The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-23
The Chicago Convention.

A severe struggle has been going on for
some time past among the wlrepullers OF the
democratic party in relation to the time Of
holding their Presidential convention. The
peace portion being DESTROYS OF having 1t on
the 4th of July, and the war wing, or those
who fear they could not win on such plat
form as Vallandigham. Wood & Co. would
postponed until the first days of Autumn.
Now the great Union Party don't care fig
when these gentlemen hold their Convention,
or who is to be their nominee. 1t matters
little to the loyal citizens who have but one
purpose and that is TO crush out the rebellion,
and restore the Union. There is a strong
current setting in this direction, and thous.
and such conventions as the Cleveland and
Chicago cannot stop it or turn 1t aside. The
people have arisen in their strength and
shown that the rebellion must be put down,
the Union restored and the Stars and Stripes
float over every inch OF our territory from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Lakes to
the Gulf.
Now why should the Union Party be troub-
led about these conventions? The great
mass Of the loyal people constitute the ele-
ments of this party, and they are bound to
rule in this Country SO long as the ballot box
es are open. And they mean to keep them
open and the old Flag of the Union floating
portion is loored in the coming9eonvention,
we shall have somewhat harder fight at the
poles next November, than we. otherwise
should have; bat In any event we are bound
TO win and by such a majority as will astonish
the leaders Of either wing Of the democracy.
Vallandigham has reached his home in Ohio,
and is making desperate efforts, in conjunction
with Wood and otheu of the same kidney, to
get the control of the Chicago Convention,
and to construct a platform TO suit them
selves and please Southern rebels. We hard
ly think they will succeed, and yet their final
success is among the possibilities. Many
shrewd politicians fear they will prevail and
entirely wipe out the once great democratic
party, SO that 1t shall not, after the ides OF
November, have either organization or name.
In our own State these Copperhead politicians
have had great sway, and controlled the par
~ to a very damaging extent, as the votes at
our last annual election abundandy proved
They have hung like a milestone about the
neck of the Maine democracy, and the great
est marvel is, why they have not been shaken
odlong ago and the appearance OF loyalty to
the government of their country Ia this Its
great crisis kent un hefnre- tha- naouia--rhs
rank and file of the party have made great
1850, ~ Say the ieast OF II. They have
been either too tinid. or else have been lack
Ing In loyalty themselves. Now we are re-
luctan. TO believe that the masses Of the dem
ocratic party are not loyal. In fact we do
not believe it. They have been deceived and
are deceived at the present time. There is a
charm in the name Of democracy, and II the
masks could be torn from the faces ofthe lead
ers, the spell would be broken, and thousands
upon thousands would leave them and join
the Union party. More or less are doing SO
every day. And if Vallandigham. Wood &
Co., prevail and rule the coming convention
as they hope to do, and may do, the Union
party will have but little work on their hands
in the approaching election, not enough to
call out half Of their strength. And even IL
better connsels prevail, the democrats will,
in some good degree, be compelled to bear the
heavy burden OF Vallandigham's REASONABLE
sentiments which are growing more odious
every day. The Boston Post fears the peace
party influence, and warns the democracy
against 1t, but such warning may not be heed
ed. The truth is, and it cannot be disguised,
SO many prominent men have left that party
since the war commenced, and there are SO
many Copperheads scattered through it, seek
ing for pelr and power in one form and anoth-
er, that it has become herculean task for the
leaders who still adhere to the old oiganiza-
ton, to keep up even the show Of loyalty to
the Government.