The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-04-11
The Instigators of Revolution.

The Instigators of Revolution.
A loyal people have not forgotten, nor will
: they soon forget, the sympathy betrayed for
the rebel cause by the leaders of the New
York Democracy in their interview with Lord
Lyons; nor have they forgotten the unmis-
taxable evidences that went to show the con-
nection between the rebel leaders at Rich
mond and the copperhead leaders in New
York, in producing the New York riots Of
last year. 1t is perfectly evident to men who
watched "the signs of the times" that, had
the battle of Gettysburg proved disastrous TO
the loyal cause, Lee would have marched upon
Baltimore, Philadelphia and other cities, and
a blow was to be struck simultaneously in
New York, Buffalo, Boston and other cities
to make a diversion in favor OF the rebels and
had they succeeded the copperhead party of
the North would no doubt have been exhor-
ted TO arms by the leaders, and to demand the
cessation Of hostilities on the part of Govern
ment, or, in other words, to demand conces-
sion TO the rebels and compliance with their
terms of peace. The victory at Gettysburg,
and Lees rout and defeat, alone saved the
North from such an uprising of the disloyal
elements in its midst.
Again the discounted northern rebel-sym-
pathizers begin to develope a spirit kindred
to that referred to. The New York Herald,
the very organ of copperhead diabolism, Of
very recent date-March 20-said:
Greedy should beware. If Gen. Grant
should fail in The coming great campaign,
4,.d r;r in he wi
be the first victim that will be sacrificed to
the vengeance of An exasperated and outraged
people.
Here is an ominous hint at civil war at our
own doors. But we have another even more
significant, because from paper from which
better things should be expected. The De-
troit Free Press of March 18th, 10 an article
headed, sis a Revolution Imminent?" used
this language:
In almost every State, men have been arrest
ed and imprisoned in violation of the Consli-
tuition and laws of the land, until there is good
reason for saying that the minority have little
or no reason to expect justice or protection at
the hands OF the dominant party. 1t was for
causes far less than these that the people of
England inaugurated the revolution which
finally cost Charles /. his head. I'm
less the dominant party change their policy,
unless the men elected to office and sworn to
obey the Constitution, which enjoins upon
them to take care that the laws are faithfully
executed-unless these men, we say, perform
their duty, and the party which placed them
In power sustain them in so doing. q reroiu-
ton sciu come, stceeping ouer the country
With the besoni Of destruction.
Who can doubt that in all this talk about
revolution impending the wish is father to
the thought" or that the men who so flippant-
ly talk of revolution in certain contingent
cy, viii labor to produce the contingency re-
ferred to? "If Grant should fail" The Tri-
bune very properly suggests that sunless Gen.
Grant makes it distinctly though quietly ur-
derstood that his orders must not be trihed
with, the fate of Pope, and Burnside, and
Hooker awaits him. II his corps command
ers presume that it will do to move at 4
o'clock when his orders say l-if darkness or
mud, or a swollen stream, will suffice to excuse
failure, or to come to time-then he is lost
And If 1t is not clearly understood that the
penalty of willful disobedienee is no tedious
and doubtful verdict of a court martial,
but death on the instant and on the spot, he
may read his fate in that OF several of his
predecessors"
We are glad Grant is wedding out the army,
and that men of doubtful sympathy for the
struggle In which we are engaged, are likely
TO be allowed TO rest from their commands,
while those only whose souls are fired with
patriotism, and who, like Caesars wife, are
above suspicion, will be allowed TO I'll posi-
tions the betrayal Of which might bring ruin
upon the loyal cause. To show there are such
men yet in the service, the following item
from the Tribune is in point:
1t is but two or three days since an officer
wearing the uniform of a Brigadier-General
wa3 travelling in the cars between this city
and Philadelphia, with four sailors attached 10
the United States Navy before him, and there
publicly, insidously, persistently, laboring TO
poison the minds Of those sailors with disloy-
atty by filling them with apprehension that
they might soon have negro officers placed
over them. And this at time when impor-
tant enterprises wait per force because sutli-
Gent sailors any color cannot be obtained
to man our new iron-clads and other National
vessels.
We hope the administrators OF justice and
those having in trust the safety of the Repub-
lie, will have their eyes on these prophets OF
evil, and see to it that they do not become
the counsellors OF rebellion, and let the first
hand raised in revolt at the North be the sig
nal for terrible example, no matter whether
the bolt fall in New York or New England;
In Detroit or in any other city. Vigilance is
the price Of Safety no less than of Liberty