The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-28

were at an extremely low ebb. The paper
is thick. coarse-fbred material, which age
has turned to the color of scorched rag;
and the ink has the appearance of having
been distilled from number of condemned
once towels. But, thanks to good care, the
print is still quite legible and, read in the
llght OF these piping times of peace, affords
considerable entertainment ard Instruction.
The editorial department was in able
hands. The leader is column article upon
dispatch sent by one George n. Saunders,
southron who desired peace, TO William II.
Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State. This
dispatch had been intercepted by the officials
OF the Carolnian. 1t contained proposition
by Mr.. Saunders to the union Secretary
which involved the breaking up of the rival
governments then at war, and the formation
OF one grand empire of which the founder,
Mr.. Seward should be ruler. What office
Mr.: Saunders expected under the new dispen-
saLlon does n0tappear.
The editor treated the matter in a semi
satirical but wholly scholarly way. He says
that of all the bold attempts at bribery ever
heard of, that offered by the "wiy George"
to the Yankee Secretary was. the most
magnificent mot the splendid promises
held forth by Pallas and Hebe to the Phryg-
ian Shepherd, nor the .mighty prospect I'M
folded by the arch demon from the mountain
of the temptation" could, In the opinion of
the editor, be compared with it,. But he
thinks 1t is all to no purpose, which, consid-
ering that the dispatch never reached Mr..
Stewards hands, seemed very probable.
Seward" says the editor, "in his whole
life has never known what it is to entertain
a great thought OF to cherish a lofty aim.
We COnfederates, whom even the certainty
of realizing the Saunders dream could not
persuade TO renew our alliance with the
basest people on the face of the earth, need
be under no apprehension that he will ever
be seduced into abandoning the small profits
and comparatively petty powers which he
is now enjoying, for the impossible future
with which the restless schemer of the Cliff
ton House has attempted to cheat him, much
as one sometimes cheats a baby with the
promise of the moon" This latter long
winded and Incorporate sentence must have
done great deal toward heartening up the
supporters Of the cause, then not quite recog-
nized as lost.
Another editorial deals with the question
whether refugees from the beleaguered city
OF Charleston should be allowed TO vote at
the coming election Of representatives to the
State Legislature from Columbia. The Car
Gilman takes the affirmative position, and
seems to hold that it was bad enough for the
exiles to be driven from their homes by the
"basest people on the face of the earth
without being deprived of the ballot on that
account.
The third editorial wrestles with ''the stat
Washburne, commander of the Union troops
in Memphis, had issued general order re-
quiring all foreign residents. Of Memphis
to enroll themselves in the militia. or else
leave the city. The two thousand English
men then living there thought this hard
case. and one of their number, named Goadby
addressed letter to his government about
it, The answer came from Lord Lyons in
due time justifying Gen. Washburne's action
and informing the British subjects that if
tlaV wished nf fhofr
ment they must go home. The following
comments of the Carolinlan must
have cast profound gloom over the
British quarter in Columbia: "Wheth-
er that plant tool of Seward came to
this conclusion in that trucking spirit to the
Yankee Government which characterizes the
policy Of the British cabinet, or in obedience
to the settled principles of international law,
Is matter of Indifference to us. We are en-
titled to its full benefits in accordance with
the time honored adage, that what is sauce
Tor the goose is sauce for the gander. Let
our authorities see that no British subject
hereafter evades the State militia laws"
The local items in the paper are few but
readable. The first is request that parties
to whom we have rendered bills, by mail or
mittances as possible" Next is notice of
q concert given the previous evening by the
Slomans. The third and most interesting Of
the lot concerns Major Lamar Fontaine,
confederate officer well known to us all as
author of the poem "All Quiet along the
Potomac Tonight" The Major was at that
time prisoner in the hands of the Unionists.
His place Of confinement was Morris Island,
in Charleston Harbor. He was then on
parole, and was visiting Columbia engaged
In the (for poet prosaic work Of collecting
tobacco for the comfort of his fellow pris-
cally Of the Majors patriotism, and, as proof
OF his devotion, cites the fact that he had
contributed $500 of his own salary to the
tobacco fund. 1t may be here stated that
tobacco was a most important commodity to
the confederates. as, what they did not con-
sumo themselves, they could exchange with
the Yankees for provisions, clothing and
other necessities of life.
Obituaries were made special feature of
the paper. One long article tells of the death
Of young Newt Crosby, aged IS years, who
a charge at Petersburg. The account, de-
prived of its many bitter illusions to
Buffers vandals and fiends," 'the bastard
ly foe." ETC., is really touching, and painful
reminder of the thousands OF thousands of
similar sacrifices of that most fearful war.
Miss Polina Tins. another subject of the
obituarist, was young lady whose virtues
almost give her right to place in undying
history. Here is one passage that is Darticu-
larry striking: "She manifested love for
her stap-mother, by whom she was raised,
which struck the writer of this notice as very
uncommon. Conscious that her end was
approaching she requested to be
placed In her mothers arms that she might
breathe out her life in the embraces of her
step-mother; Search the annals of the world
and few such cases. am persuaded, can be
found. = That step-mother can have
a conscience void of offence. Would to God
all step-mothers might so act as to gain the
love OF their step-children."
The war news is not extensive and is
q left foh H.
carefully edited, with view to elimina-
ting anything that might carry dismay to
the Southern heart. 1t learns that Price is
sending the Yankees flying through Missouri
but says very little concerning Grants oper-
ations around Richmond. 1t cheerfully
notes that report from Gen. Lee states
that a dispatch from Gen. Early represents
Sheridan as retreating down the Valley. 1t
hears with apparent uneasiness that Gov.
Brown OF Georgia is making overtures to
zen; sherman for peace arrangement, but
hardly believes 1t.
Among the selections from its contempor
aries is the following humorous bit which
may provoke laugh from the thoughtless
even at the present day. 1t is taken from
the Columbus Enquirer:
"A correspondent at Auburn, Alabama,
sends us an 'unintenti0nal good thing which
was perpetrated the other day by a young
lady OF that place. She had been told that
there was news from Forrest, and, seeking
for more information, she asked, Has he
whipped Sherman's rearP''
The advertising columns are well filled up,
many notices being announcements, dated
In the feld,' that certain officers were to
stand as candidates for the Legislature. 1t
looks as though there was a consensus of
opinion that 1t was better to be In the Legis-
latuie than In the field.
One storekeeper advertises any ten of the
following songs for ten dollars:
The SOuth Dear Mofhar I,va rop,a ro,,a 20
Die; Up With the Flag; All Quiet Along the Po-
tomac Keep Me Awake, Mother; Rock Me to
sleep, Mother; Goodbye. Sweetheart, etc., etc.
The retail prices of these songs were from