The Portland daily press., 1865-04-04
Three Phases Of Dsmocraor.


ed through the public journals which speak in
its name. z.-eE-
Farst, we have phase of a truly loyal as
pect, which stands by the Government and
the nag, with no warm cr genial side turned
toward either the rebels or their cause. This
phase of Democracy has no exponent that
we are aware of in this state. The same is
true of Now Hampshire. In Boston it is rep
resented by the Post. That paper, under all
contingencies, has condemned the rebellion,
has never apologized for its leaders, and re-
joices at every signal advantage gained by the
Government over it. With such a Democra-
cy we have no controversy. True, it support
ed Mcclellan, but it did SO on the ground that
Mcclellan was truly loyal man, and would
do more than Lincoln to put down rebellion
and to re assert and maintain the authority OF
the Government over every foot of our soil
between the two oceans. A few days since
we copied from the Post an admirable article
entitled "Tne Great Hour at Hand, " which
must have found generous response in the
breast of every patriotic reader.
Second, we have the other extreme, repre-
sented by such papers as the Manchester, N.
H., Union, the Portland Advertiser, the Bos-
ton Courier, the Bangor Democrat. and other
papers in full sympathy with the rebellion,
which rejoice at Union reyerses and are sad
when signal victories crown our arms. These
papers represent the great controlling ele-
ments of the Democratic party. They have
m kind for ha Gou . flox hau
no unkind word for JEFF. Davis and the rebel
lion. They would evidently exult in the cap
ture of Washington by Lee, and put on sack
cloth should Richmond fail before the indom-
liable Grant. To them slavery is the all-in- all
of the Union, and without it the Union has
no charms and is not worth preserving. The
fnal fate of this kind. Of Democracy it is not
difficult to predict. Those who hold to it are
to be known in the future and estimated by
the historian as Arnold and Burr are by the
generation Of to day. Their names are to rot,
and posterity will rise up and curse their
memory.
Third. Between the two phases or classes
referred to above is still another, which is not
openly loyal nor is it openly disloyal; which
has no warm and generous word for either
party in the present contest; but which grum-
bles at every act performed, croaks over ev-
cry plan OF the administration or our military
commanders, which finds fault with every law
designed to meet the necessities of the times,
which complains of every duty as burden,
and doubts the success of every effort put
forth. Whioh hoo ITO T told Ror
miscarriage or failure, which sees beams in
the eyes of every official servant of the Gov
eminent, which magnides the errors incident
to huma ity, which clogs the wheels of prog
ress, which hangs dark curtains before the
windows of the soul to exclude the sunlight,
and which can see no hope except in the res
toration of the Democratic party to power,
and looks for no virtue except upon its own
narrow and repudiated platform.
This form or phase of Democracy is repre-
sented by such papers as the argus, which is
neither hot nor cold, neither loyal nor disoy-
al, but INDUCES itself almost perpetually in
sort Of sullen contempt for all who differ from
it in the direction of humanity and liberality,
and sort of fawning, quasi respect for those
who differ in the direction of the Advertiser
and other papers of the diaboism stripe. But
the argus stands alone in this state. The
Advertiser, the Saco Democrat, the Bangor
Democrat, the Machias Union and the Anson
Advocate all stand on the verge of Democra-
cy nearest JEFF. Davis and treason, outspoken
in their disloyalty, and respecting our neigh
ber's position no more than they do that of the
Post-which they have read out of the party
and less, probably, than they do that of the
Press and other Union papers, which are their
sworn enemies.
While the Argus stands thus alone-isola-
ted,-we feel quite sure its only salvation will
be found in stepping boldly out of its doubt
full position, and giving to the Boston Post a
warm, generous, whole-hearted right-hand of
fellowship. We know-as far as an outsider
can known-that large portion, and the best
portion of the Democratic party, deeply re-
greet the equivocal position in which they have
been placed by their unwise leaders. They
love their country; they hate treason; they
will stand by their country, and If they can do
SO in no other way they will not hesitate to
ignore their party. They will stick by their
party only because they have hope of it, that
it may yet come up manfully and stand by the
old flag without an sit" shut" or condition.
These men will be found the nucleus, the salt,
the SAVIOR of that party, If it is ever again des-
tined to bear sway. Depend upon 1t, the f.
o. ]. Smiths, the Ben. Woods, the Vallandig-
hams and men Of that class, can never bring
the party into favor Oh their ideas. Grant
them talent, ability, and honesty if you will
if men can be honest who occupy such doubt
full positions-but these things will not save
them. They are committed to ideas offensive
to loyal, liberty-loving Americans. They are
welded to obsolete notions. They have sworn
to make the interest of slavery their interest.
With it they must go down. Those who love
liberty will not go with them. Already in a
hopeless minority in every free State except
New Jersey, they will continue to sink like
men treading on quicksands, until the rising
tide of better civilization submerges them
forever; and forever they will remain at the
bottom amid the accumulated slime and ooze
of dssoving barbarisms. We hope our neigh
Dor of the Argus will learn wisdom, cut loose
from such sinking hulks, and join his fortunes
to the freshness and vigor of better dis
pensation.
Wounded in Maine Regiments.
mystic" the correspondent of the Boston
Journal at the Headquarters of the Army of
the Potomac, telegraphs the following wound
ed in Maine Regiments in the battle on Satur-
day:
Sergt D F Hinckley. 18th Me. sharpshoot-
ers; Corp Chas A Hadley, 1st Me. sharp
shooters, right leg "a Atridge. 1st Me head;
b Derling, 1st Me, head; A K Lord, 1st Me,
left shoulder; w S Small. LIST Me, left leg
Chris, Isenbard, 1st Me, left arm; Sergt N s |
Clark, 10th Me, head; Sergt James Davis. do, |
thinh !: Corn Rinha.d A. D.; |