The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-02

There is an old Latin maxim which men
sometimes lose sight of, especially when the
opinions of others are the subject of converse
ton. The maxim is this, Temporal matantu,,
ct nos nutGmar in ILLS. In plain English,
"The times are changed and we are changed
with them That there Is much sound phi
losophy embodied 10 this saying there can be
no question, and yet, when men in high official
positions change their opinions or modify them
10 accordance with the change Of circumstan-
ces, however honest and necessary those
changes and notifications may be, the philos-
ophy of this maxim is forgotten, and those
whose opinions must and ought to yield 10 the
pressure of circumstances, are censured and
represented as inconsistent
The man who never changes his opinions in
this changing and progressive world, and es-
pecially In this remarkable age, must be hope
lessly opinionated and very wise In his own
conceit. He who changes or modifes his opin-
ions can generally say with truth, Il am wiser
to-day than | was yesterday" And this too
in the humber walks of life. But what shall
we say of him who occupies high and com
handing position and upon whose opinions the
life of a nation may. in q certain degree, de-
pend? Shall man thus situated never change,
but always remain wilful and stubborn, how
ever much circumstances and conditions
weak and facilitating? He must indeed be a
weak statesman and embecile ruler who does
not watch the signs Of the times and shape his
course accordingly.
The attack on the President of the United
States for changing his opinion, made by cop
perhead Journals all over the country has led
US to make the above general remarks. 1t is
well known to all who have studied the histo-
~ of events during the past three years that
the President has been driven by force OF cir
cumstanees over which he had no control. to
modify, change and suit his opinions and ac-
lions to the exigencies of the hines Being
honest himself and looking to the great inter
ests of the country which loyal people had
placed under his care aud custody, he did not
believe there could be so much wickedness,
desperation and power in the traitor leaders
of the South as they have since manifested.
Thus believing, he did every thing in his pow
er TO placate the South, to show the people
that all he desired was that the rebels might
lay down their arms and the Union be restor-
ed, stata quo ante bellam. 1t was son that
line" he wished to prosecute the war, and he
repeatedly told them so, but how did the reb-
ell leaders receive it? Did they listen to his
expressed designs aud wishes and drop their
uplllted arms against the Government? Not
at all, but on the contrary, they nerved them
more strongly for the battle, and said in Ian
guage that could not be misunderstood. "We
wish TO be let alone-we desire no more union
with those who advocate free labor-we want
aseparate and distinct confederaey whose corn
err stone is slavery-we want an aristocratie
government which ignores and repudiates the
free labor system, aud we mean to have IL
however much blood or treasure 1t may cost.
II we can have such government peacably it
it is well, il not, we will seek it at the point OF
the bayonet and at the mouth of the cannon.
Such was the language Of the traitors in the
beginning OF the war, and such it has been
ever since down to the present moment.
But the President was slow to believe that
such was their determination, such their des-
peration. BE could not believe men could be
SO demented, so lost to all patriotic feelings
and emotions. so blind to the beauty and glo-
ny of the ''Star Spanged Banner" that had
won the respect aud admiration of all ciyilz-
ed nations, as to attempt to carry such threats
into execution. II the President erred at all,
his error was on the side OF charity, virtue and