The Portland daily press., 1863-04-09
Loyalty and Disleyalty.

Loyalty ana Disleyalty.
At a time when men are being tested, and
compelled, by measures which try the intents
Of the heart, TO range themselves into distinct
parties, 1t becomes the patriotic, from their
elevated position, to indulge generous char
ity toward misled or III informed men. The
policy Of the expounder Of Democratic theo-
ries, and 1t is their only well defined policy,
has been to dole oat but superficial knowledge
of the living forces of the Constitution to the
masses, pleasing them with few well sound
ing phrases about the rights OF the people and
the hereditary glory of the party, interfering
here and there in large cities, empty lauda-
:, tons of its invincibility and its freedom from
terrifying influences, so as TO suck in the idly
flowing ballots of the roughs and plug-uglies.
From ignorance of ones privileges the same
i'll consequences may flow, as from depraved
intention to disregard duty. Hence large
numbers Of men are seemingly arrayed against
the Government at the present hour, from
thoughtlessness, while the few in whom they
implicitly trust are rising on their shoulders in
to an atmosphere of disloyalty and treason.
z We believe the vast proportion Of the men of
the North, by whom we mean the citizens Of
the loyal States, are loyal to the core; and
while from misconceivcd sense of their priv
ileges as free men, many OF them unintention-
ally divert their support from the Northern
side of the warlike issue, which the South has
rendered us, wisdom prompts that they be
won into the old paths by revealing their true
position and not repealed by offensive names.
II man be dsloyal, it is right to let the world
know it, that he may be left to the solace Of
his traitorous meditations But If he put on
his political dress before the light began to
dawn, it is better to offer him the garb of an
unspotted fidelity to his country, rather than
TO raise howl at his strange apparel, the
while the maker of it looks on with iii con-
cealed satisfaction at his victims disgrace.
We conceive that every man is loyal, who
sincerely desires the triumph of the Constitu
tional Government of the United States over
the entire territory which has at any time
been subjected to its authority. Such an au-
thority once existed, and was acknowledged
In the thirty -four States of the Union and the
authority was the Union. While efficient, it
was the cohesive power which bound the peo-
pie, resident within separate and limited State
boundaries, into mighty nation Of the earth,
the peer of any, however majestic and power
full. The restoration of that authority over
the region whence it was driven by the storm
Of Secession, is now the task which enlists the
efforts of the Government and the people of
the United States. The measures of the Gov
ernment profess to tend in that direction;
some, so clearly that only scattered individuals
deny the sincerity of the profession, or the
practical results of their working, while others
demand such intimate knowledge of the de-
tails Of the war, Of the strength Of the hostile
armies, or the resources of the people who
equip and feed them, of the power of pecu-
liar social system to animate the revolters,
that only those of broadly comprehensive
view, can at the outset yield their assent, and
they must wait in patience for the body Of
the people to give in their concurrence. Nowis
that waiting time. While men are fairly and
honestly Edoubting,f whether the measure in
question will be as truly auxiliary to the cause
- different line Of policy, the men of I'M
dlmmed eyesight who can see the end, should
forbear to complain of the INSTRUCTED vision
Of their fellows. 1t is enough, If they are
sincerely and to the best of their ability aim
ing al the same patriotic end. As the meas
ures of the Government, guided by a kind
Providence, go on indicating themselves, the
doubts of the doubling and the fears of the
timid win vanish; confidence and courage will
suppIant them, and the life blood of freedom
which beats out from the Constitution, will
throb In exquisite health through the nations
veins.
Disolyalty is easily distinguishable. 1t as
sails the endeavors of the Government, not In
. candid spirit of doubt whether they will ac-
complsh the re-establishment of the power of
the Constitution over the Slave States, but be-
cause its sympathies with the actors in the re-
bellion, and with slavery as the prominent
cause of it, make the failure of the national
cause seem preferable to the eradication, If ne
cessary. Of every element of opposition. Its
onslaughts never end with an offer of more
likely means to strange the revolt. Whatev-
er act, military or political, is calculated to do
real mischief to it, is denounced with unspar-
ing obloquy. Whatever offers no impeachment
TO the continued waywardness of the way
ward sisters" is exhibited with commentator
as a stroke of true craftsmanship. The success
- Of the Southern armies are never deplored
The reverses Of the North are never mourned.
The mode in which rebel generals carry on a
campaign is significantly compared with the
programmes of Union commanders. The for
mer declarations of the President pleading
with the rebellious to return, are contrasted
with his utterances, after the valleys and the
hills of the Border States are white with the
bones of our best and bravest, and labored ar
guments are offered to prove how inconsistent
he has been. This spirit is always ready with
excuses for the treatment of northern men in
slave States, two years ago, and covers over
the turpitude of Rhett and Davis, Polk and
the venerable Edward Ruffin' with the deep
er Nervousness of Abolitionsm. 1t would
grasp the hands of those at whose doors lies the
death of Mitchell, of Winthrop, of Jameson,
and pen in firmest characters a statute to put
within four walls the free men of New Eng
Land who write of chattle slavery as 1t de-
serves. Its formula for the prompt settlement
Of difficulties at which nations gaze in aston
ishmeut is by hanging up twelve Abolitionists