The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-22


G. Whittier; The Easy Chair; Drive on
Driver.
A New Coparsncrship Gratu itsusly faned
Let it be understood to commence with that
the Press asks no compensation for TINS adver-
tisement of two of its contemporaries. The
spirit of disinterested benevolence is not dead,
good friends, and we extend to you courtssies
that you repay or not, as you choose.
Our two neighbors have many things in
common. Both are conservative in politics
and both are intensely selfish and narrow IN
their feelings and purposes. Neither has ye'
learned, though their broadcast view OF any
subject reaches no farther than a consiaei
ton OF the length of their suoscrip'on nous
that power, patronage ana lnnuenoe 'omo
from an adherence to settled prlncipies VI rigns
and not from veering to one sac ana then TO
another to catch every passing breeze. Prin-
cinle and adherence to right, regardless of
temporary storms and the violence of political
and social bgotry, are not unremunerative. So
that the selishness of our friends is not intel
ligent, after all.
The Argus has been alternating through all
the winter months, showing not spark of vi
tally or life in one of its "lack-lustre" eyes
We know what sticks have been thrust into
its sanctum and what irritants have been APP
piled to rouse it from its slumbers. Who can
tell the time when q relic of barbarsm to be
defended and reform to be denounced did
not wake it to action? The proposition to re-
store the gallows after thirty years have passed
since its overthrow has unhappily been made.
The greater number of journals throughout
the State have protested promptly, energeti-
sally, Indignantly. The Argus was snoring SO
loudly that unconscious what the great world
was doing and saying, it did not hear for many
weeks. But the advocates of strangulation
bethought them that they must have an organ
to neutralze the influence of the Press and
other journals that not less efficiently repre-
scented the spontaneous feeling of wrath which
swelled in the peoples hearts when the exa-
tation of the accursed tree was first recon-
mended. "Ah," said they, where is the Ar
gus? Where is the paper that defended the
fugitive slave law, that favored the repeal Of
tho Missouri compromise that eulogfzed the
bred Scott decision and fought the Radicals
SO valiantly during the war? Where is the
pen that has amused Us so often by lampoon-
ing Lincoln and painting the thick lips, woolly
hair and long heels OF the niger? Such
things as these new-fangled Radical notions.
reform, progress, humanity, the investiga
of social ills in these inoomprshensibe social
science organisations,-suc things as these
can surely never touch the heart or mind of
our old Conservative friend the Argus" So
guided by the stsrtorous sounds proceeding
from the sanotum these apostles of strangula-
ten began their search and found the genius
of that place stretched upon q pile of ancient
exchanges, his hand still mechanically WELD
ing a pair of scissors. The scissors were bright
and sharp, but there was no intelligence to
guide them-thsre was "no speculation in
these eyes" They stamped, halloed and
shouted 30 ne purpose. They tickled his ears
with the unused editorial pen. Still no sign
of life. They yelled "nigger" in his ear; they
shouted "abolitienism"; they shrisksd "a white
name government. ne merely started up
and muttsrsd "No use, that battles lost" and
sank once more to rspose. 1t was in vain that
they told him tale that would have moved a
heart Of stone-of negroes taught to read, of
negroes running for Congress, of negroes vot-
ing and putting money in their purses A dt-
full glimmer OF intelligence only served him to
recommend their instant departure to hotter
than tropical climes. Bat when despairing
they disclosed the true object of the mission,
his ear caught the sound. "Gallows?" quoth
he, "why, If that's all, I'm at your service
There's some hope Of thwarting the Radicals
in that" and seized the pen.
Hence the strange mosaic editorial work of
the last few days, in which the gallows is de-
Tended, now with text Of scripture, now with
an obscene allusion or a bawdy story, and
again with falsshood or sanstimonious whim-
pering over the theorists who "sympathixs
with criminals" The workman has congo
NAL task. 1t is a new phase Of the cause in
which it has laborsd, as opportunity offered,
for many years.
Our other contemporary, that revolves az
satellite around the Argus. held in its little or
bit by the attraction Of sympathetic feeling, by
identity Of sentiment on the temperance ques-
ton and by . common disposition to oaptious
and unreasoninx fault-hnding, is more un
principled and reckless than its leader. II has |
none of the latter's old traditions and inherited
prejudices to excuse its predispositioa in favor
of antiquated barbarisms. 1t does not believe
in the wicked work it 10 doing, but is governed
by an insane idea that pandering to the more
unworthy passions of the people will give it
strength. Thus it happens that the Argus has
found an ally.