The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-11-14

been warned of the fate awaiting the men who
oppose their Government in time of WAR;
They have been pointed to the tories of the
Revolution and the Hartford Conventionists
of 1872. But they persisted in their evil ways,
SHARED no efforts to bring the Administration
into contempt, left no stone unturned- in de-
nunciation of men at the head of the Govern
ment and the commanders at the head of our
armies, while no word of rebuke was uttered
against JEFF. Davis or the rebels in arms.
On what ground, then, can they ask or ex-
pect lenient treatment? This victory has
cost too much. and saved the country from
dangers too terrible, to be lightly esteemed,
or to justify loyal people in regarding the
defeated party as friends, to be trusted If not
petted. We believe we speak the sentiment
of nine-tenths of our loyal population when
we say, that the leaders of the Democratic
party have placed themselves in a position
which forbids every loyal man to place conf
dence in them; position which cuts them off
from all sympathy. which entities them to the
constant suspicion of every man who loves
his country. They have denounced the Presi-
dent as usurper, tyrant and breaker of
constitutions. They have shown willing
ness to see him deposed to satisfy rebels.
They have proposed an armistice with traitors.
They have desired the power of the Govern
ment to maintain its own authority. They
have apologized for the rebellion. They have
defended slavery which is the great primal
of ho roho Thoxy han nsodf ha
administration of running the country. They
have labored to destroy its credit, to discredit
its bonds, to beget discomfort in the minds of
the people, and by such acts they have strength
ened the arm of the rebellion and sought to
paralyze the energies Of the Government.
But, thanks be to Heaven, their machina-
tons have signally failed. Love Of Liberty
has triumphed over their love Of slavery. 10y
atty has triumphed over their sympathy for
rebellion. The power of the people to govern
themselves has been gloriously vindicated, and
traitors South and their friends and abettors
North have been alike disappointed and dis
mayed.
Now shall loyal people, having signally de-
feated Mcclellan, adopt his mode Of warfare,
and fail to follow up their advantage, and thus
allow the enemy to recuperate their strength !?
We do not so read their will. Having spurned
the idea of an armistice with rebels In arms,
we do not believe an armistice with unarmed
rebels 10 to be granted fssA sesae
Let us be perfectly understood. The rank
and file Of the Democratic party are doubtless
as honest as the rank and file Of the Union
party. That they are grossly ignorant and
cruelty prejudiced we have no donbt. That
they are misled and deceived is no doubt true.
They have been deceived by q once honorable
name, and made to believe that the men who
manipulated the Chicago convention and con-
troll the organization, are patriotic men and
true Democrats. They do not see the wolf
beneath the lamb-skin. They do not look be-
meath the Democratic livery to see the red
handed traitor. To all such, the honest rank
and fle,-we would extend the fullest amnes-
ty; but for those who have misled them and
aimed only at mischief, we have no sympathy,
nor do we believe they will find much at the
hands of loyal people. Such men have
proved their unworthiness to be confided In.
and they should be regarded as dangerous
men, tolerated SO long as they keep the peace,
but in no case to be trusted with power.
This does not indicate the character Of all
the influential men Of the Democratic party.
| That party contains thousands who, though
they have acted not wisely during the cam
paign, though they may have acted badly in
many respects, now that the contest is over
and the public verdict has been rendered, sub
NIT with good grace, and pledge themselves
to abide that verdict like good citizens
Against such we have no word Of complaint
to utter. Let the argus place itself in that
category and it will no longer be held as a
public enemy; but SO long as its submission is
like that of a Gagged tiger, who froths and
foams and chafes, lashing the bars of his cage
with rage, and crashing bis teeth at his cap
tors, we do not believe loyal people will feel
called upon to use gingerly terms in charac-
terizing its position and spirit. ahfsaa