Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-01-14
THEN AND NOW.


In 1861 the country throughout its whole
extent was excited by an attempt to sever
the Union. State after State in the South
seeded and Southern confederacy was
established. Forts, arsenals. custom
houses and other property belonging to
the United States were seized by rebel
hands. Where resistance was made to
the demands of the seccessionists force
was employed by them, as at Fort Sump-
ter. The stars and stripes were trampled
in the dust under hostile feet The incom-
ing republican President. Mr.. Lincoln,
was threatened with assassination on his
way to the Capital to be inaugurated.
Southern senators and representatives in
Congress defended secession and threat
ened the government with destruction if
opposition was made to the southern con-
federacy, and at last they resigned and
abandoned their seats to go home and give
their personal services to the war against
the old flag The whole southern coun-
try was military camp. All the north
ern States were alarmed and anxious,
while foreign powers inimical to our form
of government looked on with satisfaction
at the growing strife and confidently pre-
dicted the end Of popular government in
America and the world.
While this was the general situation at
that time, and all good and patriotic cli-
liens felt tina, questions of party should BE
sunk before the graver question of the
preservation Of the nations life, there was
party stood aloof from all movements to
save the government and opposed them
as far as it had the courage and ability to
10 so. That party saw no menace TO lib
erty and the Union in the secession of
States, the establishment of another gov
eminent in this country, the trampling of
our flag under the feet of rebels, the as
sembling and organizing of armies under
the command of JEFF Davis. They cried
peace peace when there was no peace.
They denounced the President as tyrant :;
the raising of troops as unnecessary and
illegal the war for the Union absurd and
unconstitutional. All their conventions
and other public meetings gave encour-
agement to rebellion and prolonged the
bloody strife TO save the government.
Such was then the course of the party
which called itself democratic, in the
times which tried men and parties thor.
oughly, when there was profound cause
for indignation at lawlessness, and deep
anxiety lest our government should be
overthrow.
Passing from those scenes of 1861 and
on to the close of the rebellion, we find
the same party that had no rebuke for the
great sins against liberty then committed,
now putting Oh an appearance of great
concern and endeavoring to arouse and
alarm the public by infammatory appeals
and representations concerning recent
events in Louisiana That State has been
the seat of disorder and turbulence since
the time that reconstruction after the re.
bellion began. Two years ago an cleo
lion for State officers was held, the result
of which has been in dispute ever since,
and over which there have been riots and
bloodshcd and unremitting contention
The courts having recognized Kellogg as
Governor, the President and Congress
have also recognized him as such, and on
hi, request troops were sent there to re