The Portland daily press., 1864-06-29
The Presidential Question: Viewed from
an Opposition Standpoint.

The Newburyport Herald has never reveal
ed the slightest sympathy for President Lin
coin or his administration. 1t Is, though can
did, an opposition paper. 1t entered its pro-
test against nearly every measure Of the ad-
ministration put forth to carry on the war,
that was likely TO react upfavorably upon the
Institution Of slavery. Ia view OF such facts
as these, Its testimony to the honesty, the a.
deity and the trustworthiness Of Mr.. Lincoln
becomes doubly forcible. To an Impartial out
slider the Herald is regarded as Democratic
paper and so classed. The following article
from Its columns we copy from the Montreal
Witness, in which paper it 10 favored with
this natural yet by no means unjust caption:
A Democratic View Of the Presidential
Question" Under this caption tho Witness
quotes the Herald as follows:
The administration has done many things
which we did not approve, and will not de-
fend; but we cannot forget the condition Of
the country, which has increased the difiicul-
tie, OF government beyond calculation; and
ia time Of war-especially = civil war, thss
threatens the national integrity--we will join
no iactious opposition. We deem 1t the duty
Of every man TO aid the government as far a.
he may be able. 1t is charged that Mr.. Lin
coin has usurped unconstitutional power. So
says Vallandigham aud his party, and so says
Fremont and his; and so We think is the
fact.
We are not surprised at this, for the gov
eminent is more a military than civil insti-
tuition at this time, and military power Is al
ways despotic power. BIT here we have q
positive advantage in moderate and unam-
bilious President. Ii MIR. Lincoln had been
Louis Napoleon, or even II he had been
Vallandigham or a Fremont, we might have
had no Presidential election In November !;
what has happened in France and Mexico aud
other republics, might have befalen us. We
feel under some obligations to Mr.. Lincoln,
that when he has been clothed with almost
absolute power, and the majority have unceas-
ingly urged him TO its utmost use, he has been
so moderate, so conservative, and 30 tena-
cious of old Republican torms. We are not
much surprised, in the fourth year of civil
war, to find that some innovations have been
made, and some constitutional guarantees re-
moved, as that anything of lawful freedom re-
mains. A people cannot enjoy everything
that is not the lot of any one nation. The
luxury Of war and the pomp of great militia
ry power cannot combine with simple institu-
lions and large civil aud personal liberty
The war or the Republic must come to an end
in time, aud that the latter has not persisted
already Is owing to the moderate capacity and
the unambitious aims and honest intentions of
Abraham Lincoln. Let US give him the cred
IL due.
These times are inauspicious. Let us real
lie the position, as far as we are able, and not
blind ourselves to the dangers that beset US.
The man that la other times might be desira-
Bile may not be the best for these days. The
first thing to be sought 10 safety-safsty In
peace, II it can 30 be had; or, II not, In war.
When the storm has passed there will be many
repairs needed on the ship Of State, that may
require different men; but for the present can
we find any safer man than Mr.. Lincoln p
And do We need any greater combination OF
talent than his cabinet affords? Let us not
ask ourselves II everything has been absolute
~ right; but would anybody else have done
any better; and can We gain BY swapping
horses nowy