The Portland daily press., 1864-02-01

VIM. Lloyd Garrison rs. Wendell Phillips.
No one can cherish more profound admi-
ration of Mr.. Phillips oratorical powers, of
his charming eloquence, of his conscientious
regard for what he thinks right, or of his hon
esty of purpose, than we do, but in candor
and sober seriousness it must be confessed
that his gifts are often displayed in manner
well adapted to trouble the truest friends OIL
the country, to weaken their faith in success,
and to paralyze their efforts made in behalf OF
their country's salvation II Mr.. Lincoln is
not as strong as Mr.. Phillips believes he
should be, will he put new nerves into him or
place strong hands beneath him, by weaken
ing the confidence of the people in his admin
istration? Can the country be saved from its
present peril except through the instrument
tally of Abraham Lincoln and his constitu-
tional advisers? Can slavery be rooted out
through the agency Of war, leaving glori-
Gus, united and happy country as the result,
unless the administration is made the instru-
ment of such u much TO be desired consum-
nation?
In view of the obvious and only proper an
questions, it seems to us that Mr.. Phil
lips, as man of foresight and logical mind,
should see that his constant complainings-to
use no harsher word-can have no other ef-
feet than to injure the cause he wishes to sub
serve; that the true policy of those who would
put down rebellion and make liberty and
Union one and inseparable, now and forever,
recognizing Mr. Lincoln as an honest, patri-
otto man, is to stand by and encourage him;
TO uphold him all the more ii weakness is dis
covered, aud to give the people the most hope
full view of the result. Mr.. Phillips is alto
gether too faithless; he lacks faith in Gods
providence he lacks faith in man himself
He evidently has the frInest belief in human
depravity, and ignores Matthew Henry's no.
ton, felicitously expressed, that "the best way
to make men better is TO make the best of
them"
1t is gratifying to know that Mr.. Phillips
does not represent all those who are usually
designated as radical men. Mr.. Garrison
whose consistency and anti-slavery feelings
none will dispute--it seems disapproyes his
course towards the administration. Itappears
from an article in the Boston journal that a
few evenings since, after Mr.. Phillips had in
duged in quite philippe against the Presi-
dent, declaring that "either the North must
rise in opinion unanimously, crushing the
President into submission, or we must have a
different leader for the next four years." and
suggesting that with such councils as those of
Chase and Butler in the Cabinet and Fremont
in the field, we ought to close the war in two
years, Mr.. Garrison "came forward manfully
ito the support of the President, and incl
"dentally exposed the notorious inconsistency
"of Phillips, to whom a public man is an an
"gel or devil according TO the within of the
moment Mr.. Garrison referred to Mr..
"Phillips' recent remark in Music Hall, that
"the Presidents character was sun so bright
shat we could not see the few spots upon its
"suriace--and tonight, he said, the gentle
"man had spent an hour in blackening Mr..
"I.incoln I'll over, styling him hypocrite and
"ready TO sacrifice the honor of the North to
"a sham peace. Has not the President gone.
'as fast and far as the people would sustain
shin? Mr.. Garrison continued in the same
"strain, intimatiug however, his distrust of
Fremont"
Mr.. Phillips owes it to himself and his
friends to be a little modest in laying down
the duty of the officers of the Government,
and for this reason: according to his own
confession no man has been more deeply in
volyed in error Of opinion than himself ON
grave questions of national interest; none
have experienced more radical change, and
therefore none have exhibited more falibility
in such matters. Mr.. Phillips admits that
four years ago he was a disunionist: that he
looked upon the Federal Constitution as a
pro slavery document, the bulwark of slavery
that needed to be overthrow that liberty
might live. Now he takes the opposite view,
is firm advocate and defender Of the Union,
regards the Constitution as the palladium of
liberty, and holds that its spirit is opposed to
all that is sayish and oppressive. With the
confession of such changed views upon his
lips how can he expect the people to receive
without hesitancy his dogmatic assertions?
We think he should be modest in hsassaults
upon men who have been more consistent in
their opinions, more just to the Constitution
made by ourfathers, and whose moral integrity
steadfastness in the right have inspired the
and people with confidence and led them to re-
pose trust in their wisdom and patriotism.
Mr.. Phillips may continue his sharp criticisms
upon the course of the Government, but the
people-the only soyereigns in this country
will still repose confidence in Abraham Lii
coin. and those who assal him will be found
biting file.