The Portland daily press., 1863-03-23
COMMUNICATIONS.
Democracy Of the Right stamp.
tor Of the Press.

To the Editor Of the Press:
Please allow me to say few words to my
kind father and good uncles through the Press.
l do not see them often; l live in Waterville,
they IN other towns in Maine. For few years
/ have acted with the Republicans: formerly
we all were of the Democratic party they now
act with those who oppose the present Admin
istration, and glory In being called Democrats
am a Democrat as they taught Democracy
10 me. The Democratic party is part OF his
tory. love its traditions; its life and spirit,
cherish in my heart They have adhered to
its organization and form. When we meet,
the alLabsorbing question of the times-the
war OF the rebellion-has a leading place
among the themes OF social intercourse, and
our opinions as to causes and responsibilities
resting upon parties, and leading men in ditie-
rent parties, are such as cannot be reconcied,
and s0metimas destroy the pleasure of meet
ing. But one suggestion generally produces
silence. We have country TO preserve, homes
TO save and children TO look out for. Sober
thought Comes then, and leads the way TO
pleasant conversation and familiar themes
sometimes rehearse the following story Of
my boyhood. There were several boys of us,
and We had mulatto living with us, named
Henry. We thought ourselves smart, and
Henry was very smart to work and OF rather
an ugly temper. / cannot tell whether his
temper came from his black father or his white
mother. He was somewhat older than we,
and at times we did not like to work with him.
1t was the custom for all to use rum in those
days. My father generally took Henry's part,
and worked with him himself and called such
of us boys as he chose, TO 60 with him; for In
THIS way he could make most out Of Henry.
In summer we were farmers; In winter lunl-
bermen, and sometimes we had to handle logs
SO large and heavy. that it required all the
strength we could muster to roll one up on TO
the sleds. My father always went ahead, with
Henry as his second man, SO that Henry came
to think himself quite indispensable. the ali in
all, and my father babitually encouraged him.
AT one time we had wonderfully big log to
load. We had imbibed rather freely, and dif-
Tered In opinion as to the best way to load the
log. Father and Henry had one plan, we boys
another My father was getting oldsh, and
Henry influenced him too much !; he and Henry
tried to manage the log their way, and failed.
We boys tried II our way, and did better, but
failed. BY this time we were well sobered,
and father said either the pesky nigger" or
the rum had caused all the trouble, and we
must agree, or we could do nothing. We took
hold together, but Henry stood back in fit
of suiks- Nevertheless we all pulled upon the
same rope, and the log was soon rolled up.
When the log reached its place, my father re-
marked There, boys, we can load any log;
we will work together. Henry you can work
with us, or look out for yourself; do as you
choose From that time Henry was in the
shade, but was still very useful.
NOW, my dear father, and good uncles, as
members of the community in which we live,
we have mighty big log to load; it rolls and
pitches every way; we have tried to handle it
with the negro and without; we have been di-
yided and have failed. Let us forget both
rum and niggers,r unite, and load the log.
conquer the rebels, and save our government.
well remember, with what force you used 10
teach me TO support our government and the
rule OF the majority. The Democratic party
In those days always had the majority. Two
years since the majority placed our present
Administration in power; the minority re-
beiled. The minority is the negro interest.
Act under this Administration. as you taught
me TO act under the administration Of Jack
son, Van Buren, and Polk. Support it in this
day OF our country's trial, with all your might,
and save TO US the chance of voting as freely
hereafter as heretofore, and perhaps at the
next presidential election you win get the
men of your choice. If so, / will promise to
do all can to support them in putting down
rebellion, II necessary, and sustaining our I'm
ion. / know you well enough to say without
qualification that If the party Of your choice
had gained the election at the time Mr.. Lin
coin was elected President, each of you would
have done all In his power 10 sustain the gov
ernment and put down any rebellion which
might have occurred. And / have no doubt
but some men now acting with the Republi-
can party and sustaining the present Admin
istration would have occupied the same unen-
viabie position which you take, of opposition
to the Administration.
In our town, We are trying TO create feel
ing of perfect union of all parties Before our
March election we called a caucus of all mar
ties, and nominated men good and true. With
out regard to party; and although our town
has for some years been very strongly Repub-
lican, those candidates for Office selected
from the Democratic party received the most
unanimous support, and solely because they
were men who, without why or wherefore,
are ready TO support our Administration in all
measures which it may adopt with the sole
purpose of putting down the rebellion. The
result was. that our ticket was elected without
show of opposition, though we number some
$50 voters. One of our selectmen Is life
long and consistent Democrat, and represents
the town now in our Legislature. Still we
have few men here who are so welded to
party hate that it seems just to conclude they
would prefer to have JEFF Davis conquer and
destroy our government, rather than to see It