The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-05-27
The Republican Organization neither Dead
nor ba ndOned.


"
The Republican Organization neither Dead
nor Abandoned.
1t would be interesting to know on what or
whose authority certain papers base the state
ment that the Republican party of Maine is
an Organization that has ceased to exist"
Surely the call for Union Convention does
not dissolve the Republican party, nor does it
destroy its organization. Nor is there the
slightest thing connected with the issue of
that call to justify the impre ssion that any in
tention exists to disband the party, to ignore
the organization, or to consider its mission
ended,-at least so long as danger threatens
the very framework of our government edi-
flee, and patriotic men are called upon to COM
bine their efforts for the common veal.
The sixteen gentlemen composing the Re-
publican State Committee, have deemed it adj
visable, in the exercise OF their best judg-
ment, to invite all unconditional supporters of
the Government to meet together for council,
and we have not the slightest disposition, in
this connection at least, to call in question the
policy, the propriety or the expediency of
their action; but that they have dissolved the
Republican organization is simply an absurd
ity, and for this simple reason, il for no other
they scere necer gifted ,oiM authority to do
any such thing. The Republican organiza-
ton is of too much consequence, as an instru-
mentality of good, to justify any such yandal
act, even had the committee possessed the
power to dissolve il.
True, the committee in calling the Union
convention, did not afiix the designation,
"Stdte Committee" to their names, yet such a
designation is implied, and the implication is
quite as emphatic as though the express words
had been used. The omission was doubtless
an act OF mere inadyertence. Upon no other
hypothesis does the slightest force or impor-
lance attach to the call more than would TO q
similar call signed by any other sixteen res
pectable individuals in the State. But no
matter what the intention or inadvertence in
this respect one thing is quite certain: the
committee could not have intended TO exer-
else SO unauthorized and usurped power as
to dissolve great party of which they. were
simply the servants or trustees; party which
was not organized and made effective without
much time, toll, deep thought, patient labor
and expense, and which was never more Wig
orous or available for active labors of patriot
ism than at the present moment.
Taking an opposite view of this matter and
where do we find ourselves? Where do the
loyal Union men of the State find themselves?
The loyal Democratic organization - the
Jameson neutrality-suspicious. less than
1000 votes,at the last State election, and then
it is doubtful if that organization has not be-
come SO far demoralized by the course pur-
sued by its managers last year, that it would
be entirely inefficient for any determined eff
fort to give, by the vote of September, a cor
dial and generous support to the loyal govern
ment of the country. The Republican organ
ization represents nearly 1900 thrown at the
last state election, and to dissolve the organi-
cation would be to leave all this strength
without the slightest organism through which
to make itself felt against the dsloyal or cop
perhead vote of the State. To consider the
Republican organization at an end-the Jane
son organization being entireless poweress -
would be to leave $1,000 men who last year
voted on the side of unconditional loyalty to
the government, entirely at loose ends, with
out any widespread understanding through
which every city, town and plantation in the
State may be brought into harmonious and
united action-and all this condition of things
would exist, while confronted by well-disci-
plined, determined, relentless, INSCRIPTIONS
party, representing $4,000 voters, hungry for
Office and plumber, ready TO overrun the field,
and to give an expression to the State, which
would, as did the copperhead triumphs in tie
West and in New York, cause Charleston and
Richmond to CLEAN with bonfres and other
tokens of rejoicing. 1t is insulting to the
good sense of the State Committee to suppose
for moment that they intended any such
suicidal policy; that they intended the disso-
luton of the party whose servants they are,
leaving the loyal people of the State totally de-
moralized for all efficient action.
There is a better view to take of this mat
ter. We understand-for we can reconcile
their action with no other reasonable hypotb-
esis-the State Committee proposes to allow
the Republican organization, so far as all mere
party purposes are concerned, TO remain in
allegiance, while all its organic power shall be
invoked not for partizan purposes, or to ac-
colnplish partizan ends, but to uphold the gov
eminent In its extremity. And in this work
they cordially invite the cooperation of all
truly loyal men, willing to join hands with
them to subserve this one great purpose of
patriotism.
That the Republican party was organized
simply to elect Abraham Lincoln, is an ;de,
worthy only of the most narrow partizau
spirit; that it was organized only to prevent
the spread of slavery into free territories, is