The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-10
Fremont's Letter of Acceptance.

The letter ofacceptance of Gen. Fremont will
be found entire in this number. This docu-
ment is quite long and elaborate, and contains
very earnest bid for the White House, which
will not be struck off to him in the next Pres
idential race. Although he exercised all the
skill he is master Of to conceal his real senti-
ments and feelings, yet the most careless read
er cannot fail TO discover his motives. That
he has some "priyate griefs" to be assuaged,
and some little revenge to be grasifed, the
general tenor OF his letter plainly shows. 1t
IL a production that will not elevate him in the
estimation Of the loyal people OF the country.
The spirit that most characterizes 1t is one Of
faalt-fnding Heevidently magnifles the faults
he sees In others, and makes mountains out of
mole-hills.
We do not like the spirit that dictated this
letter, and regret exceedingly that he found 1t
in his heart to write it. We believe the time
is coming when he will regret it more than we
do. But we have no time now to criticise 1t
at length, although many parts of it invite
criticism. We close this brief article by quot
ing from the New York Evening Post the fol-
lowing just and truthful remarks. This able
journal is not particularly partial to President
Lincoln, and its remarks are the more inter-
esting and instructive on that account, for,
surely, it has had no prejudices against FIRE.
most. 1t sees, however, with q clear eye that
Fremont will receive but small vote OF the
American people in the coming election, and
that his nomination will have but slight il-
flucnce in stopping the current that sets SO
strongly in favor Of the nominees of the Baltl-
more convention.
1t seems TO us that the practice which po-
ltical parties are apt to resort to, In times OF
excitement, OF representing this or that meas
ure, or this or that man, as likely to upset our
whole system OF government and strike socie-
ty into chaos, is a bad one. 1t admits, in fact,
that there is no elasticity or vigor in our in
stitutions, and that any simple shock may
knock them Into pieces. Here, at home, we
understand all this we have been accustcm-
ed TO it for many years; we know how often
we have been on the eve Of ruin, and how
soon we recovered when the election was over
but they are not so weli-informed abroad aud
the effect thete is disastrous to the cause OF
| free government. Just at this moment the
effect is particularly pernieious. The liberals
OF Europe, for the fret time In their history,
are awakening to the true principles Of popu-
lar government, as founded Ia individual
rights and local selfgovernment. They are
casting off, as rapidly as they can, the old
predindices and errors OF Capitalization their
/ idea and Justification is the successful work
| ing OF republicanism on this continent; and
in spite Of the civil war, in the face of the
mistakes committed by the Administration
| they are holding us up to the admiration and
TO the imitation OF mankind. In the midst Of
this young enthusiasm, of this new intellectu-
al light, to be told by man Of Gen. Fremont's
erty has actually gone TO the dogs, is, to say
the least oft, to be regretted, on their account
| If not ours. M