The Portland daily press., 1863-09-25
Our Late State Election.

It's well after battle is fought, victory
won, and the smoke of the battle grounds has
passed away and left clear atmosphere to
survey the field and see how the contending
armies maneuvred and what the great causes
of defeat on the one side or victory on the
other were.
just previous to the time of holding the
Democratic State Convention in this city, and
especially on that day and afterwards, the
copperheads were full of hope, and even sue
ceeded in making the jameson wing OF the
party believe, or a large portion of them, that
II their forces could be united they should be
able to carry the state. This fattering junction.
they laid to their souls, stripped off their coats
turned up their sleeves, and rushed into the
contest with bright visions of the future. But
they were short-sighted politicians and unwise
philosophers. They seemed to forget for
time that there are such things as moral senti-
ments and love OF country, deeply imbedded
In the hearts of the people. They underval-
ued human nature, and went to work in the
election, Just as if they believed the voters
Of Maine cared more for party than they did
for the country-more for the loaves and fishes
of Office than for the government and its insti-
buttons. They seemed to be entirely ignorant
OF the strength of true loyalty, and did not
appreciate the force of moral sentiments. This
was the rock on which they made shipwreck
of their party. II they did not possess any
loyalty themselves and their consciences were
scared as with hot iron, it does seem as if pol
icy would have dictated show of such virtues
at least But the gods had made them mad,
and they rushed headlong to their own des-
truction. 1t is well for the country that they
did so. The state convention alluded to above
was composed Of good-looking men, and quite
large numbers Of them were gray headed and
venerable In appearance. They were the old
warehouses; Of the party-the disciples and fol-
lowers Of that old public iunctionary whose
name is now more despised by the loyal
American people than even John Tyler's ever
was, il that were possible. But there was
neither wisdom nor policy in their gray hairs,
and we fear none too much loyalty in their
hearts.
The truth is they commenced this cam
paign in bungling, impotic manner, and a
thimbleful of common sense would have told
them that they must be most terribly beaten
ct the polls, with such a platform and such
resolutions as they placed before the intelli-
gent voters of the Pine Tree State. Not one
single utterance, in speech or resolution. in
that assembly Of gray heads against the rebel,
of the South, who trample in the dust under
their feet the Stars and Stripes of our Union,
and spit upon that glorious old Banner of
Freedom which has been much respected in
every portion of the civilized globe, and to
which the eyes of all republicans, under eve
ry government on earth, are turned in fixed
gaze that shows how much they respect it and
how much they hope from it. But these war
horses OF defunct administration whose last
days were disgrace to the nation, were not
content to keep silent about southern rebels,
but they poured out their abuse in torrents
upon our government, or upon those who are
constitutionally chosen and sworn to admins
ter it. They seemed to care not how much
they weakened our government, or how much
they might demoralize our armies which are
periodically struggling to sustain the nations
life, provided they could ride into power, and
once more feed at the public crib But they
made a terrible blunder which has plunged
them into the lower depths of degradation
from which they can never rise. There let
them lie, and history will paint them in their
true colors. They will be remembered, and
future generations will hold them in utter
contempt 1t is dangerous experiment for
any political party TO array themselves against
their country in time of war, whether foreign
down, and an indignant people will keep it
dowE. Let them remember that. 1t is re-
markable fact In the history of political par
ties, that the Jameson wing, or SO large por-
ton of them, should have been drawn in and
swallowed up by such leaders. This wing of
the party was a short time ago in the majority
and it Is passing strange that they should so
far have yielded as to give the reins to the
Danaites, and suffer them to lead them TO
destruction. One would have thought there
were some Jameson Democrats in this city,
to say nothing of other portions OF the state,
who not only had intelligence but stamina
enough to resist any such alliance, but they
yielded in an evil hour, and must suffer the
consequences of being caught in bad compa-
ny. That thousands of loyal democrats were
deceived, there can be no doubt, and our opin-
ion is that they will not be so easily deceived
. second time.
II report be true, several of our Irish voters
were wrathy and quite loud spoken about the
Argus office on the evening of the election,
when the returns came in, and they found the
Democrats had been awfnlly beaten. The
Irish love victory aud hate to be worsted in
anything. Their instincts are all against such
dscomfitures, and their blood will rise. And
1t did on this occasion. There was some loud
talking, and several of them declared openly
and boldly that their democratic friends had
deceived them in regard to the election. They
supposed by what they had been told by these
copperhead leaders, that the state weuld go for
the democrats by an overwhelming majority,
but when they learned that the boot was on
the other leg, they became very furious and
condemned these false prophets and deceiyers
In no measured terms. The leaders must
look TO their laurels, or these sons of the EN-
erald Isle, with rude hands, will tear them from
their brows We trust and believe our
Irish population will not be again deceived
by such Inscriptions politicians These peo-
r,la haua haan So,aly o,,nraesad a.. A. ~