The Portland daily press., 1868-07-16


We are told by gentlemen not accustomed
to make unauthenticated statements that sew
erai very prominent politicians in this State,
VINO have heretofore acted with the Democrat
ic party will take the stump in behalf of the
Republican cause, during the ensuing cam
paign. We withhold their names for the pres
emit, assuring our readers that when ANNOUNCE
ed they will occasion great surprise We are
also glad to hear from all parts of the State
that conservative Democrats of more or less
prominence make no secret of their determi-
nation to act with the Republicans this fall.
There are also some interesting develop
meDts in Massachusetts. Our readers will re-
member that in the fall campaign of 1866 Gen.
John L.. Swift of Boston spoke in this city in
behalf of the Democratic candidate who want
ed the place of MIR. Lynch in Congress- He
had been switched off the Republican track
by the Philadelphia Convention farce the pre-:
vious summer with Raymond and Beecher,
and like them he has now returned to his for
mer party associations. The Democrats of
Maine regarded him in 1866 as one of the most
powerful and effective campaign speakers. At
Republican meeting held in Watertown,
Mass, Tuesday evening, Gen Swift said:
He was now volunteer in the army who were
ehroiied under the banner of Grant and Col
fax He had found that he had either to swal-
low the Democratic nominations at Now York
or act with the Republicans. He had conclud-
ed upon the latter course, and intended to
SUCK, and ne only asked to be taken back
within the folds Of the Republican party. He
had always respected the will of the people.
and always bowed to the majority: and al,
though he bad had opinions, he had taken no
prominent part in politics since the fall of
IN nf lns~
believed were right, but they were misled by
their artful leaders.
Abiding to the Chase movement he said II
mad been most lamentable failure He oply
Knew lt came and went. Judge Chase was
the almost unanimous choice of the Eastern
ana Middle States, yet in the convention he
had received but half vote, and that from
California, until on the last day few stray
elng votes had come to his rescue. All CON
coded his talents and his availability. and all
admired his loyal course during the war. The
reason OF the failure of the convention at New
\ ork to support him was that he was tabooed
py tne rebels OF the South and the copper
heads of the North for his course for the mast
twenty years, and because he had lent his aid
IN Kidding the country of the crime and the
curse OF human bondage. When they struck
MN down they struck down the man who had
an lneradicable love of liberty and iustice =
The action of that convention settled the con-
Victions OF thousands. The Democrats have
opened the debate on the question whether
Ine loyal race OF this country shall become
iree men, or whether the emancipation from
the lash b! the war is mockery and cheat.
Han million voices had already proclaimed
i0r Grant and Colfax. He had been told that
the Democratic party was for economy; but il
was not visible to him. Gen. Swift challenged
tne production of more Jacobinism than that
shown in the Democratic schedule for the
next four years. Grant had captured Lee, and
they had supposed the war was over, but it re-
manned for the Democratic rabble to make the
last ditch. After two years of conservatism
ne had concluded that the radicalism which
favored equal rights to all was preferable to
the Jacobinism of the Democracy.
=, Copperheadism was never so rampant as in
the late New York Convention. The trouble
with Frank Blair, the speaker said, is that he
mas white man on the brain. He had hoped
ana expected something from the Democratic
Convention, but they had thrown into their
platform the venomous gall of apprehension,
and ne could not stand it any longer. He adj
vocated the holding up to popular scorn and
execration the doctrines and policy of the
Democratic party, and he had come back to
tne OLD party to help settle the question of the
sham democracy. He was now, first and last
ana always, for Grant and Colfax, and he pre-
elcted they would have the pleasure of gather
ing at Iae funeral of Democratic copperbead-
ism in November next