The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-05-17
Thursday, the 2s,h Day of May,
The New Tactics OF the Opposition.


The New Tactics of the Opposition.
II is certainly thing both interesting and
instructive, at this particular time, when the
air begins TO grow thick with the shadow of
the coming conflict, to note the sudden in
terest manifested by the opposition Journals
in the claims of the several candidates Tor the
approaching Union nomination. One after
another they fling out their colors for this or
that prominent adherent of the loyal cause;
and the tone of wellsimulated frankness and
fairness with which they support their selec-
tons. must excite the admiration of all who
appreciate High Art. One leading journal is
greatly exercised lest the Republican party
should disgrace itself by ungratefuly ignor-
ing the eminent services of General Fremont.
Another talks glowingly of the financial abil-
tiles OF Mr.. Chase, every one of whose meas
ures, by the way, whether wise or unwise, it
has never failed to abuse. A third, in still
higher strain of generosity and seli-abnega-
ton, recommends General Grant as the candi-
date most sure of success by the popular
vote.
All this is very delightful and calculated TO
enhance our appreciation of the unselhshness
of human nature in general, and the opposi-
tion party in particular. Still, cautious people
will be likely to suspect the existence of some
kind of q cat under such surprising quantity
OF meal. They VIII worry naturally ask what
Interior purpose is to be served by this sue
den assumption OF interest in the affairs of
their opponents. Can it be that, grown des-
perate with the failure of many plans, per-
ceiving their fast waning power, they seek,
by sowing dissensions in the ranks Of loyal
men..to escape their otherwise inevitable de-
feat? 1t must be admitted that that is very
much what the whole thing looks like. They
know the value of the maxim, Divide and
conquer" They are wholly reckless of con-
sequences, for, like their friends and allies. the
secessionists, they have adopted the principle
of rule or ruin"
They cannot hope Of their own strength 10
break through that phalanx of loyal Demo
Gratis and Republicans which, compelled TO
contend on the one hand with open, on the
other with secret traitors, still stands the sure
bulwark OF liberty and law. But if they
could see it divided in its aims and its spirit,
then, indeed, their hopes would rise; and
hence this sudden interest in the matter of
Union nominations.
We cannot feel any great degree Of anxiety
on account of the direct effect of all this
special pleading. The recommendations of
these gentry are not of sufficient weight TO
carry with them any dangerous influence
But they do contain lesson which should be
needed. The fact that the enemies OF the
government labor so hard to SOW dissension,
should be a warning TO its friends OF the dam
gers which dissension must bring. And we
fear that this danger is not sufficiently felt
There are indications that too many of the
sincere friends OF the loyal cause do not ade-
quately feel the necessity Of union among
themselves. They earnestly desire the good
Of the country, the triumph Of the govern
ment, and the suppression of the rebellion;
but they want these objects achieved in their
own way.
Personal preferences, and that partizan
spirit which has too often been the bane of re-
publics, areiobviously allowed TO have an I'M
due influence. Men, the sincerity of whose
patriotism is thing beyond question, are in
danger of throwing away their influence by
subscribing to partizan ends. lie: every man
take heed that he is not thus made the nstru-
ment of the selfish and ambitious. The les
son of 1860, and the fate OF the once almost ON
nipotent Democratic party, should not be for
gotten. When dissension entered its ranks
he ca1 it's
OF the Union win do well to heed the warn
ing.
We do not propose to discuss the merits OF
different candidates for this undesirable hon
or. The inancier and the diplomatist, the
general who has done much, and the general
who has had no chance to do anything, we let
them all pass. Individually we are free to
confess that ii we have a preference, ii is for
the one man who, since this struggle began,
has never considered himself before his coun-
try. The man who, if he has displayed no
brilliant originality of genius, has shown him
self the embodiment Of the plain common
sense OF the common people; who has never
finched from painful responsibility when it
had grown to be duty, yet who never, from
vanity, or the desire to shine, has been eager
TO risk 10 hasty measures the precious inter-
ests conflded TO his care, but who. treading
steadily and cautiously the path of the golden
mean, has received from the radicals of both
extremes such an equal measure of abuse that
1t may be deemed the best tribute to the wis
dom OF his course.
But the main object is not who shall be the
standard-bearer in the coming conflict 1t is
that whoever he be, he may receive a cordial
and undivided support; that there be union
among the friends Of the loyal cause
The fate Of that sacred cause depends on
them. Let them, forgetting minor differences,
stand firmly, shoulder to shoulder, aud they
are invincible. But II they divide, there is
before them miserable failure which shall
make them the scoff of all the world, and
postpone to far remoter future the return of
peace TO our bleeding land. EPSILON,
Tho r,ronoeition m ,,nf a dt,tv On for