The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-08-26
BIDDEF0RD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING,
niencc and lacquey Of the slaveholding trai-
tors would be monstrous crime. "Tako
any form but that !"-N. Y. Independent.
Critioising the Administration.

Whatcvc, may be urged theoretically. il is
plain enough that practically the interests. of
the government cannot now be separated
from the administration entrusted with the
management ofnff.irs. The opposition par.
ty ridicules this idea, and claims the right to
criticise, with the utmost freedom, the Presi-
dent and his advisers, the conduct of the
war, and the policy which aims ut recon-
struction of the Union. We do not know
that anybody at tho North disputes the rights
of free speech and free press, and only when
they have degcnerated into license danger.
Gus to tho country have these vituperative
fault-fhders been put to silence. BY all
means lot there be, in the right spirit, free
discussion OF the important questions of the
day; let tho intelligent opinions Of men M
well rs their actions aid in the speedy sup
preston of the rebellion and tho restoration
of n permanent peace. II mistakes nre made
let them bc pointed out and way suggested
to avoid them in the future.
But tho opposition party have no sugges-
ton to offer that can benefit the country, and
their fault.finding is not for the overthrow of
the rebellion, but the displacement of men
who hold coveted offices. They know that IL
the government is successful the admnistra-
ton will be strong, and they hope to win the
election by spreading discourascmcnt and
distrust. Their interests are not with tho
Union. A Union failure is so much poiti.
cal capital to be used in the approaching po-
litical campaign. a Union victory is 10 them
prophetic Of defeat at the polls. SO they are
not satisfied with weakening the influence of
the administration, with assaulting the Pres
idcnt and his supporters, but they set them
selves busily ut work to spread disiffection
among the people by studied misrepresenta-
tion of facts, thereby directly giving aid and
comfort to the enemy.
II has been said again and again, that
there can be hut two parties, one for the gov
ernment and tho other against it. How do
party lines divide men now? On one side
stand the supporters of the administration NJ
They believe the war must be prosecuted
with untiring vigor until u peace is conquer
sd. They believe that till slavery is sabolish-
cd there can be no permanent settlement of
the dispute between the two divided sections
of tho country. And therefore they lend
their whole energies to maintain the author
ity of the government by recruiting it's AR
mics, by furnishing tho means of carrying on
the war, by spanking wherever and whenever
they can word of encouragement, looking
beyond the evils which the enemies of the
eonntry have brought upon it. to the inesti-
mablc advantages ofa restoration of the Un-
ion upon thuse principles which its founders
intended should underlc it. -
Opposite to these stand tho opponents OF
tho administration. They clamor for peace.
They propose an armistice for the purpose ol
negotiating with the rebel States. Thoy are
ready to restore the institution of slavery,
placing il where il was before the rebellion.
They hops by concessions to the slave power
to gain strength for party, and are rcadyt to
barter away the government in exchange for
its Offices. These men discourage cnlistments,
seek to depress the value OF tho currency, and
by holding before the eyes OF the people the
evils that are present, try to shut out tho
greater evils that are certain to Opprcss them
in the future. The success OF this party will
be triumph Tor tho confedcracy.
There are periods of dependency when it
seems us il little progress was being made to.
wards suppression Of tho rebellion. But it
is to he constantly borno in mind that victo.
ry will be secured only by persistent fighting
At this moment there is needed all the unit
cd efforts of the people to give tho finishing
blow to thcrcbelion. To pause in the work,
to change the policy Of tho government, is to
yield to tho confedcracy. There is no royal
road to peace; certainly. it does not lilo in
the direction the opposition party is travel
ling.--New Bedford Merc,~v.