The Portland daily press., 1862-08-26
lFor the Daily Press.l
The Democratic Party and the Rebellion.

Nnen lne Democratic party, seduced by the
promised support of slave-holding arstocra-
cy, decided to place itself in opposition to the
anti-slavery sentiment of the country, it en-
sured for itself defeat, decay, and ultimate des-
truction. Even if the projects of the early abb
olitonsts were unconstitutional and revolu-
tionary, it must still be confessed that they
were but the attempts to supply and extend to
all men the old axioms of equal rights, upon
which we had justified our nationality, and
our Constitution. Abotionism was practical
democracy; say democracy carried to ex-
tremes, if it so strikes your conservative mind,
but still democracy, asserting itself against all
limitations, and against all institutions.
1t was dangerous step for democratic
party to oppose democratic movement, for
progressive party to take the side of the re-
action. Thinking men saw this, and resisted
the aristocratic tendency. II we adopt this
policy, we abandon the vantage ground of de-
mocracy; we detach ourselves from the popu-
lar tendencies of the age. So they counsellei.
| On the other hand the politician, with the sta
tstics of last years. vote in his hand, puts
down the philosophers with such ineligible
calculations as these: This policy, and moth
ing short oft, will carry for ten sldue States,
and give us the control of the electoral col
lege. And so the soul was sacrificed for the
body. So, for present votes, the life of the
democratic organization, and its power to
| command votes in all the future, was thrown
away. And the great historic party, that has
stood as apriesthood, to assert the fundamental
equality of man, as the safe basis of American
society," became the sponsors and defenders of
system of popular ensavement and outrage.
More and more il has thrown away all pretence
of faith in its early creed, and stopped under
the odium and burden of commencing to
brave and humane nation social scheme that
makes marketable brutes of reliable laborers.
twas not surprising that a wary opposi-
tion, that had been for years competing with
the democratic party for political supremacy,
by coneiliating majorities, that had wrangled
with it to obtain the more popular statement
of substantially similar democratic creed
should perceive this fatal division, and improve
it. The democratic tendencies of American
society, are too strong for any institution, or
any interest, and the party who invest boldly
in the broad sense of justice, love fair play,
and faith in humanity and the whole people,
in spite of the depression which fanatcism,
antipathy of race, or selfish avarice produce
in those sterling values, is sure to achieve a
solid ascendency in the long run.
just so 1t has proved. The Republican par
ty gladly welcomed the paadums of liberty,
l,-if nd a1
in all parts Of the Union where popular gov
ernments are enjoyed, simply because it has
been able to make palpably and intelligibly to
the common sense more democratic state
ment of its creed than the democratic party.
We think it may be safely laid down rs a
law of political society, that parties never re-
form. Like the old guard, they die, neuer sur
render. The predicament of the democratic
party is hopeless. 1t has nothing to do hgt
hug to its bosom, more and more frantically,
the fatal principle of despotism, Of which it is
slowly dying. Ifany plain man were asked to
what cause or project is the Eastern Argus
devoted he would say to the defense of Amer
lean slavery, and the abuse of its opponents.
To such vile uses come at last the oracles of
democracy. The only hope of the reconstruc-
tion of either the Union, or their political Or
ganizaton, is the coaxing back, or the not too
severe fighting back of the slaveholding oil
garchy into the same ascendancy and domin-
ion which, as it was not quite absolute, but
left a glimmer of sectional liberty, they dis
claimed, and threw away Only the most ig-
norant among the followers, and the most har-
dy among the leaders, take this logical posi-
ton. All in whom a ray of live patriotism, or
particle of the democratic faith they have
so long disowned remains, see something in
the majestic spectacle of the Republic, clad in
the panoply of its nationality, standing up
arms TO defend its vital principles from
perfidious revolt of rufiian and despotic slave
holders, manifestation of power and truth
that awes them into loyalty.
Not so these reckless camp-followers of the
slave power. They dare not openly dscour-
age enlistments, rejoice over the victories of
the rebels. But all the more mali ,nantly they
stoop to accuse and magn the just and true
men of the North, but for whose hatred OF
slavery all the ambitious projects which the
rebels are now desperately striving to accom-
plish by war, would have been easily achieved
by the treachery and connivance of them
selves, and the men they clothed with political
power. Let it stop in shame the mouth of
these brawlers for the imprisonment of the
most sagacious and virtuous patriots Of the
North, that the United States is now making
war upon a band Of consprators, carrying out
project which these Northern sympathizers
have been for twenty years aiding them to
achieve.
That is but poor exhibition of devotion
to the country, which taxes the ingenuity to
find the narrow verge between treason and OPP
position TO every measure of defence of the
State which the exigency makes indispensable;
which fiatters at the expense of the military
authorities those generals that are defeated,
and because they are defeated, and discourag-
es this struggling nation by insisting that only
those men who will waste opportunities to
march successfully against the enemy shall be
trusted with our armies; and which praises
| the President, not for what he has wisely and
boldly done to put down rebellion, but because
| he yet hesitates to declare policy that shall
ensure the triumph of the Union, but which
rebels and Constitutional Union men threaten
to resist. N-
From our Regular Correspondent