The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-11-04

The following modest paragraph is from
that eminently talented journal, and pattern of
lofty patriotism the Eastern Argus:


The following modest paragraph is from
that eminently talented journal, and pattern of
lofty patriotism, the Eastern Argus:
1t is remarkable that not one of the prominent sue
cessful generals In the present war is thoroug bred
sboiitionst. Radical fanaticsm has not comprehen-
sion or enough for great generalship;
and that it equally lacking in the qualities essential
TO successful civil adminst ration, have had abun.
dant proof in the past two years and half.
The successful generals" will take care of
themselves, and of slavery also. If not ''thor-
ough-bred abolitionists," they have become
thorough abolitionists by very short process
4 Of practical education. There is scarcely one
of the efficient generals who has not, over and
over again, received the earnest and heartfelt
anathemas of the copperhead defenders of des-
potism. Garrison and Phillips are left far in
the background by the recent converts from
the old Democracy, while Gen. Thomas, life
long democratic stakeholder, has emancipated
his own slaves, sent for Fred Douglas-Once a
fugitive slave-and with him for an assistant
has gone down South to organize negro regi-
ments This is thorough" enough, in all
conscience, and few anti-slavery men will stop
to inquire whether such sign of progress is
the result of breeding or of education, nor do
they care.
But "ciyil administration" In this woe
ful failure has been exhibited by the present
powers that be-" The country has been ru-
ined, we suppose, by substituting Abraham
Lincoln for James Buchanan! o, for the hal
cyond days of Floyd, "a Cobb and JEFF Thomp-
son, one to steal forts and arsenals, one to
steal minis and revenue cutters and the other
to steal Indian Trust bonds! o for the days
of Frank Pierce and JEFF. Davis! o that
Breckenridge and "Gosef" Lane could have
arisen to power, to save this nation, and to
have given evidence Of qualities essential to
successful civil administration
Who doubts that they had the qualities"
or would have called them into requistion?
Who doubts that, once in power, they would
have been "successful"-in stealing what little
Floyd & Co. had left? Who can doubt that
negro babies would have risen in the market,
or that wool and ivory would have advanced
fifty per cent? Who doubts, with such bril-
liant qualities" combined in the head of the
Government, that the State of Maine would
have been blessed-blessed with Babsons, and
Goulds and McDonalds and Ben. Virgins and
Parrisses and F. o. J. Smiths and Henry Hud
sons and Marcelus Emerys and bud Leavitts,
in all positions of trust, giving the State the
benefit of their disinterested services, honor
ing 1t with the odor OF their good names, and
exalting it by their lofty patriotism until it
should become as famed for great deeds and
great and good men as ever did Mississippi in
the days Of her jeff Davis and reputation re-
nown Alas alas! what have we lost, and
how have We come short of the glory that can
be secured only through the successful civil
administration" of men of such brilliant "qual-
itiesr'