Smyrna times., 1863-03-26
The Copperhsads and the Democrtic
Party,

| IdItyI
1t is one ofthe peculiarities of the serpent
species that they can swallow animals much
thicker than their own bodies. This is a
very nice provision of nature But some
times, overrating their powers, they get
stuck in the operation. Then the fix is very
awkward. The copperheads are now find
ing it so. The Democratic party proves too
tough customer. The best part of it stub
bornly refuses to be swallowed The cop
perheads can neither gorge nor disgorge.
The result is immense squirming.
We have always told the Northern abet-
tors of treason that they would never sue
ceed in taking in either of the great political
parties, and that they would surely come to
grief itthey persisted in the attempt Moth
ing is more certain than that the great body
| OF the Democratic party, as we'll as of the
Republican, is thoroughly loyal to the Govs
ernment 1t has no affinity with the rebel
lion in any degree. Every instinct and
every principle binds it to the nationality
There never was greater political mistake
than the assuming that because the Demo-
cratic party generally felt constrained to
condemn themanagement of the war, they
were therefore opposed to the war it.
self, and ready for peace on any terms with
the rebels.
1t was not wise, ia our opinion, to make
a party issue with the Administration in the
manner they did. This line of action was
calculated to weaken not only the Admin
! istartion, but the Government itsef-for the
Administration is the only operative arm
OF the Government, and it is impossible, in
such an emergency as this, that the one
should be weakened without injury and vital
peril to the other. So far as the Admins
tratiOn has been at fault, it would have been
far better had the Democrats-instead of
applying the old party machinery against it
united with other loyal men in the con-
centrstion of a public opinion which would
have constrained the Administration to bet
ter management. This would have rectifed
and stimulated the authorities at Washing
ton, and greatly strengthened the Govern
ment. 1t was mistake, we think, to adopt
the plan of party opposition, instead of
faithful monition as friends.
Yet, knowing the power of party leaders,
we do not wonder that the matter took this
| shape. Had it kept that shape simply, no
great mischief would have come from it :;
since, after all, what the Administration
needs Is not party support, out loyal support
The misfortune is that party opposition al
ways has aproclivity toward sheer faction
especially under dishonest and willy leader
ship. Very many of the Democratic lead
ers have, from the beginning, been destitute
OF any real desire for the suppression of the
rebellion. They have, with more or less
secrecy, sympathized with jeff Davis and
the Confederate Government. These men,
in almost every Northern State, have been
quick to seize upon any discomfort, to iden-
tify themselves with it, and to do their best
to turn it against the war itself To some
extent, We are sorry to say, they have sue
ceeded. But the great majority of the
party, as they come to understand what is
really meant, recoil. So far from being
prepared to accept peace, they spurn it.
These sympathizers have gone too far TO
give up the effort, and are still trying To
sssimilate the party with themselves But
every day makes it palmer that the thing il
impossible, and that persistence is only
working their own destruction.
No man who was present at the grea,
Union meeting in New York on Saturday
evening, or at the similar meetingin Brook
lyn last Tuesday, can longer doubt that
there is no material difference between the
great body of the two parties, in respect to
loyalty and a determination to crush thil
/, rebellion by force. Words of truer devo
tion to the Government, and intenser hatC
to its enemies, need not be uttered thar
came from the lips of the Democratic speak
ers nor could heartier applause be desired
than followed from all the immense throng
irrespective of party associations. It ha
proved more palpably than ever that tn
great popular heart is sound to the core
These demonstrations are exactly in charac
ter with those which have recently beer
G made in the great West. The feeling 0
the masses is the same everywhere. It ha
only to be honestly appealed to at any poin
to declare itself most potenly.
y The only essential distinction betweel
. Northern men, from Maine to California,
: the distinction between those who are fo
war so long as the rebels will not submit
and those who are for peace whether tn
rebels will submit or not-between thos
who make the nationality the paramount
object, and those who make peace the para
= mount object. 1t is a clear distinction, an
!: vital one. 1t is the only distiction that
: : in the present peril of the country, ought t
be recognized. There ia no other real cr
terion ofloyalty To talk of man as loys
3 who is willing, for the sake of peace, or 70
" any other object. TO have the nation broke
up, is, in truth, absurd. 1t involves con
tradiction- You may as well talk of a hu
$ lnane conplicity with murder. The break
: ing up of fhe nation is just what the rebel
lion is fof. To agree to this is simply I
: side with the rebellion, and help on its pr
: mary purpose. Therefore, the man who
J, for any consideration, will SO assent-who
d ever be is and whatever be may call him
! self--is essentially disloyal man. III
: should be marked as such. A specifi