The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-25
For Straight-Whigs to Read.

For straight-Whigs to Read.
The following article, which we find in o
late number Of the Portland Advertiser, pre-
senls some excellent views for the consider
alton of that class Of politicians, who desig.
nate themselves rs straight wings. We com.
mend il to their candor:
Shall Kansas be Free SidieW
Bangor Journal.
No, Sir certainly not -if the counsels
and course of your Journal, and Of those
like you, are adopted and sustained by the
people! What would oil your indignation
and your denunciations Of the violence, frauds
and outrases OF Missouri ruflians, who have
rushed in and overcome the resident settlers,
il on the same page that records your earnest
and decided rcbukc, you set forth in equally
earnest language your favorite doctrine that
there must not be any concert OF action, and
union in purpose, and yielding of old preju-
diccs and party names, but that everything
must remain as at the beginning, and that
the mighty question OF freedom and slavery,
right, and justice, fair dealing and long es.
tablished compromises, can never present
any points or any momentuous issues which
can authorize q Wing or Democrat TO unite
in action with any one who will not wear the
same livery of party. What are great words
worth, if tho moment you attempt to carry
them info practical operation, you shrink
back like frightened turtle into the impen.
ctrablc shell Of old party prcjudices and ex.
clusiveness.
Ill, H. nf L.
Newspapers like the Bangor Journal are fore.
most among those who denounce these acts.
They are full Of Indignation, and warm and
earnest in their denunciations. They call
upon the freemen Of the North to rebuke and
resist such violations of honor, good faith
and common right. "Fine words, mighty
fine words'-and yet methinks one decided
net is worth bushol Of them. Upon pa
per, we oil talk well. Kansas must never
come in rs Slave State Never. let the
consequences be what they may! The
North must be prepared to meet it. 1t is
the great issue Of the country, and every
thing clearly indicates that oil minor and
other matters must give way before II. And
yet, when we come to the modus oprandi;
the hoir-when We begin to marshal the
forces and TO plan the battles and to close
the ranks for the grand battle Of freedom,
our valian, compeers and wordy compatriots
are all ut once conscicntiously scrupulous
about bearing arms. They see in the com.
pany some one armed to the teeth, it is true,
and earnest, valiant, and feeling all that we
felt, but he remembers that in 1910 he re-
fused to drink hard cider with him, or in
other years advanced an idea in favor of free
trade or doubted the absolute necessity Of q
national bank. or opposed the nominations OF
the whis party. and therefore he will ground
arms and give up Kansas and every thing
else, rather than fight In tho same ranks
with former opponent. To be sure, he
will say, these outrages ore insuderable--
they must be resisted. Honor, duty, oil
call upon us rs men and frecmen 10 stand for
the right, md 10 swear never to desert our
post. But then tho integrity Of The whig
party, "where Is that to gol"-what will
become OF our consistency and our old name,
and can wo political Jews have any dealings
with these free soil Samaritans' And so when
the limo comes to act, they arc nowhere in
the battle. They are good for shouting and
for windy speeches, and up TO The point ol &C.
ton, all right. But then comes The pinch OF
the game. All before Is well as preparation
but not worth brass farthing, IL ii ends
in words.
Now We ask, In MI good nature and hon.
esty, is it worth while TO insist on maintain
ing tho old Wing party, in Its name, and
with oil its old organizations, to act entirely
independent Of every other person and to 60
into the vital, living, momentuous issues
which are pressing upon us, with the de-
mand for battle with the other worn out,
old democratic party, upon the shel7ed ques.
lions of former ycarsl Docs honor or duty
require us to yield up oil We feel. all We hope
and oil we are determined to do, to vindicate
the North and Northern rights - and to re-
sist the iniquity and wrong Of forcing new
slave States into the Union' Can the old
Wing party rs national united party. do
ANYTHING efficiently on this question: When
the Southern Wing Senator's in Congress
went into secret caucuses with Douglas at
their head, and without consulting with their
Northern brethren or by word or sign indi.
ealing their purpose, unitcdly and eagerly
agreed with tho oricinators OF the wicked
scheme, to stand by them, and to aid them
in violating pledged faith by the repeal OF
the Missouri Compromise, the Wing party
was forever destroyed by this fatal stab oil
its own children. las national party.I
TWAS impossible for any Northern Wing
who had any self respect, any just sense OF
his rights, or any real and heartfelt opposi.
ton to the ilnal triumph Of the slave power.
to strive to keep up longer an organization
with those who had then shown that tho in.
terests OF slavery were paramount to oil and
every other consideration, and far above oil
party ties or obligations. And are We in
Maine to 60 on to our knees to these south.
ern Shareholders, and beg Of them to permit
us still longer to be hewcrs OF wood and
drawers of water to them' There can DO no
national Wing party unless Il is essentially
pro.slaycry, The Southern Wings have so
willcd and forced us into that position. And
the Wing party In tho North can Mt best be
but a fragment "a residum OF Its former
force and strength. II has and can have no
living issues, which the people now caro- to
discuss or contend about. Soured and dis.
appointed men may attempt to fan the fame,
but Il will not burn. The people ore In ear.
nest, and arc determined TO act like men OF
sense, and practically. They will not be
deceived by the fair words or protestations
Of those who, whilst they talk well will be
sure when tho time for action arrives, to
stand alOof, or to give directly or indirectly,