The Portland daily press., 1870-09-05
Party Fealty.

As some exception has been taken to the
course OF the PRESS in not endorsing all the
measures of our Republican city government,
passing word may not be out of place on
this subject. The complaint seems to be
founded upon misapprehension respecting
the duty of party newspaper. In the DEM
ocratic party where discipline is much more
strict, undiscriminatine support ofparty meas
ures might perhaps be expected, but the case
has always been different in the Republican
party, and the right and proprety of individ-
ual dissent has been fully recoonized. Partic-
ularly is this the case when measure is pend
ing, and IFS propriety is a subject of discus
sion. At such time the fullest and freest
expression Of individual opinion is one of the
best safeguards against those hasty and i'll
considered schemes which always reacts
against any party that sanctions them. After
measure has been formerly sanctioned as a
party measure, practical support is demand
ed, and criticisms from individuals should al
ways be expressed with becoming Difference to
the party policy. Still temperate and judi
cial criticism is needed to keep any party from
degenerating. So far is this from affordng
indications of hostility that it is one of the
kindest acts that can be done to a party or
public man, to give il or him the benefit of a
friendly and opportune criticism. This is
really the truest support. No party is in the
strictest sense unit. There are generally
two wings, and partisan journal, in
choosing which it shall endorse is entitled 10
weigh as well as count opinions. The doc
trine OF official inlallitlty we do not believe
in. We have aimed at all times to be Just in
our criticisms, and whenever it appears that
injustice is done, we are ready to make full
amends. As to the question so lately under
discussion, we have expressed our opinion,
but we have no intention OF adopting the cop
perhead policy ofdeclarnc necessarily against
accomplished facts. Having said all that
seemed proper, we are willing to await the re-
suit of the experiment, hoping that time will
indicate the wisdom of tr; ing it..
There is another aspect of this subject
which deserves notice, in connection with the
Senatorial question. The Argus every day or
two trots out some specimen of Democrat or
disafected Republican who. goes on to argue
as ifthe Senatorial question were the only is
sue in our coming election, and threatens to
bolt if his political associates do not submit to
his dictation. We venture TO say no loyal
Republican will thi,,k OF taking the ultra-tem-
perante men for a pattern. II any man does
not propose to abide by a fair and respectable
Republican nomination, he has no business
to call himselfa Republican, or to claim
voice in councils of the party. II portion of
the Republicans want Gov. Chamberlain for
Senator, they have right to use all egiti-
mate means to promote that end, but if men
u1!avorable to him are fairly nominated then
it is the duty Of the minority to acquiesce and
support the regular nominees of the party.
The argus is PROFESSIONALLY doing more
to defeat Gov. Chamberlain than any Repub-
lican newspaper. Everybody knows that the
Den ocrats care not a farthing for him. All
they want of him is to use him to split the
Republican party, so that through the result
they can march to victory. If it is once I'M
derstood that the Republican friends of Gov.
Chamberlain propose to lend themselves to
any such movement as this, they will and
should command very few Republican votes
The Senatorial question is not the only issue,
and those who seek to persuade the people
that il is, are either deceived themselves, or
seek to deceive others. Let every man labor
acittin the party to elect a Senator worthy of
the position. But be is no Republican who
would recklessly ignore his party in the COM
ing election for the sake of gratifying his pref
erence for some particular man for Senator.