The Portland daily press., 1883-08-04
The National Union League

The document entitled San Address to
the People on the Political Situation of the
Country" issued by a committee appointed
for this purpose by the Executive Commit
tee OF the National Union League, has a
special interest for Maine Republicans be-
cause Congressman Boutele is chairman of
the committee that prepared it. We think
no injustice is done to anybody in presum-
ing it is in substance and form mainly his
work.
During the war the Union League per-
formed an important service. 1t was a se-
cret organization extending throughout the
North, and wherever Union men were, the
members of which pledged themselves to
support the government in its efforts to sup
press the rebellion. 1t worked in Its own
way to thwart the designs of the Knights of
the Golden Circle, and of all similar combi
nations plotting to embarrass the prosecu-
ton of the war for the Union. 1t had grips
and signs and passwords, and was in fact an
organization of loyal citizens who took up
on themselves obligations and duties of an
extraordinary character which the perils of
the time made necessary.
When the war ended and the rebellion
was crushed the Union League rapidly di-
minished in the Northern States, but Il
grew in the South, where the negroes were
initiated into it. To them it was of great
usefulness in the times of their persecution,
aud it also helped bind them to the Republi-
can party. Wherever the existence of the
League was continued 1t became very natu-
rally, partisan association. It fought the
Ku-Klux Khan in the South as it had fought
the secret reasonable orders of Copperheads
in the North. Ali of its traditions are of
conflict with the worst phases of the Demo-
cratic party's wickedness and disoyaty.
We confess to ignorance of the present
status of this organization, and do not see
any very good reason why it continues in
existence. 1t can have no ends other than
those which the regular party organization
has, or if it has any different objects they
are mysterious. Whether there are regular
ly organized chapters still holding meetings
we cannot say, but we have suspected they
were practically extinct, at least in the North
ern States, and that the gentlemen who
meet annually as an executive committee,
pass resolutions and write addresses. are
rather volunteers actuated by old assoeia-
tions and considerable party zeal, than the
representatives of an organized constituency,
in short, that the National Union League is
now rather name than thing If it ex-
ists az an aotiva forna in nolit;aol nffo;.s -
would be well to know how numerous it is,
and what it aims at. Is it an impefiam In
lfnperio, controlling the Republican party
or aspiring to do so? How many Republic
cans in Maine now take an interest in it and
who are theyp What weight in addition to
that of the names signed to it should attach
to an address purporting to be authorized by
the National Union League? What particu-
lar work il there for this Union League to
do TOW that may not be as we'll accomplished
without that machinery? Is the tariff, or
civil rights, or honest elections, or civil SER
vice reform, or public education its special
concern?
These observations are aside from the
character of the document which has sug-
gested them. OF course the nature of that
is obvious to the reader even if he does not
understand the full significance of its sane
ton. The Address is an appeal to Republi-
cans to rally around the party standards and
carry them forward to victory, on the genar-
al principle that the Republican party is a
patriotic and wise party while the Demo-
cratic party has a bad record and dangerous
aims.