The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-06

long before the distinctions arose on which
Democracy and Federalism made their issues.
Those soldiers were befriended by all parties
except the tories, who lett the country, but
wlose descendants seem to have found the
way back in our Northern Copperheads-and
the Post may as well claim for the Democrats
a monopoly of the friendship for washington
as for his soldiers. The truth is, when we go
into the personal opinions of the soldiers OF
177e, we shall fine. that, Pike Washington, they
were not Democrats, and the Democratic par
ty seems to have grown out OF a different Ell
sment from that which rocked the cradle of
Liberty in the Revolutionary struggle of ITS
3d. .I, ,-,f.. .,e.,.l ~. ..s.,
But how the Democratic party have shown
themselves the friends Of the soldiers of 1861
IS is fresh in all minds. They revealed their
friendship by denouncing the war, by voting
against supplies, by Withholding sympathy,
by discouraging enlistmenss, by proposing to
withdraw our troops in disgrace and leave the
field to the enemies of the flag, by the most
persistent efforts to encourage the rebels, by
rejoicing over the defeats of our 'brave boys
ia blue" and exhibiting saddened counter
ances when those boys, rallying around the
I'D flag, achieved glorious victories. This has
been the style of friendship for the soldiers of
1851 which the Democratic party has exhibit
ell 1t is no wonder that our brave boys, with
} r ire exceptions, have been unable to see their
friendship. AITfig II
But what we wished chiefly to notice in this
connection, is the facts in the Iowa case, re-
erred to in the above extract. "The soldiers
IN Iowa have nominated State ticket in OPP
position to that of the Republicans" says the
P5st
This is funny. The facts are these, and we
don't see why the Post should have ignored
hem. s- ea 3o .aa Il iadin ff
A call was issued for convention of the
iowa soldiers. This call was signed by FITz
JOHN PoRTLR la dishonorably discharged
DlAcer, whom many think should have been
hot for his treason, and he was one of the
thief operators in the conventions mere
iandful-that responded to the call.
The soldiers of Porter's stamp readily obey
ID the call, and with them some others, hon
sst loyal men, who did not penetrate the film
With which the Copperhead manipulators
sought to cover their designs
But the scheme miscarried, for after the
Convention had been organized and its mis-
:hievous purposes began to develope, the loyal
,oldiers withdrew, and passed series of re5o-
.utions denouncing the whole movement. The
Post does not fndit convenient to recognize
his part of the proceeding. fs
The Democrats have strong affinity for
.,rtain class of the soldiers OF 1861. They |
we're friends of McCielIan-the commander
Who at Malvern Hill made his calculations to
iurrender his whole army and allow Lee to
lake Washington. They are the friends OF
fitz John Porter, who was tried for his treas |
onab-e conduct and dishoRorably dismissed |
the service. In Ohio at the present time, they
ire showing Their friendship for another sol
lier of 1861, by nominating and supporting |
Tim for one Of the supreme judges,-Thomas
4. Key, who happens to be one Of the Fitz
Ohm Porter style of army officers who EN-
oarrassed the government so much in the earl |
.er stages of the war. He was ANONYMOUSLY |
discharge from the service by President Lin
coin after the battle of Antietam. Comment |
5eems unnecessary.