The Portland daily press., 1862-09-08
The Issues and the Candidates Of To-Day.

To-day the people OF Maine are to make Sc
lection of their civil rules for another year,
one of the highest privileges known to any peo-
plea privilege unknown to the nations OF the
old world-and yet how little is thought of the
event; how little attention has been given to
this annual duty of free men; how small a
space has it occupied in the hearts of our peo-
pie! And this comparative inattention to a
matter of so much importance, is not because
of any dereIicton of duty on the part of our
people, but it is rather owing to great and
overshadowing question, which throws all les
ser questions far into the background. While
the country is in peril, and the problem, wheth-
er we have a country, remains unsolved, it is
not to be expected that the people will take a
deep interest in questions of trifing impot-
ance, when brought into comparison with this.
OF the result to-day, there is scarcely room
for doubt. We look for the triumph of the
Republican ticket by large, popular majority,
and have no doubt that when the record is
made up it will be found that Names voice is
Enthusiastically for war, until the rebellion is per-
fectly suhdued, and the old flag again waves in
triumph, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from
the Lakes to the Gulf
OF the candidates it is not needful that we
should speak. They are men of undoubted
loyalty, and whose election will reflect no dis
credit upon the 'Star in the East State" The
gentlemen presented as candidates for the Leg
islature, from this city, are selected from the
ranks of those fully tried, well known, and
well beloved. Messrs. Worcester and Shaw
are well known to the citizens of this city, and
will undoubtedly be elected by decided major
ities Mr.. Kingsbury was member of the
last House, and proved to be a most efficient
faithful, and attentive representative. Capt.
Jacob Mcclellan was also a member of the
last House, voted for by Republicans, as a
compliment to his integrity, and as a mark Of
their appreciation of his undoubted loyalty,
and devotion to his country's cause. He was
not elected last year as Republican. Last
spring he was run for Mayor, as the anti-Re-
publican candidate. But, notwithstanding
this, the Republicans of this city. knowing his
devotion to the right, his integrity of charac-
ter, and his fidelity as a public servant, pro-
pose to send him again to Augusta, thus show
ing their willingness to forget party lines,
when men are presented outside ofthose lines,
who are above suspicion of disloyalty, and
equally free from suspicion of completely with
those WIN are tainted with secession sympa-
thies
Some of the uncompromising Union Demo-
Gratis, at the late Bangor convention, which
nominated Gen. Jameson, declared that they
would not only refuse to vote for any man from
the Daua ranks of last year, but they would
vote for no man who had the sympathies of
the Dana leaders, or whom they would sup
port. We may be permitted to say that pre-
cisely such spirit has forbidden Republicans
TO bring forward, and vote for some men whom
they supported last year. 1t does not follow,
because the Republicans have not initiated the
example of the past, and placed upon their
senatorial and county ticket the names of
Democrats, that they are less compromising,
less friendly to loyal Democrats, or more OBJ
servant of party lines, than last year, but it
results simply from this fact-that men, sup
posed TO be loyal last year, and who opposed,
and were opposed by, the managers of the
convention which nominated John w. Dana,
and denounced the war, and refused to endorse
it, even TO the extent Of suppressing the rebel
lion, and re-establishing the authority of the
Government over the seeded States, are now
found cheek-by-jowl with those who have con-
ferred upon them their nominations, and are
working zealously to secure their political adj
vancement. The men-many Of them-last
year supposed to be cordial in their support of
the Government, and fully in the confidence
of Republicans--so fully as to receive their
party vote-have allowed themselves to be
tainted by communion with justly suspected
persons, and have thus placed themselves be-
yond the sympathy of those who are sworn to
make the support of the Government, the
overthrow of rebellion, the re-establishment Of
our flag, and the preservation Of our free in
situations, paramount to all oteer consdera-
tons. 1t is time when no truly loyal man
can afford to give an endorsement, either to
one who is disloyal, or to one who in any way
takes counsel of the disloyal and suspected.