The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-09-11
THE PRESS.
Saturday Morning, september II, 1863
The Dupes of Democracy.

1t is hard thing to say, but events VIII
Justify the assertion. that those Republicans
who nropose to vote for Mr. Hichborn for Gov
ernor and the third party candidates for coun-
ty officers and town representatives, and who
actually carry their intentions into practice on
election day, are, willingly or otherwise, the
dupes of the Democratic party.
The fact may not be apparent to those gen
tlemen now, but the statement is nevertheless
true, and is well understood by all disposition
ate observers of political affairs.
Were all the principles for which the Re
publican party was organized engrafted INTO
the constitution and laws of the country, were
all the issues growing out of the war settled
finally and forever, were it impossible for the
Democracy to undo the glorious work of the
last few years, and rob the country at last of
the fruits of all its agony and blood and toll,
were reconstruction an accomplished fact, the
smouldering embers Of secession trodden out,
the ghost of reputation laid, the past with
all its triumphs and achievements made eter-
nally secure then might these gentlemen
justify the abandonment of their old party as
sociates, without reproach to themselves or
peril to their country.
But how does the case stand? Have Re-
publican principles become the settled and IT.
revocable policy of the country? Has all the
precious fruit of our dreadful struggle been
safely garnered? Is the 18th Amendment
sure to be adopted? Is the idea and doc
trine of reputation a mere Pigment of the
Democratic brain? Has the Republican par
ty perfected all it has MISUNDERSTANDING
TALLY accomplished its sublime mission and
brought it to satisfactory close? Are the
faithful thousands who have stood by the Or
ganization in storm and sunshine, from its
first inception until now-the noble, sef-de-
nyng, unselfsh men who have wrought and
toiled so long and hopefully for the establish
ment of justice and the advancement of the
human race,-kept together now by the ties
of friendship and the force of habit only I?
Are the survivors of those who at their coun-
try's call crowded the pathway to the grave as
to a festival, and on land and water fought
with matchless valor for the preservation of
the country, and who now in the Republican
ranks keep watch and ward, or stand as SEN
tinels upon the watch towers of our political
Zion, wasting their time and strength and
generous enthusiasm in keeping up a vain,
unnecessary show? Do the situation of af.
fairs, the events of the day, or the probabili-
ties of the future, justify the abandonment of
the Republican party at this time, and the
formation of new one, destitute of national
influence, powerless of itself to practically
aid any cause, however good, and deriving its
chief, and indeed its only claim to considera-
ton and Importance from the fact that it les
sens Republican majorities, gives aid and
comfort to the enemies of reconstruction. the
friends of reputation, and the disciples and
followers of Vallandigham, Seymour, Brick
Pomeroy, the Eastern Argus, Bangor Demo-
crat and New York World
The answers to these questions are appa-
rent and we need not spend the time necessa-
ry to write them down. The mission of the
Republican party may be nearly accomplish
edits work may be almost DONE Certain
it is that the former is not fully accomplished
and the latter yet lacks something of COM
pleteness. The ball seems to be near the TOP
OF the hill-another, perhaps several efforts,
may be necessary to put it in position. We
trust that but few of those who have been
instrumental in gettingit where it is, will graf
lily the common foe by cowardly desertion
OF faithful friends with whom they have work
ed SO long, and to whom they owe whatever
OF influence or effort it may be in their pow
er to give, in order to crown the labors of so
many years in d noble cause, with curnpouo
and final success.