The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-09
Alleged Political Prescription.

men were recently discharged from employ.
ment in the shops Of the Water Power Com
pany in BiddeiOrd, on account Of their pc.
litical sentiments. The Superintendent in
formed the men that the reason Of their
discharge was that they differed from him in
political sentiment. and were secessionists OF
sympathizers with secessionists. The men
thus discharged had been for years in the
employ of the company, and were attentive
orderly. and acceptable workmen, and, Us we
are informed, are no more secessionists than
all others who do not belong to the Repub'
lican or war party.
We believe this is the first time we have
known an instance Of open and avowed po.
litical prescription on the part Of the con-
ductors Of any Of our large corporations.-
1t marks the progress which is making tow
ards the practical denial OF the rights of the
common people. What with corporations to
control the labor OF the country, and Gov.
eminent loans and taxes to absorb its CAPT
tai, the liberties and independence Of the
masses Of the people will soon become OF
very little practical account. The common
people have not yet begun to conceive the
burdens the Republican party and its jealous
advocates are preparing to bind upon their
backs. If their course were arrested to-day,
the burdens would stick TO the people for a
generation to come; il permitted to 60 un-
checked awhile longer the liberties Of the
people may be completely overthrow.
The inference Of the editor Of the Demo.
crat on the act Of tho Superintendent of the
machine shop is simply bosh. The political
prescription, as We understand it, amounts
to this, nothing moro or nothing less. The
Superintendent Of the machine shop, who is
patriot and not politician. seldom IL ever
attending political caucuses, has been obliged
on account Of diminishing work to discharge
men. lie understands, as does every other
sagacious man, that in the maintenance OF
the Union and the Constitution is the guar.
antee Of not only the republican institutions
Of our country, but also for the prosperity
of its business affairs. II in the discharge
Of his duty he chose to retain in his employ
lnent men who were sustaining the institu.
tions of the country, and cooperating with
those who were faithful to its constitution
rather than those who were affording said
and comfort to the enemy" as does the cdi'
tor Of the Democrat, it was his right, nay
it was his duty, to give such the preference,
This is a question of no common import. The
country is in war to sustain its very life
its institutions are assailed by men who wish
to tread out freedom, and who desire to make
common wreck OF popular government
combination Of persons who have proved
themselves plundercrs and robbers, who have
perjurcd themselves, have combined together
To mako shipwreck Of tho best Government
the world ever saw, and there are those who
either from political objects, or prcjudice'
which are unworthy Of manhood, are sym
pathizing with these rebels. Daily they af
ford them aid and comfort, in speech If no
in deed; they gloat over the Federal reyerscs
and from ignorance or spite magnify them
and they pcrsistently oppose tho administra
ton Of tho Government. The exercise of /
simple political opinion should always b
tolerated, but in times Of war, when pirate
are at work trying to scuttlc the ship, thos'
who endeayor to hold back men who ar
trying to prevent the work of destruction
should not, under the guise Of having polit
ical opinions, be allowed to aid the enemy o
their country. We are not sorry that thi
matter has been preached, as it gives us al
opportunity Of stating specifically our view
of how these sympathizers with rebels ant
seccssionists should be treated. Regarding
them as tories and enemies to their country
50 long as they confno themselves to simple
talk let them serereiy alone-if they 60 far
ther. and act for the enemy as well as talk
let the remedies Of the law be applied. lie
them. we say, sererely alone. No one i
Obliged to afford them comfort or support il
their treason; turn the cold shoulder Z
them whenever they are mct-let them flint
the means Of sustenance the best way they
can-and so long as they act as alien enc
mics, treat them assuch. Noman is obliget
to employ man who is doing all he can t.
subycrt the institutions Of q Republican Gov
eminent, and to tear down the very consti
tuition under which business, IL it at all
must prosper and no man is obliged, by so
cial intercourse, to give countenance to Q
public enemy. There is no political pro
scription in letting traitors, and those who
sympathize with them, severely alone; but
on the contrary, the demands OF patriotism
arc to do this. We have not had wore
with the Superintendent OF the machine
shop about this MATER. nor shall we. We
know him to be as free from any desire tC
prescribe men on account Of simple political
opinions as any man living, bat we know also
that he Is q lover Of his country and its in
situations, and that sympathy with rebellion
accompanied with theft and robbery, will 70
eeivs no countcnance from him. II be In,
discharged men who were sympathiring with
rebellion, no has done his duty, and we hon.
or him for II. He need not fear that 80
cessionist editor, who is dead to the calls oil