The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-03-27
"Union Leagues"

The editor Of the Maine Democrat. dis
turbcd at the uprising Of the people in the
loyal States, to defeat the schemes OF his
"copperhead" associates, in their attempts
to help the rebel shareholders in the work
of destroying the Government, informs his
readers that
"Tho Abolition Republicans are now forming
what they call "Union Leagues sort of
secret political associations. AFTER the manner
Of the Know Nothings."
According to tho political vocabulary OF
the Democrat, every one who is uncondition-
ally in favor of sustaining the Government
in its life and death struggle with rebellion,
is IN neutrality-suspicious." Hence, when
men Of all political parties~(which is the
hct,) in order to give greater force and effect
to the Union sentiment Of the Nation.
through organized action, associate them
selves together for that purpose, the Demo
cras, making use Of its convenient general
tern, Immediately alarms its readers by as
surius them that the "Abolition-Republi-
cans" are at work. "aiter the manner Of the
Know Knothings."
As to the "Union Leagues" being "a sort
Of secret political associations" all their
proceedings are open to all who may wish to
attend their meetings. The Democrat, in
falsely calling them "secrot political associa-
ticns," can have no other object than to aid
the rebels, by stirring up old party striies
and divisions
After chronicling the above piece Of ncws,
the political wizard, who presidcs over the
Democrat performs sleight-oi.hand trick,
in the course Of which he exposes to Wow
the scat under the NEAL:
''It is q dodge Of the opponents Of Democra-
cy, who sec that the Republican party Is about
played out, and that IL Is time for them to put
ON a new disguise and assume new name, in
hope to cheat the people into the support OF
their abolition despotism."
So far as this State is concerned, the Re-
publican party has "playcd out" rather
strong hand. in tho recent Spring elections,
carrying about two towns to the Democrats
one. By"abolition dcspotism, the Democrat
simply means the Government OF the United
States. To the support Of that, tho people
everywhere are pledging themselves, and
they can never be brought to desert it,
though the Democrat may attempt to "cheat"
them Unto the support Of" treason under
the disguise" Of democracy.
The Democrat then reveals its fears:
"The plan Is to draw Democrats into their
secret association. and thus control their
votes"
The Democrat persistently represents that
the "Union League" movement is political
scheme Of the neutrality-suspicious."
when the truth Is that it is just what il pur-
ports to DO, a movement Of men Of all par.
ties and creeds whose only object is to save
the National Unity. But the Democrat.
loving party better than country, pursues its
accustomed partizan work, and represents
this grand uprising Of the people as "plan
to draw Democrats" into a "secret associa.
ton. and thus control their votes" Hon
John Cochrane, distinguished Democrat,
made speech at meeting Of the "Union
League" in New York, in which he took
strong ground in favor of armipg the ne
groes, and other leading Democrat, have
joined these Leagues and take an active part
in their meetings.
The assertion of the Democrat that the
"Uuiou Leagues are "secrot" societies, is
entirely without the shadow Of truth. We
publish in another column the proceedings
OF the only meeting Of this kind yet held in
this city. Az the business done at that
meeting is fully reported, and though no
loyal man can object to any part Of it, yet
the editor Of the Democrat, acting consist
entity with his past course, will object to
the whole.