The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-30
Has the Argus Surrendered to the Rebelsq

has the Argus Surrendered to the Rebels2
II the leaders which have appeared in the
Argus for the last few days are to be regarded
as true expositions of its present status and
future policy, then 1t Is quite sure that that old
and once respectable organ OF Democracy, has
apostatised, abandoned democratic principles,
become friendly to the aristocracy of the South,
aud Is now ready to abandon all forcible at
tempts to protect the Government from over
throw, or to put down Its armed foes.
Ia yesterdays issue it opens with the fol-
lowing
.Tne evidence which has recently come 10
our knowledge leads US really TO believe that
large portion Of the reUe leaders, II not even
the most ultra OF them, are now ready and
Gerry anxious peacefully to adjust all difficult
ties between the North and South, aud that
they tciH consent 10 do IL on The basis Of
restoration Of the Union. We say the evil
denee In our possession leads us to believe
that such Is the present state OF the case: We
might 60 further aud say that the evidence
almost demonstrates the TACT beyond room for
doubt, II such fact We're demonstrabIe In ad-
rance OF our actual agreement TO do it,
In the first place the above, beyond all ques-
tion or esvil, Is base attempt to impose upon
credulous people; false In every particular.
and the writer either knows il to be false or
else proves himself richly deserving Of halter.
he knows IL 10 be false, unless he is in secret
and confidential relations with the rebel lead
ers' Whose wishes he claims TO understand
which gives him advantages for Information
not open TO the people, or even 10 the Govern
menti and II be sustalns such relations to the
traitorous enemies Of his country. aud with
holds knowledge obtained from the ear Of the
Government which protects him, he Is as much
. traitor as was Benedict Arnold, aud as rich.
~ deserves = halter as s1y man living.
Bat the writer In the Argus kaosvs-for
though he may be knave we do not believe
hun fool-thAt be Is spreading falsehoods
before his readers, aud laboring to breed dis
content la the minds or the people by base
cheat and an nnmltigafed an inexcnsabIe lie,
prompted by a heart as full OF treason a. Satan
is full Of mslignity. The rebel leaders, be says,
are very anxious for peace "oR he bass Of a
restoration cfuse Union" He knows that
man Just returned from personal converse
ton with Mr. Jefferson DAvis-a man whose
word he Knows better than 10 doubt-Mr. J.
H. Gilmore, better known as Edmund Kirke-
gives the most unequivocal contradiction 10
this statsment Mr.. Gilmore says:
Jefferson Davis said to me last Sunday
land with all his faults believe him TO be a
man OF truth:l This war must 90 on till the
lsst Of this generation falls in his tracks. and
his children sieze his musket and fight our
battle, unless you acknowledge our right 10
sey goreraBaegt. We are not flghting for sla-
very. We are fighting for IxDEPEsDENcR.
aud that or determination we ,riH have"
10 the face o. this defiant attitude Of the reb-
81 chief, the writer in the Argus attempts TO
impose upon his readers the falsehood-for
mere purposes Of mischief and party subseryi-
ency--that peace could be secured at any time.
9th The Uaion restored, If Mr.. Lincoln would
consent TO it; and then he goes on to make
the war dlstastef by telling of the horrors II
entails as If these, bad and terrible as they are,
are more TO be dreaded than national dishonor.
Here is sample:
Look at the horrors of a three years war,
The sacrifice Of life, the destruction of proper
ty,-deserted fields, desolated houses Is
there nothing in all this to make the stoutest
heart quail ?-nothing to make it shrink from
Inc contemplation of three years more of such
eonnictr Who will escape from being crush.
Cd, Ia one way or another by its remorseless
jaws II u goes on for that time longer ?-Yes.
wao viii escape either North or South
There Is practical emphasis In this question
which goes directly 10 the heart of every
household. 1t carries the certainty that some
member OF every family-if not every one Of
military age,-will be laid In the cold ground
during that three years OF bloody strifea
We will not believe the editor-the respon-
stole editor of the Argus has written such ar
ticles as have given character to his columns
for the last few days, until we have additional
proof that such is the fact. Probably some
"soit head" has usurped his chair and appro.
priated bis quill; at any rate, the internal evil
dence Is abundant that that paper is now in
the interest of the most reasonable class of
the opposition, and that 1t is prepared to make
peace upon any basis that will put its party in
place and position, and make the slaye-whip
the symbol of our national power.
The following question we pressed home
upon the Argus few days since, but thus far
u has found it convenient to remain silent.
we again insist upon an unequivocal answer:
Wonld you have the Government of the
Uniied States propose negotiat ions with armed
traitors, or consent TO consider terms of peace
with them npon any other basis than that Of
unconditional surrender to the authority of
the Government and the flag thereof?"