The Portland daily press., 1864-08-30

As We have said, we are no alaruist, and
would needlessly provoke no fears on The part
of our loyal people. But there is danger.
While loyal people have reposed on the hoii-
ness OF their cause and the supposed respect
OF the opposition for the great principles oil
civil liberty which underlie our form OF gov
eminent, the devilish spirit OF partizanshlp;
that spirit which Is more opposed to the ad-
ministraton than to the rebellion that spirit
which thinks less of liberty than Of party sue
cess, has been developed and is abroad in the
land, aud ready to fraternize with JEFF. Davis,
or to seize the torch aud knife to carry out Its
fell purpose II unsuccessful at the polls. The
LOYAL men should reflect upon this truth, that
they may measure in its full length and breadth
the new danger which menaces the stability
of the Government and the sanctity of their
liberties. Apprised Of their peril, they will
not need to be aroused to a sense Of their
duty. They are well aware that the efforts Of
the enemy, however desperate, can be turned
harmlessly aside by simple unity of purpose
and Of action. This is all the sacrifice that
Union men are called upon to make-that they
shall be united for the sake of the Union; and
surely, after the noble exertions they have al
ready made in behalf of this cause, they wi
not now falter, nor hesitate to accept its re-
sponsibiities.
The wicked bad men whose councils we have
spoken of, count without their host If they
suppose they can inaugurate civil war at the
North without having the burning chalice
pressed home to their own lips with fearful
force. The loyal men OF the country have not
made all the fearful sacrifices of the past to be
thwartcd by trsitors at home. God forbid
that the necessity should arise, but should the
necessity be forced uyon them TO meet rebel
lion in the North. before they will see all their
great efforts rendered abortive by PARTICLES in
their midst, our peaceful fields will become
red with gore, our cities become smouldering
rains, and the slain will be piled fearfully high
ia our present marts of business and places of
prosperity.
Should the opposition, by fair appeal to the
ballot-box secare verdict against the admin
istration, aud by constitutional processes elect
'peace" men to I'LL the places OF those now in
power, however much they might deplore
such result, or however much Of evil and
certain ruin there might be foreshadowed in
such an event, or however far 1t might set back
the index upon the dial plate of human pre-
gress, the loyal men Of the nation would bow
submissively to the fiat of the people; for one
of the first lessons taught in the school OF true
democracy is absolute acquiescence in the
decisions of the majority, which is perfect
against which the Government is now con-
tending, or that with which 1t is now menaced
by the Copperheads of the North. Such, in
brief, is the duty of loyal men; this duty they
would sacredly regard.
But should the wicked men of whose
schemes We have been speaking, failing TO sc-
complish their designs by lawful and constitu-
tional means, attempt TO subvert the Govern
ment, aud should that Government, by virtue
of such "ire in the rear as we have supposed
10 be embraced in the designs Of copperhead
leaders, cooperating with the armed rebels in
'front.', unfortunately fad itself compelled TO
give up its purpose TO conquer the rebellion
md to restore the authority OF its flag over
the whole land, it would still have one terrible
duty to perform. Before dsbanding its armies
in such an event, it would become its duty, a
duty IRON which it could not shrink without
mourning the contempt of all good men and
the curse of Almighty G ID, while leaving a
sufficient force TO guard the border and pro-
tect 1t against rebel invasion, TO turn tie rest
Of its force upon the enemies within its own
bosom-,he newly developed rebels in the free
States-and wage upon them relentless, un-
yielding, externinating war, so as to make a
clean thing, and give us a North free from
traitors IL we cannot have Union restored
free from rebels.