The Portland daily press., 1866-08-15
Gloomy Prospects for copperheada.


In the history of political parties in this
country, since the organization OF our gov
eminent, we have noticed that certain mem
bers of them-and sometimes prominent ones
have forsaken their first love, joined thelr
opponents, or attempted to form new organl-
cations, in which they hoped to secure higher
positions and become conspicuous Tor their
leadership In such movements it often hap
pens that a party is purified by desertion,"
while those who have gone to worship at 9TH
er shrines have not always become priests, nor
obtained the objects of their ambition. When
places of pelf and power are filled and
its mission apparently accomplished, We often
see some who have been prominent actors in
it secede and struggle to build up new Or
ganization on the ruins of the old. There is
unquestionably some ground for hope of sue
cess when a political party has forsaken the
principles which gave it popularity and be-
come corrupt and unwieldy. In such case,
seceders, if honest and anxions for their
country's good, may reasonably hope their la
bors win be appro BY vrtuous and intel
ligent people II such favoring circum-
stances the labor of reconstruction is COM
paratively easy, but if party has not become
overgrown and corrupt and its mission is but
partially accomplished, political aspirants and
cunning demagogues may launch their bark
in vain on the sea of politics, for the popular
breeze will never fill its sails; but it must
fnun1ar nd ciaI- ~, =,
like this, where the masses can read and write
and have good memories
The so-called democratic party must cover
up the tracks it has made during the past five
years, blot out its record and show to an in
telligent and vigilant people some good and
substantial reason for a change before it can
gain the ascendancy in the councils of the
nation or even hope for it. Those tracks are
yet clearly seen and that record is well remem-
bered. One generation is not long enough TO
cover them with oblivion It is the work of a
century, and even then the pages of history
will not let them die out. One philosopher
has wisely said, 'Woe, woe to that political
party that has crossed the war-path of its
country" And truer saying was never ut
tered by mortal lips. What if some members
OF the great Union party-and even the Presi-
dent himsel.-llave forsaken their first love
and embraced their former opponents? Does
that furnish any solid ground for hope of
success? Mo- a thousand times no If hun
dreds had gone over where there now is but
one, still their cause will be desperate. Such
men carry precious few with them. And
why should they have many followers? There
is no earthly reason for it. The recent war
has educated a people up to a high standard,
and TREY ra:,nvt be- hoodwinked by the, arts
ofdemagogues, however skilfully practiced.
The rank and file OF the great Union party
very well know how tn land lies. They are
not yet quite ready to strike hands with reb-
els and permit them to enter the halls of leg
islation and rule the country for which so
much blood and treasure have been sacrificed. :
The object of the Democratic leaders is as
plain as pikestaif 4 he people of the North
and West are fully informed in all these mat
tiers, and their eyes and ears are open to see
any object OF to catch any sound, come from
what quarter it may. They know and feel
-
been entirely finished, and surely it will not
be left for traitors to complete, even if few
who once belonged TO the great loyal party
are disposed to join in the work There are
some men in this world now and always have
been, whose political aspirations afford no
proof of patriotism. And the people have
been so thoroughly educated in the school of /
war that they know them like book. go 5ufs
Whatever the reputation of such men may
have been heretofore, the disposition they
now manifest to associate with rebels for the
sake of place and power, very naturally awak-
ems the suspicious Of the loyal voters that all
is not right. The people cannot be thus de-
ceiyed. They mark well the course of such
politicians, and fully understand their true
characters. Knowing how badly their works 4
smell in the nostrilso of the people, the Demo-
cratic leaders gladly welcome any one to their
ranks who once had some claim TO LOYALTY
and patriotism. They make much of such
acceSsons, but after all the only legitimate
result is the publication of the great Union
party by such assertions. 1t is not the first |
time that party has thus been purified
And we have an instance not very ancient in
which once powerful party has been weak
ened by desertion. 1t is fresh in the MEM
ory of all that the Democratic party q few
years ago was thrown into hopeless minori-
ty by the desertion of those who had too much
love for the old flag and too much respect for
our free institutions to remain longer men,
bers of an organization which was willing
that human. bondage shouh increase and q
Southern oligarchy rule the country. GA sh5
But thanks to those who broke away from
such party and poured out their blood and
treasure to save The nations life from the at
taeks ofSouthern traitors and Northern Cop
perheads They have their reward. The
! true hearts OF the country have saved its gov
eminent The battle has been fought and
bravery won, and those who have thus brave
" fought IA and goriously won are fully deter
mined that the legitimate fruits of the victory
shall not be lost to the country. a2