Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-06-25
Who arc For and who Against tho Gov.
ernment-

eminent.
At the present time, when party lines and
f~ac,ional interests have been SO well defined,
it REQUIRES but little discrimination 10 decide
who are the friends and who the enemies of
the Government. A few months ago the task
was not so easy, individual professions offeal-
ty to the Union being the only test required
for fellowship in the Union organization.
Each measure of the Administration as sue.
c~essivcly announced, has been closely scru-
tinizpd by a no inconsiderable portion Of the
Union party, to discover to what influence it
has owed its adoption rather than what end it
was intended to subserve. All measures for
the suppression Of the rebellion have neces-
sarilly involved some connection. directly or
indirectly, with the slavery question. In at
tempting to weaken the enemy BY such meas
ures as the confsca.ion Of rebel property or
freeing their slaves, the matter is not viewed
as it should b., in the light Of erpediency
alone, but is held up in every possible view,
to discover if possibly the Administration has
not been controlled by some influence aside
from the avowed and ostensibls motive Of
military necessity. The explanations which
have invariably accompanied these measures,
have gone for nought with this class Of peo.
pie. They have steadily persisted in seeing
a cat under the meal because they the consid.
sidcred it barely possible for one to be
there. This has been the great clog to
the Union cause, and has in many ways given
aid and comfort to the rebellion. A due
amount of caution is certainly desirable, and
if we occasionally meet with men who are i'm
bued with little more than a fair proportion,
we should rather consider it a misfortune than
a crime. We have never believed the Admin
~istration was controlled, even most remotely,
by the suicidal policy Of the radicals, and can
not but think that this has been apparent
throughout the progress Of the war. Greeley
surely said as much when he advised a con-
cession to such terms as could be obtained
from the rebels. Wendell Phillips reaAirmed
it in his speech at the Cooper Institute in No
vember last. The President has time and
again declared that his official acts were free
from any such imputation. IT. however, we
were inclined to ignore these proofs, is not
the action Of tho radicals in calling the Cleve.
land Convention conclusive evidence of the
fact?
Reference may not be made 10 only present
acts and professions to substantiate our posi-
ton. The past can serve as an infallable in.
dex to the incentives which now control its
scribed bounds both North and South, and
the fanaticism Of to-day does not materially
differ from that Of years ago. A dissolution of
the Union has been an object as dearly cher
ished in Massachusetts, for many years past,
as in South Carolina and Georgia. Extremes
can often work tremendously together when
by that means they have some chance Of at
tanning a common object, and we are not,
therefore, surprised that they can unite in the
same deadly opposition to the Administration.
The charges Of corruption, extravaganza and
fraud. come with equal propriety from the
threats of both extremes. They have all at
once made the glowing dis :overy that liberty
Of speech should b. allowed, and freedom Of
the press guaranteed. They are now con-
WINGED that the Administration is tyranical.
despotic, and about to invol We the country in
universal ruin, that the war is expensive and
carried on with an immense sacrifice of life.
In a word, the extremes have made common
cause against the true conservative Union par
ty, and have staked their chances upon the
turn Of the die. We find Copperhead news
papers Haunting the nome Of Fremont, and
singing praises to the very men who their
confederates a few years ago hung without
judge or jury whenever found upon the "a.
cred soil where Aourished in all its purity the
"divine institution" The German press and
German population. who have slways as a
class sung hozanuas to the slave oligarchy
which controlled the Government. we find a
unit in support of Fremont. Why is it? To
secure the election Oft Copperhead. or Ere.
mont who will serve their purpose as well.
Judging both parties by their past and pres
ent acts and professions. no one need doubt
the policy to be pursued should either be sue
c~essful. In the language Of one oftheir num-
Der: " We will then havet,co happy and pros
porous Republics. m which the hopes Of the pa
triot may depend for all time to come"
V'The people Of Oregon voted on the 10.
cation of the seat Of government, without de-