The Portland daily press., 1872-07-24
Apotheosis Of the Comprehend.

The word 'Copperhead'' is now happily
obsolescent, the exigencies of a struggle for
national existence alone justifying epithets of
that character. But the men to whom it was
justly applied still live, and seem determined
that the ignominy of their past career shall
not be forgotten. In seven years after they
became infamous by open, blatant sympathy
with treason, they not only ask their fellow
citizens to condone their offenses, but they
demand the highest positions of trust and
honor. And if the Greeley movement has
any success whatever, it will result in giving
these gentlemen exactly what they demand.
1t is astonishing to see how many of them
are already crawling out info this warm
Greeley sunshine.
Take the case of Marcellus Emery, for in
stance. We appreciate his ability, and hay
ing no personal acquaintance with him, are
willing to presume that, like most fanatics, he
is honest. Nevertheless there is no doubt
that he was the ideal copperhead. For years
he was the standard by which disloyalty was
measured He indicated the high-water
mark of Southern sympathy. The people
fields, were ready to tear him to pieces be-
cause he celebrated only the victories of
Rebels in his fierce, red-hot dithyrambs. No
man in Maine was SO conspicuous in unpa-
triotic courses-no man so reckless in oppos-
ing the march of the people towards justice
and national integrity.
But behold him now! He comes forth
shining, respondent, in the white robes of
candidate for the position of representative
of the people, whose profoundest convictions
he insulted, whose dearest interests he oppos-
ed. He enlarges his borders-he exults
greatly. His friends no longer apologize for
him, but they glory alike in his past history
and his present honors. s'Red-hot" papers in
other parts of the country send him their
greetings, perceiving in his anticipated exalta-
ton sign that the day has come when the
members of the hitherto obnoxious, guild of
Copperheads are to dance, Tyre in hand, over,
the bodies of their opponents, like Philip
over the PROSTATE Greeks at Cheronea. Yes,
until September, at least, the great Copper
head hierarch of Maine will be up to his eyes
in clover. At the Bangor meeting the other
night the ''Liberar' Lang vehemently urged
all the people to vote for him in September,
and the "Liberap' Manson, and the 'Liber-
aP' Godfrey said amen! The winter of his
discomfort is made glorious summer by this
recreant son of New York. He plucks up
more than his wonted spirit since his disloyal
utterances came near consigning him, as well
as his press, to the bottom of the Penobscot,
and berates men of tried patriotism and emil
nent public services, as if they were in the
prisoners box instead of himself He brings
before his tribunal for censure and condem-
nation, men who were doing their utmost to
save our common country, while he was
barely escaping Fort Lafayette.
Now, Messrs. 'Liberal Republicans
eral Lang and Liberal Pike, Liberal Manson
and Liberal S. P. Morrill,, mark one thing for
the people have marked it well,-this Emery
has not up to this hour uttered or printed one
acOrd Of penitence for ofenses chich .Ge,u
years ago you thought objectionable. He
thinks now as he always thought, that Abra-
ham Lincoln's war on the South was the war
of despot on an unoffending people, who
were but struggling for their rights. He
thinks now as he always thought, that the
emancipation of slaves was an act of injus-
tice to be submitted to only under duress.
He still believes that Lee was a better man
than Grant or Sherman, or Sheridan He
still thinks that the reconstruction measures
were unconstitutional, unnecessary and un-
just, and he has not yet assented to the valid
ity or either of the constitutional amend |
ments. He valves many of these questions
now, till after September, but no man can
find printed word which indicates that Mr.. |
Emery has taken single step forward since
the close of the war. o, Liberal" Lang! is
this the entertainment to which you invite
us? Are the graves of soldiers, the preser-
walton and honor of the Republic, the great |
interests of reform and the progress of hui
mainly to be placed in charge of such men
as this?