The Portland daily press., 1864-06-03
The Mum Convention.
COMMITTEE.

For the second time in its history the once
invincible Democratic party OF Maine has
been together in State Convention, and ad-
journed like "dumb dogs" making no sign by
way of resolution or enunciation of plat
form Of principles. About ten years since
the same party held a convention in this city,
and as a convenient way Of cutting clear
from the dead weight ola previous nominee
Albert Pillsbury, the candidate of one years
standing and entitled by usage to a renomin-
ation-Gen. w. b. S. Moor proposed to nomi
nate Albion K. Paris, by reclamation, and to
adjourn without any "entangling alliances" in
the shape of resolutions. 1t was done; and
the delegates went home to share in the gen.
eral modification and humiliation which the
masses felt at such an inglorious dodge to
get rid of corrupt candidate. That year,
when the people were heard from at the polls,
the Democratic star was found SO far below
the horizon that no refracting or rejecting
power was sufficient TO make even the slight
est twinkle visible. So it will be again.
The party assembled at the City Hall found
itself in the situation of the fellow detected
WIN MS nanus auu ncau -zz<fs,a,o.,--
pork barrel; it had nothing TO say. If IL
spoke it must say something, and there was
the rub; for how could it say anything that
would be satisfactory to both wings? Judge
Rice, Mr.. Haines, Mr.. Bradbury and Mr. KIM
ball, with their lukewarm, qualified, diluted
patriotism; in favor OF the war but opposed to
all means of prosecuting it with vigor willing
to spend the last dollar and the last drop OF
blood but constantly harpng against taxation
and expense, blood and carnage, - would
scarcely be satisfied with the bold, outspoken,
unqualified treason of Boynton, Dana, Emery,
Hudson, and Frank Smith. They could sit
still without indignation and without Kissing,
simply as matter OF prudence withholding
applause, while such fellows as Dr. Mann in
yoked Disunion as the short road to Peace,
and f. o. j. Smith ridiculed every means by
which the expenses Of any war can be carried
on, and was ready to welcome Peace, no mat
ter from tchdt quarter IL might comei
Surely there was good reason why no res
olutions should be passed. They acted upon
the prudential maxim; "the least said is short
est mended." Like the sailor in the storm,
who prayed first to Deity and then to the
Devil because he didn't know whose hands he
should fall into, they also were in similar
quandary. They don't know whether they
have got to hurrah for starred candidate
like little Mac" who is complicated some
what in this unholy war;" or whether they
may have TO don the emblems of Peace, and
swear by the martyr who is now just over the
line from Detroit, watching and waiting be-
yond the border" Under such circumstances
"mum" must be the word; no other would an
swer; any other might get their feet in past
easy extrication, and render it necessary for
them to subsist by eating their own words in
bitterness and sorrow.
But fortunately there was one thing In
which all we're agreed. They all uanted place.
The nice little programme fixed up at Bangor,
and proposed by Mr.. Rawson, of that city.
would have given all the honors to the old
Breckinridge-Dana wing of the party, while
the ,Douglas-Janeson men who have crawled
into bed with those who kicked them out
three years since, would be left out in the
cold. This would not do. 1t would DESTROY
the harmonies of the body. Compromise
cherished and democratically canonized word
must be resorted to. Mr.. Kimball proposed
1t. Give US a large, well-distributed commit
tee, and let them consider the whole matter.
and recommend to the Convention a list of
such men as will-what? Represent any set
Of principtesf be the opponents of any qicen
poticyf Not bit of It'll But such men as
will harmonize The party, and thus restore it
to poscer, so that it can once more have charge
oil the fayors, and deal them out fairly to par
ty friends!
90 the committee was formed consisting of
men proiessedly as opposite as heaven and any
other place you please,-C. p. Kimball and
Marceus Emery, Bion Bradbury and Henry
Hudson,-and these men get tocetber and
spend two hours in doing what9 In quarrel
ing over few bare domestic see who shall
have the empty honor of going to CHICAGO 70
represent powerless party in that Conyen.
ton! And did they stand on any principle
in thus contending? By no manner of means.
The committee, like the convention, ignored
principle, and simply went in for an equitable
division of honors, and SO they agreed upon
two intense copperheads; two of the most in
veterate of the old Breckenridge party, who
refused in 1861 to pass resolution endorsing
the war even so far as necessary to suppress the
rebellion and to maintain the authority of the
Federal government, and two who claim 10
be supporters of the government aud in favor
OF prosecuting the war-two men who indig-
nantly refused in 1861 to act in concert with
those with whom this convention has associat-
ed them.
Say there was suy principle governed the
action of such committee or such conyen-
tionP Preposterousl The only principle was
that OF spoils, and the only question consider
ed was whether one wing should have both the
loaVes and the fishes, or whether it should