The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-11-02
DAILY PRESS.
Friday Morning. November Q, 1866.
~ r r. TTFFTTTF5 900
Presidelt. or Dictator
PORTLAND,

Ibis country. Under different institutions
Napoleon, or Bismark, or Derby, may
reach political eminence, though no Tory MN
istry can hold its place more than q Few mohIhs
in England. But here, where all power ilows
from and at stated intervals returns to the
people. where the popular will is the inspiring
principle of the government, no man and no
set of men can seriously doubt the capacity
of the people for selEgovernment and con-
tinue to exercise any appreciate political in
nuence. The great middle class, intelligent,
sei-relant, honest and brave, is the safe re-
pository of power. Americans of this class
are so thoroughly persuaded of the justice
and righteousness of our political institutions
that they have laid down their lives by thou
sands for the Constitution and the laws. Is
it not plain that men who have learned 10
look upon the republican experiment as
failure, haze nothing TO hope from these
people?
We are not now speaking of the Southern
States. They were not before the war, and
are not vet republican States. No middle
class exists there. One of the wisest meas
ures brought forward at the last session
of Congress, was Mr.. Lynch's proposition to
allow drawback on the cotton tax in favor
of the small farmers. We must build up by
every means in our power an intelligent mid
of freedom. The poor whites lack independ-
ence. Southern aristocracy is VIGOROUSLY in
leeted with anti-republican notions. The
government which would have been con-
structed upon the cornerstone of slavery,
which the builders of the Constitution re-
iected, at least in name, would not have
been free government The men who
were convinced by force of arms that
such government as they desired could
not be constructed, have not changed their
opinions. They do not believe in the Arneri-
can system, and they look for future develop
ments which every true American, every man
who knows anything about the deep and solid
foundations of love and devotion upon which
our government rests, knows well are impossi-
ble Here is an illus t'ation, from the Rich
mond Tines:
Call it a despotism if you choose, but to this
complexion must America come at last, if rev.
outionary excuses be not arrested. In the
wldness of their despair, the people, themselves,
from Name to California, soiL, like the Hebreacs
of old aohen tired0f their prophets ctdnlor for q
King, whose strength and majesty and power
shall silence the turbulence OF the rabble, the
sedition of conspirators, and calm the troubled
waters of civil and political strife. Whenever
he comes and by force restores order, confirms
peace, qiells faction and prevents bloodshed
and anarchy, many perhaps will call him a
usurper, but he will in TACT he the saviour of his
country, and those who shlll accuse him of
destroying her liberties will forget that rsdi-
calism had destroyed them before he came up
ON the scene. i'H 10 5.ea eilr 1915
The people of the Uniied States have no
ton that sedition and strife have not been
wholly unknown in those favored countries
which enjoy the protection OF ''sayiours'' OF
this sort, called by many, as the Times admits,
usurpers. Let that pass. We charge that
this tnisconception OF the worth and perman-
ence OF the political institutions of this com-
try, is not only general at the South but has
infected the Democratic leaders at the North.
1t has infected many politicians of both par
ties, but chiefly those who were and still are
most closely allied to the Southern aristocracy
The Democratic party North despaired of the
country in 1861, and again in 1864. It could
not comprehend the patriotism which refused
TO accept defeat and marched steadily on to
victory. Its leaders could not rise above their
low view of the people as so many pawns to
be moved in their complicated game, and see
them as American citizens, with hearts and
wills OF their own, of infinitely more worth,
the poorest OF them, who lay in the trenches
a. =. a.. n l.
forms, than all the red-laced, well-dressed gen
tlemen who got together in Chicago and com
tortably voted the war failure.
Dean Richmond saw, when it was too late,
that the Chicago declaration was a blunder,
but he saw it simply as a false move in the
game. Such politicians as Dean Richmond
on one side and fhurlow Weed on the other,
are necessarily incapable of any high belief
in the worth OF popular Institutions. They
please themselves with the fancy that they
control the elections by bribery, and deceit,
and skilful improvement OF temporary adyan-
tases, and naturally despise their own handi-
work. DO they control The elections? How
happens il then that both Of them together,
have been unable TO manage New York of
late? Mr.. Seward, we regret TO say, shares
Mr.. Weeds contempt for the popular decision.
When the electors of Maryland cast the last
vote at Annapolis, they paid visit to Mr..
Lincoln, after which they called on Mr.. Sew
ard. He said, "Well, we have gone through
the farce of another Presidential election."-
Mr.. j. j. Stewart now candidate for Congress
in the Third Maryland district, inquired with
some surprise what the Secretary meant, re-
election as fair az any election that had ever
been held in the country "Yes," replied Mr.
Seward, "but then you know the best of us
have not more virtue than viii save us, and
the mass cannot be expected TO be better tEan
the individuals composing it," Mr.. Seward is
mistaken, for the mass is not Influenced by
the selfish motives of individuals. There are
not Offices enough, there is no political fund
large enough to buy up a whole people, and
their yefdict on the greatest questions, which
are always simple and always moral, is rem
dere1 with impartiality owhere else to be
found. Mr.. Stewart says it is well known to
all men who have enjoyed the privilege of IA
miar conversation with Mr. Seward, that he
is monarchist.
Besides the Southern leaders, there are
therefore two classes of Northeiners, who
nave no faith in the American people--the
politicians like Weed, who regard us as their
puppets, and set Of dainty gentlemen who |
with smattering of philosophy and history |
have persuaded themselves that this great and
victorious republic is a failure Both classes |
gravitate naturally to the Conservative party. |
the dilettanti by natural selection, and tbe
politicians because SO lar as they can see a
union of the South and Of the Democratic
party North is inevitable and will be irresist-
ible. Those who look rather TO the march of |
ideas than to the combinations which may be |
elected by political brokers ilIbelieve in the |
ultimate success of no party which fails to |
range itself on the side of equal rights for all |