The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-14
Adhere to First Principles.

AS secretary seward recently remark
ed, we are unwilling to believe that the
country is again in peril, or that principles ad-
verse to its welfare will be triumphant; be-
cause the people are the real rulers, AMI they
have been tried too sorely to lightly tritter
away dear bought victory. But it is well
enough to understand that there is a combin-
ed effort being made to restore the old order
of things, when jeff. Davis, Jim Buchanan,
Howell Cobb and Floyd administered the
government. That such an effort will be sue
cessful we do not believe; but if it does sue
ceed, that our blood and treasure will have
been wasted, is our firm conviction. The
source of danger is not in the copperheads or
the rebels, per Sc; alone or combined against
the united efforts of the loyal element, they
are pOwerless. But there has been inaugural
ed systematic endeavor by those whose inor-
dinate vanity or ambition overrides their pat
riotism, to divide the counsels of the loyal,
and build up for themselves party to contin-
ue them in power. Andrew johnson was not
warm in his seat before he commenced to in
trigue against the men who had fought the
rebellion 10 a close. in order to gather around
him such elements as should make him Presi-
dent tor a second time, and with prophetic
power he declared that treason should be
made odious! 1A - o- -'-+--
elbow, blow, thou winters wind, thou art
not SO unkind, as mans ingratitude." Find
ing that the Republican party loved principles
better than men, and that they already had
too many illustrious men for him to be a
leader above all others, Mr.. johnson deter
mined to destroy that organization that had
successfully fought rebels in front and copper
heads in the rear, and on the ruins build a
party that should acknowledge him as sec
ond Lincoln. Will his basely conceived effort
succeed? 1t was said of ULYSSES, "Vetulam
suam praetulit inanaortdlitati"-he preferred
his old woman TO Immortality. johnson had
an opportunity to choose between an immor-
tai fame, or a notorious position in history.
and he has chosen the latter. The sooner
the Republican party washes its hands of him,
the better it will be for them.
No man ever owed more to his party press
than has Mr.. johnson. They have stifed
their disgust OF the mans inebriety. egotiSm
and wilmlness, and have tried to forget his
traitorous course in administering the govern
ment, catching at his professions of loyal
purpose, to fatter themselves that he meant
well, and all things would come out right in
the end; and in this forbearance we claim as
much credit as any one else. But he has sys-
tematically belied all his former professions,
and his promises have turned to ashes on his
lips. He has shown a settled purpose to des-
troy the men who were fools enough to NOM
mate him for Vice President, to bargain away
what has been purchased at such fearful
cost, and to stake all upon the die of restoring
his old associates to supremacy in the govern
ment, and paying premium on treason.
Our safety is not in flight, nor in passive
acquiescence to his dictation; but as faithful
custodianS and supporters OF the foyal ideas
that sustained our soldiers upon the field,
united us at home, and in which sign the
American people conquered, we must not frit-
ter away our opportunities. The sooner the
Republican party make up their minds that
Andrew johnson is lost to them, and that
their duty is to defend their principles to the
last extremity, the better it will be for them.
At our coming State Convention, let us take
no milk and water position. Let the issue of
the election be SO positive that the wayfaring
man, though fool, can read the verdict. And
let us forever and forever Danish from ON
councils that disgusting advice of conciliation
which made Andrew johnson our candidate
for Vice President. No man must be thought
of as candidate for Governor who is not a
positive man, and who is not by his past
as well as present political career, fully identi-
fed with the Republican party.