The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-23
copperheads on the ANXIOUS Seat.


The Argus-that consistent sustainer of
the war of the past four or five years, and Wig
orous opponent Of treason (?)-in Its yester-
day mornings issue closed brief article as
follows:
The question to be determined Is viii the rad
icas ed the suggestion OF General Grant, or win
President? If they rash enough to do this look
out for sore heads In the radical ranks.
j Fools rush in where angels fear to tread"
The meaning ofthe closing line of the above
Is, that copperhead angels are constitutional
ly timid, and do not rashly rush into places of
danger whore their heads may get crushed
This is no doubt true; at any rate, if we take
the sacred account OF the first copperhead an
gel literally-the parent of the whole tribe
we shall find this idea borne out, for he is rep-
resented as making his first attack not upon a
strong man, but upon defensless poman, as
she was taking a solitary and quiet stroll
among the trees and shrubbery of the garden.
That "anger-Sfallen from his first estate"-
didn't tread anywhere, but, like his progeny
of to-day, simply cra,oled into holy places,
where his Shiny presence could but have been
regarded as a proclamation.
But our neighbor would better set forth the
present attitude of his copperhead friends,
should he say that where great ships are
wrecked or great confagrations rage, the
wreckers, thieves, scapegraces and outlaws con-
gregate, to take advantage of the misfortunes
Of better people. In hope that the party
which has rescued the country from the grasp
~ n na,,,oo.o 40 rabayl;on av,d oo1d,ctal IL
safely and triumphantly through four years
war, Is about falling apart, we find the whole
army of political wreckers, thieves, and pick
pockets, who live only for plunder, and who
have no higher idea of duty to ones country
than that Of gorging upon its substance, now
sharpening their teeth, and smacking their
bloody chops yet smelling rank of the fresh
blood of ULion-loving men, ready to pounce
like pack Of hungry wolves upon whatever
advantage may be taken of the weakness, the
folly, the detection, or the wickedness Of men in
power. .4 Ai+1
But we trust the day is far distant when the
American people will consent to confer power
upon such unprincipled men as those who
have constituted the political minority OF the
country for the last five years. We think the
country has had enough of such rule. The
voice of the recent elections has proclaimed
their everlasting Punishment from power, and
should President johnson be so foolish as to
throw himself into their embrace, his ruin and
eternal degradation would be as sure as is the
damnation of the men whose hearts are steep
in treason.
The Argus and other copperhead papers en-
tirely overlook the ground ON which the Re
publican party stands, tbs line on which it
will fight out the great issues now before the
country. That party was organized to actual
ize an idea; to establish great principle in
the practical life of the nation. 1t is ground
ed on rock, and not on mere changing sands.
Unlike the present Democratic party 1t re-
CARDS human rights as above all other rights;
it believes Justice to be more important and
much safer than jugglery; that principle is
above policy, and that equity should in all
cases be made paramont TO mere expediency.
This is exactly opposite to Democratic policy,
as now exempliied, in all respects. That par
ty is simply party of expectancy, looking on
and watching and waiting, Micawber-like, for
something to turn up" and 1t makes very