The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-03-17
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND
FRIDAY, MARCH IT, 1871.


An Essay an prophecy.
The Democrats in all parts of the Union
have celebrated their unexpected New Hamp- |
shire success in the wild, bois,erous, jubilant
can-can dance of tr 'umph. We are glad OF II
The New Hampshire defeat will do the ne
publican party more good than it VIII Tue 10
mocracy and if, under the circumstance wv
latter enjoy INDUCING in such PafoA's
exultation, they are quite welcome W w so'
Bnt LET us see on what other occasions with |
in the last twenty years the Democracy Of
the Tinted States have reioiced, and from
such recapitulatlon we can easily Judge
whether the significance of the New Hamp.
shire election is such as should be agreeable to
patriotic men.
The Democracy exulted greatly when the
Fugitive Slave Law was passed.
They were in ecstaeies when the bred Scot
decision was promulgated.
They howled with delight when the Mis-
souri, Compromise was basey and wickedy
overthrown and a new empire dedicated 10
slavery. @
They were exhiarated when Charles Sum-
ner was struck down by Brooks.
They we're, on the whole, well pleased with
the Leconpton constitution outrage.
They were frantic with joy when fugilives
from Southern plantations were dragged by
the officers of the government back to slavery
They applauded when South Carolina re-
tired from the Union, and greeted with like
approval the other rebellous States as they
followed her example
The new Confederacy was greeted with
their acclamations.
Bull Run was "a rebuke" to Lincoln, they
SAID.
The delay before Vicksburg was the first of
long series of "rebpkes'' to Grant.
They were gladiator Fredericksburg, the
second Bull Run and Chickamauga, but
gloomy and defiant after Donelson, vicks-
burg. Gettysburg and Nashville. ,.-.--
They were in jovial mood after Chancei-
lorvile, only the death Of their favorite Gen
eral, Stouewal Jackson, dashed their joy
little. y+s.es s..Is.t .s..s...i
They laughed when their New York breth-
rem resisted the draft, and washed their hands
ininnocent blood.
It would be too much TO say that as party
they rejoiced in the murder OF Lincoln, but il
is notorious that in Maine and in every other
State there were MANY individuals belonging
TO that party on whom the people could hard
y restrain the nselves from in1icting bodily
injury, on account OF their open exultaton in
that great tragedy.
They were clamorous in their Explanations
Ta1,
more kinded the smouldering fires of rebel
lion in the South.
They lett the old glow OF enthusiasm when
the Southern spirit, warmed into life by the
encouragement of q treacherous Executive,
Disclosed itself in violence, prescription and
murder; when negroes were slain b. the hun
died, and it was no longer sale for Northern
men to dwell in Southern State.
They shouted once more when Andrew
johnson escaped conviction for his crimes.
Finally, and for the last time till now, they
were fired with joyful zeal when Gen. Blair
proclaimed crusade against reconstruction
and the restoration of the Southern oigarchy
These are nearly all the occasions since
1850, except OF course the election of Pierce
in 1852, and Buchanan in 1855, that have
been conspicuous for Democratic rejoicing -
The people remember these things so well,
and the conduct of the reactionary party in
pros porous circumstances is so uniform, that
1t is not very difficult to foresee what will
happen in consequence of this New Hamp.
shire victory. In the genial sunshine OF sue
cess all the foul, wicked and unpatriotic
thoughts, feelings and designs that unfortu-
nately form the basis of the Democratic faith
gaineApression. Repressed tor long time
by the dominance of wiser and more patriotic
views, they bubble up spontaneously the mo
ment the pressure is removed. We anticipate
that this temporary success will be followed
like the apostaey of johnson and the nomina
ton OF Seymour and Blair, BY greatly increas
ed Rebel activity in the South. If, as seems
likely enough, another Democratic victory Ii
Connecticut follows, it vii! be answered b,
the Rebel yell. By that time the Democracy
North and South, will regard the restoration
of their empire as secure, and the flow o
blood in the late Confederate States will be
gin. Then the negroes must betake them
selves to the woods again, and carpet-bagger.
and school teachers must scatter. The en-
ployment of troops to protect loyal citizen
will tie torciby resisted, and this course will
be encouraged al the North. All the State
b.iDg now restored to the Union, measure
will Immediately be taken to modify the new
free State constitutions so as to deprive loya
citizens of their equal rights, and make recon
strrction nullity.
Then the ideas of public policy that have
heretofore had vague, halt breathed ex-
preston from few extreme Democrats will
begin 10 take definite shape-repudiation OF
the national debt or the assumption OF that
OF the Confederacy, the payment of the Rebel
claims for damage done by Union troops, the
restoration of confiscated property, like Ar
Angton, to distinguished rebel owners, the
formal reputation of the constitutional
amendments and the undoing of the work of
reconstruction.
We submit that it is not an extravaganza
to anticipate from party whose supporters,
while yet subject in some degree to the con-
troll of the general government make use of
their limited and precarous authority prac.
tically to nullify all the new progressive insti-
tusions that have been imposed upon them
since the war, to appropriate money for the
purchase of Lees portrait, to spurn with
contempt Gen. Thomas and all other men dis
tinguished for their 10y atty, to make the Rab-
Of chlefiain's birthday Southern holiday. snd
to give triumphant receptions to JEFF. Davis
it is not extravagant to anticipate from such
party, we say, a resurrection of the notions
OF secession and OF slavery itself, if there is
aprospect Of anything like national success
We shall not be surprised if these notions
gain quite foothold in the South, encour-
aged by the Vallandighams and Mungens OF
the North, especially it Connecticut and Cal
iornia follow the example of New Hamp-
shire.
In this way the Democracy always make
their trifng successes the occasion OF a pew
erful and sweeping reaction. In this way
the discordant Republican majority in Wash
inston is to be welded into a compact homo
ReBeous mass once more. In this way the
Executive and Legislative branches of the
government are to be brought into complete
harmony again. In this way it is to be
brought about that next spring New Hamp.
shire will lead off for the Presidential election
with more than her usual Republican major
ity, Connecticut following its lead. 1t is in
this way that the whole country, alarmed and
a