The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-01

There is very little satisfaction in carrying
on discussion with paper edited by a
young man who does not know enough
about history to understand that the Bell
and Everett ticket was not Republican
ticket. The Bell and Everett ticket was
nominated by Constitutional Union party,
composed of old-line Wings Of the North
and large native American element in the
South. 1t was in no sense a Republican
ticket, and its platform not only was silent
on the slavery question, but condemned both
the Republican and Democratic parties as
sectional" The point made by the Argus
was that the Southern Republican sprane
to the side OF the Southern Democrat tc
tight against the Union and for slavery.'
The first article of creed of the Republi
can party Of 1860 was opposition to slavery
and there was no Republican party In the
seeding States. John Bell was never q
Republican. he was Wing; and the Whia
party was not Republican. Political changes
In Maine should have taught the young mar
OF the Argus this had he ever come out o.
his she'll of self conceit long enough t.
glance at Maine history. Under the ole
party divisions the two leading Wing states
men in Maine were George Evans and VIII.
liam Pitt Fessenden. The two leading
Democrats were Hannibal Hamlin and
James Bradbury. When men began to seek
new political affiliations. Hannibal Hamlin.
Democrat, came over to the Republicans
and George Evans. Wing, went over to the
Democrats. Many leading Wings and many
OF the rank and file all over the country went
into the Democratic party. The Republican
Marty was new party formed from both
..higs and Democrats, as we'll as from other
elements. 1t ought not to be necessary t
recall these elementary facts for the benefi
of the Argus. The PRESS was absolutel!
correct when it said that there were no Re
publicans in the seeding States In 1860, anC
that Republicans did not serve in the Con
federate army. Neither member of the Bel
and Everett ticket of 1860 was Republican,
although the Argus describes Bell and
Everett as "strong Republicans both"
In regard to the anti-slavery sentiment in
the North the Argus said:
The moral question involved was never more
than an occasional matter of discussion ethel
North or South for long years latter the adoption
and ratification ofthe Constitution.
This statement was made by the Argus II
connection with an attempt to clear the repu
tation OF the Democratic party by showing
that the difference between :the North an(
South on the slavery question was merely {
matter of geography and not OF morals. TIL,
PRESS replied by showing that the issu,
over slavery was moral issue even befor,
the adoption of the Constitution, that il
from the very first. Whereupon the Argus
abandoning its line of argument, betakes 1t
self to the following quibble
We were talking about what happened after th,
adoption of the Constitution not before its adop
lion or its final ratification by the original thirteen
States.
This is very small hole to crawl out of
although we must regretfully admit that
even much smaller hole would have beer
amply large for the young man who writes
the Argus editorials. But considered with
reference to the period after the adoption OF
the Constitution the statement of the Argus
is not true. The moral questions involved
IN the discussions over slavery were always
uppermost In the North whenever slavery
was thought of. When Maine was admitted
to the Union in 1920 tremendous wave Of
anti-slavery excitement swept over tn,
country, which so far as the North wa
concerned sprang from moral and net eco
nomic grounds.
We must apologize to our readers for the
space we have taken flor the instruction OF
the young man who writes the Argus edi
torials. But that young man is in a position
OF considerable power lsInce he presumes tc
Instruct considerable portion sof the com
munity; and he should know the elementary
facts of American history.