The Portland daily press., 1866-08-25
Aern's Eight Dollars per AMMAN, in advance.

tral representative OF Union feeling and loval
sentiment in the South, did, by his own exam
pie and advice, draw his devoted followers and
those who looked to him for support, into the
whirlpool of treason, and why, after the failure
of the rebellion, he justified it on principle, and
at the same time lends his name and influence
to the Philadelphia Convention then, perhaps.
the people of the North will be willing to listen
to the words of wisdom which fall from the lips
cf the ex-Provisional Governor of Alabama.
Mr.. Parsons is public speaker, but if in at
tempting to hunbug his audience, he had spok-
en- from the convictions of truth, which should
nave animated him, he would have reused at
least some little enthusiasm in his audience al
though it was in great degree composed of
CopPerneads and those who opposed the war
In snort his effort was a failure, notwithstand-
ing the presence of claquers skilfully posted
about the hall to respond to the ordinary sig
nal catchwords
Gov. Parsons closed his speech with an an
peal to the people to rally in support of John
son, and to cast their shields around him for
protection against his assailants, and thus pre-
serve the Union. one and indivisible. The
band then played "The Star Spangled Banner
in beautiful style. s.
Senator Doolittle then took the stand and
entered into an elaborate personal defence of
Andrew johnson. He evidently endeavored
to adapt himself to the locality in which he
was speaking, for he entered upon his eulogi-
um with declaration that Andrew johnson
had never, since he had been President, tasted
drop OF Intoxicating liquor. He declared,
upon his honor as man, that such was the
fact. This apology was in doubtful taste, for
the encomum was not appreciated by nine
tenths of the audience, and the other tenth
knew very well it was false. But it viii be re-
membered that this charge against johnson
originated with the copperhead organs.
Mr.. Doolittle proved himself the superior of
Gov: Parsons as stump orator, for he struck
the key note of the whole concert He argued.
with much demonstration of voice and gesture
that the policy inaugurated by President Lin
coin had been more than carried out by Presi-
dent johnson, inasmuch as the policy suggest
ed during the war by Lincoln in the case of
Louisiana, had been applied by johnson to all
the States. The absurdity of this pretended
parallel is evident. The action of President
Lincoln was avowedly an experiment, under
taken during the war, but the whole question
eft reconstruction was expressly referred to
Congress. Mr.. johnson lays down q line of
policy to which he proposes to adhere despite
of Congress and the people, and which he is
determined to carry out for the purpose of de-
stroylng the organization OF the loyal party
which elected himself as well as President Lin
coin to the first office in the nation. The speak
er went on further to justify and defend A. j.,
said that Congress had endeavored to force ne
gro suffrage on the South; most palpable
falsehood; fO- the amendment to the Constitu-
ton, proposed by Congress, leaves the question
OF negro suffrage expressly with the States If
they want their negroes represented they may
allow them to VOTE If not, they may deny
them the right of suffrage. Ia : aI
Senator Doolittle then took up new line of
argument. He referred in the usual dd captain
dins style to editorials in the New York Tri-
bune, declarations of Horace Greeley, speeches
OF Thad, Stevens, Charles Sumner and others,
as the platform of the Republican party. He
denounced the sentiments which he thus par
AIDED, as "incendiary," revolutionary "trea-
sonable,' &C. This Is the old device of the pro-
slavery party to represent the opinions of GER
tain men as the opinions of the people. If Mr..
Doolittle should announce that his own ideas
were identical with those of the people of his
own State, he would find himself very much
great injustice if we shonld attribute 20 the
Southern people the same ideas and opinions
that actuated jeff Davis, Benjamin, Toombs
and other prominent secessionists, in inaugu-
rating and maintaining the rebellion. In fact,
he expressly claims that the people did not
agree with them. Why does not the same rule
work both ways?
In short, Mr.. Doolittle entered most fervently
and logically into the spirit of the new party
and confined his argument to proving the con-
sistency and establishing the craftsmanship of
President johnson. His miserable failure in
this behalf may serve as warning to all who
attempt to follow in his track for alth 1ugh his
audience were, of course, for the most part dis
posed to go with him, he elected no applause
except when in burst of oratorical fervor he
delivered himself of some of the commonplace
OF stump speeches, or alluded in glowing terms
to the magic name of President johnson and
proved, or attempted to prove his consistency
and his devotion to the Union and the inter
ests of the people. The whole effort was un-
worthy of man of Senator Doolittle's promi-
nence and acknowledged ability. 1t was no
more nor less than a repetition of the speeches
on A. j., in which he has, more than once, tried
ffef fsf spH9tisHcs HaaHc a,saythle Sf the Senate
the speeches had been shorter and the musft
longer, the entertainment would have been far
more satisfactory.