Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-12-27
The Danger not all on One Side.

4uc OhnSut hui III on Une Side.
(" In discussing the probab,lit,e. Of war,
the northern jDainal' assume that Canada
will b the only battle ground. Their ,osns
bordering Upper Canada may suffer, they
admit. but they exclude from their calcg.
lat'ons all consideration. Of Sighting other
than our Canada sOil. Undoubtedly. the
calamity would b. ieit heavily IN tho frOn.
sier d''lrie''-too heavily 10 allow OF Il.
presence beng treated Ne ,r,fIns thing
Bot Maine ~ould icel |, scarcely les s,.re.
~. With the Bris'sh navy va iLs Atlantic
coast. the occupation Of Portland would h.
accomplished ~ easily - the bonb,rim.n,
OF New York or Boston and with Po,,.
land in British hands. there would y, no
difficulty In landing regular uooJ-. and oe.
cupyios . large part OF the state e.,sbl.h.
ing new line Of connection between N,
ocean aud tho Canals frontier, which w,ult
be Of thu highest importancs in q military
poin, Of view. After the tpt few weeks.
Maine ~ould b. ss much battle ground
I" any par, Of this province" froronD
Leader.
The hint here thrown out BY the Official
organ OF The C.naii,n government deserve,
serious attention. There I. no harbor in
the country. no, even excepting TIA, Of
Se~ Sors. ~ho-- defense. should more
promptly 10 put In a stat u complete eai.
cheney than those Of Portland IN. rrea,
Importance Of ,hI. tovn. In military pun,
~ view, iles IN Is relations " tho inter.
communication between Great Britain and
her Canadian province. Portland :, the
eastern terminus Of the Grand Trunk Rail.
way. the only practicable winter rlais b.
tween Canals and the OCEAN. The ~ tas.
rsnce will b blocndei ~ lcc b-'or, any
very powerful r'lnforcements cin be thrpsa
into the upper provinces. Before naus,.
ton y reorsned in the srring, the United
Sat's can conquer the mos, valuable par,
Of Canada apt hold her pubic works, 10.
lee. Great Britain should succeed In cartur.
ing Portland early m the winter cruraign.
and thus secure the Grand Trunk asa route
for transporting soldiers and munition. Of
var. The magnificent htrhor % PJrliaui
and ito valuable connections with Montreal
and the interior OF the British province.
make u tho mos, imr ,r,ant .,risgic point
on the continent with rrfsrenc. 10 sinisr
campaign IN var with Enyland. -, ram.
paign Of which the frv ain on one side
would bs the conquest, and on the other
tho dsfenc, u her rich eolopisl Possessions.
Portland lea place Of gr-s, natural strength;
ana " Forts Pr-ble and scammsl. which
command the entr~nc. TO iis hsrbor. ar. not
inpregnable. they should he mad - With
the least possible delay. With Portland
-cure. Grrs, Britain would he in . fair
Wy 10 learn before spring that, in the event
Of war with ,hi, country, F." the danger
would not b. all on on, side" by mean,
OF The network o. railways tba, !. spread
over our Northern State. W. conld conoru.
ira,s hosts OF armed men at IIudalo and
Detroit, each Of which !. separated iron
Upper Canada only by river. .sIs the
Great Western and Crawford railroads, and
attack Toronto In the rear within 6ri.
nigh, AFTER thu declaration OF war. We
tru., tina, the necessity for 'aeh an invasion
Gill not arse bat, let thi. controversy cod
/. !, may. It is tbs imperative duty Of oar
government to strengthen the defense. d
Portland. IN Y. World