The Portland daily press., 1864-03-28
Monday Morning, March %, 1854
The National Convention.

York Tribune,-to September, or at any rate
to a much later day than that fixed upon
The Evening Post favors postponement, and,
as stated in paragraph in the Press Satur-
day morning, urges some good reasons for
such action, though upon careful consider
alton OF the whole matter, we think that much
better reasons may be given why postpone
ment should not be thought of.
1t cannot have escaped the attention Of
every careful observer, that the tide is al
most wholly in one direction, and that is in
favor Of the reelection of President Lincoln.
Nearly every free State has spoken on this
matter, either by the voice of its legislature
or by a convention, aud in no single instance
has there been expression Of any considera-
bic Significance, except for Mr.. Lincoln. Ii
the convention wereao meet to-day we doubt
If formal ballot would deemed be necessa-
ry; Mr.. Lincoln would be nominated by gen
eral acclaim.
Whit then is the object of long delay p
Who Is most urgent in the advocacy of such
delay? II cannot be denied that those who
insist upon delay are the men most commit
set OF ths popular carrent-lnd they seek de-
lay mainly that they my have opportunity
to make Roadway with their opposition, and
to increase the prospects Of Gen. Frem )nt, or
some other as yet annamed man, M. Chase
haviag declined TO have his name used for any
such purpose. To delay the convention is to
give advantage to wire-pullers and trading
politicians; il is TO give opportunity to coun-
terwork tho prevailing public sentiment; it is
to carry .hc convention into close proximity
to the fall elections, and thus TO complica,e
the ISSUES that viii engage public attention.
We believe the opposition to Mr.. Lincoln,
though bitter aud INSCRIPTIONS, as indicated
by the PoIefoy circular and the rev Free
molt paper ia New Y DIRK, is nevertheless very
weak, aud vii make but contemplate show
of hands before the people; still, il it be as
strong as sone parties would have Us believe,
the sooner the question OF a nomination is set
tied the better, and for this reason: great
many are to be disappointed, and time will be
needed to compose the elements disturbed by
the nomination, aud 70 give them opporiuni-
ty to settle down under the "sober second
thought"
We are aware that some have urged that
the operations Of the coming military cam
plgn Will have been little more than well be-
gun in the first week 10 June, aud the whole
attention and energy of the people up to aud
beyo2d Tat time should be given to the work
of furnishing men, money and support to the
government in the work OF conquering the
rebels; that Presidential canvass will dis
tract the public attention from the one impor-
tant object which should engross it, and bring
into action those elements Of political oppo-
sition, strife and recrimination which the vel
fare Of the country demands should he as far
as possible restrained, while postponement Of
the convention until September would leave
the country to devote its whole energies to
the summer campaign, which we may hope
will develop results which would enable
the people to enter into the Presidential cleo
ton with better spirit and still greater unan-
unity than now prevails.
We confess our inability to see the force Of
such reasoning. Judging of what will be in
the future by what has been in the past, results
argument for delay will be likely to arise. We
know-eyerybody who has watched the pro-
gress of political campaigns knows-that the
elements of political opposition, strife and re-
elimination always exist in the fullest widest
and most unreasonable measure before the
nominations are made, and at once begin to
settle into calm when such action has been
finally settled.
If the Union men areas some would have
us believe-to BE- thrown into confusion, TO
have their ranks broken and become de-
mora!ized" by the results of the convention,
there should be time left TO restore harmony,
to close up the ranks and to consolidate pub
lie sentiment. The moment the result of the
convention is known, that moment all sores
will begin to heal, and the divided clements
commence the process OF harmonizng Such
papers as the n. Y. Post, though perhaps not
fully gratihed with the result, would tall back
upon their uns werving devotion TO the Union
cause, aud at once and enphatically counsel
hlrmoly, aeqliescence, and union Of purpose
and of action; while iaciious spirits,-should
any such be developed, -istermined TO make
trouble and To fomsnt discord and discomfort,
would have ample time to become "played
out" and to accomplish their own destruction.
LII Mr.. Lincoln is renominated early in
June, before the early fall elections take
place, the Uaion men OF the nation will be-
come as solidly con3aeted as a well disciplln-
ed army, and those who are now moving
heaven and earth to secure a different result
viii be compelled to fall into line or to be re-
garied a, part aad parcel of the common
enemy. So, too, should another man than
Mr.. Lincoln receive the nomination by fair
a1i honorable means, unanimity of sentiment
and Consolidation OF eh3rt will have time 10
become facts ia his favor. There can be but
two parties while this war lasts, patriots aud
traitors. WAen the former, by fair expires
sion decide who is to be their next standard
bearer, those claiming 10 be Of them but re-
fasiug 70 act wits them, must be classed with
the other party.
We cannot more fltingly close this article
thaa with paragraph from Gen. BOWS recent
speech. We feel that the rebel leaders them
selves should know at an early day that the
policy of our Government in relation TO the
war Is TO be neither abandoned nor essen
italy modified. They are watching our d.
visions on the Presidentiani question with in
f.hfaa.a Int 49, n