the fact that his generalship,
if not his loyalty. remains questionable and
unfavorabIe to him. and the stigma of suspi-
cion at least will ever remain to blemish his
character and military record. No political
or partizan vindication will ever efface that
doubt. The result of this action, politically.
| is a question for quidnuncs. If the President
should sign the bill. as it is supposed he
| will owing to conscientious scruples against
thwarting the action of both Houses, it will
be urged that no political significance can be
attached. But knowing ones seem to think
that il will have vast influence upon the
soldier vote of the country, as the soldier
element has been decidedly against Porter's
restoration, with few exceptions, and this
element Gen. Logan lie ads to a great extent
Logan last effort was a master piece OF ar
| gument and logic, and reflects great credit
upon the man. One hardly thought that after
his mastery argument of last session he would
be able to more than sum up the points then
advanced But not only were those tersely
| stated, but a mass of new and convincing
evidence and argument was brought to bear.
| but to no purpose as everv senator had made
up his mind, and it had become almost
party division. At the conclusion of the
vote a strong cheer went up from the galleries.
which was quickly followed by storm of
Kisses, causing Senator Frye, who was acting
as pre- siding officer, TO reprimand the partici-
pants.
The democratic side of the senate showed
its contempt for the arguments against Por-
ter by sbsenting themselves almost entirely
while the speeches of Logan and others were
being made, but came in and voted soldly
for the bill at the last. 1t i. now in order
to vindicate all those skulks and half traitors
which hampered and delayed the action of
our armies during the commencement and
progress of the late war. Our brave retired
armv officers will feel highly complimented
by these accessiOns to their ranks.
The POSTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Objector Holman cannot feel very much
eated over his efforts regarding the Postal
Appropriation Bill. Two OF the most i'm
purtant items, the postmaster salaries in the
large cities, and the letter carrier system
winch had been materially crippled by his es-
innate were put back into their former status
and in all probability the whole bill
will be remo1eed in such a manner as will
cause the great objector many groans Re-
garding this bill at least, the democrats have
become aware that parsimony is not popular
The more mail facilities are increased the
better it is for business, and the better the
public like it. Liberal appropriations. with
out waste or extravaganza are and will be
popular IN the United States because it is a
progressive country; and any blind and mig
gardiy attempt to block this progressive &C
ton will meet with opposition to the extent
of the defeat OF those setting up the blockade
This is the true inwardpess of the matter
whether Holm IN, Randall and id omne genus
see it or not
MAINE CoNGREssMEN.
Mr. Dingley's shipping bills are making
good headway and are likely to become laws
before long. Great credit is due to all of our
Congressman for their alertness and perss-
tencv on these important bills
Congressman Milliken is making good
impression upon his fellow members His
interrogatories in the Star Route investiga-
ton are pungept, shrewd and to the point.
To use an old expression he made them ac-
knowledge that ian ace was an ace and a
spade a spade"
Boutele is a little headstrong in his maiden
efforts. but he will soon develope into the full
iedgtd Congressman and more easily display
the ability with which he is possessed.
THE PRESIDENTIAL FEVER
is beginning to be felt considerably. and at
about the time that the Potomac flats" be
gin to watt malaria into the city the fever
will be at its height. The tides of pub
lie sentiment seem to be drifting just now
in three strong currents, and in the order
named, viz Blaine, Arthur and Logan. Con-
sdering that Blaine declines being consid-
cred a candidate, the strength of public feel
ing IN his direction is very remarkable and
may result in a positive demand for his nom-
ination. President Arthur, also, by his con-
sistent political course, has a strong showing,
and. in the event of Blaine's positive refusal.
will be hard man to beat. Logan. with a
strong soldier element, and a kindly feeling
from all republican quarters, may distance all
his competitors in the long run. The action
of the New York conventions to select dele
gates is looked forward to with great interest.
as the unsnimity or division Of the New York
delegation will have much to do in shaping
l tho pf th.a ('h,ca epuhlicap