The Portland daily press., 1866-02-21
Principles. and not Men.

If ever political party was organized on
principle,-to actualize a great and grand idea
of liberty and equality, ofjustice and right
the Republican party was so organized. Itwas
the first great, efficient political organization
erected to stop the encroachments of despot-
ism, to restrict and confine the area of human
slavery and tosecure to all men in our broad
country, as far forth as constitutional limita-
tons would allow, the rights declared in the
Declaration of Independence to be inalien
able. N -" &c. =.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected in No
vember, 1850, upon the plain, distinct issues
then made, in that act of election was given
to the country and the world solemn pledge
that the expansion of slavery should stop, that
in the administration OF national affairs JUS
tice and right, equality and liberty should be
consul ted, and that henceforward under no
consideration or circumstance. should the ma
ton be disgraced by compromising human
rights, or by sacrificing principle to mere pol
icy. ..4 rf I'D .sf.l.. b =
1t was to work out this great mission of
Right that Abraham Lincoln was placed in the
Presidential chair; it was to defeat this noble
object that Democratic traitors sought to as
sassinate him while on his way to the Capital
and that they revolted against the authority OF
the Constitution and laws of the land.
For four long, weary, bloody years did the
nation struggle to maintain its life against the
men who, hating liberty and justice, swore to
raze to the earth that temple of freedom set up
by our fathers; and during all this time Abra-
ham Lincoln and the men who elected him,
proved true as steel to the holy mission COM
mitted to their care. Every man who voted
for Lincoln in 1860 opposed rebellion ana trea-
son; every one who engaged in rebellion and
imbrued his hands in the blood Of our loyal
sons and brothers, was an enemy of free insti-
tutions, an enemy OF true democracy, and
friend of that false and counterfeit Democracy
which is now represented by the Democratic
party. Not every Democrat proved traitor
Thousands and tens of thousands Of them
proved loyal to the flag; but every traitor was
a Democrat, and nearly every conquered trail
tor to-day is expected to support the Democrat
ic party. l ~"
In 1864 the Republican party was strong;
strong enough to nominate and elect its own
ticket while firmly adhering to the platform
on which it had started. But, as we think, al
lowing their love of liberality to get the better
of their discretion, the leading and controlling
minds in this party, to a large extent dropped
the name, adopted that of Union, and lowered
their standard SO far as to welcome to their
political councils and fraternity those who
were opposed to them on all points, except that
they were sound on the single question of de-
Tending the integrity Of the Union, and up
holding the flag against all contingencies.
1t was in this spirit that, at Baltimore, the
National Convention, while nominating Mr..
Lincoln for reelection, dropped the man who
had been his incorruptible associate during the
then pending struggle, and placed upon the
ticket the name of Andrew johnson of Ten
nessee, the bold, defiant Union man, who had
defied treason, and whom Mr.. Lincoln had
made military Governor of the state which in
its madness and treason, had ostracised him
and offered bounty upon his head. We assert
that it was not to strengthen the ticket that
Mr.. johnson was selected; it needed no such
strengthening. The name of Abraham Lin
coin was enough to secure its triumph. He
had been proved-tested as by fire. The pure
gold of his nature had been developed. He
had proyed true to the mission entrusted to
his hands. He had never deceived, never
cheated, never disappointed the people. He
was enshrined in their hearts; for him they
cherished a profound love. He loved liberty
he hated slavery, and he also revered the con-
stitution. Entrusted with more than regal
power he never abused it. Confided in as
friend he never proved treacherous. Loved as
father by the poor, the down-trodden and
oppressed, he never gave stone when they
asked for bread he never gave scorpion when
asked for an egg. We believe it perfectly safe
to assert that the majority in no single school
district in the loyal states was secured or even
influenced by any name upon the ticket ex-
cept that OF Abraham Lincoln. s1al
Why, then, was Andrew Johnson's name
associated with his instead Of man of the
same tried devotion to Republican principles ?
Simply as pledge to the nation that the Re-
publican party was not sectional, that 1t was
not, in any offensive sense, even partisan. The
nation was at war. II was struggling for its
life. The Rep blican party was a national
party it was inspired by single purpose to
preserve the national integrity, believing that
in so doingit, could best promote all those great
interests of our common humanity it to secure