Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 12.djvu/341

 POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 333 in the resolutions passed at a mass meeting of the Democracy of Linn county, June 5. "Loyalty to the Union the whole Union," was avowed. Association with secessionists and trait- ors was disavowed, and sectionalists or violators of the Consti- tution were discountenanced. The idea of a Pacific Republic was opposed as visionary and dangerous. At the same time it was asserted that the Government could be maintained only by a spirit of conciliation and compromise; that coercion was but another name for war and was disunion. Therefore, opposition to the war and the war policy of the Administra- tion, was announced. 1 Slater heralded this meeting as a great success in every way, while casting slurs on the numerous Union meetings. The Democratic organs referred to the war as "Lincoln's war" and denounced him as a usurper, revolution- ist, monarchist and tyrant. The Union was replete with such expressions as "Lincoln's rump Congress," "Greeley's abolition war," "The banquet of blood" (Bull Run) and "Lincoln I." It could not conceal its exultation over the defeat at Bull Run, saying that the rout was complete and total and the victory on the part of the South one that they might well be proud of. In the issue of August 26 appeared the message of Jef- ferson Davis. By this time the secession odor of "The Onion," as Bush called it, was sufficiently strong to discount its loudest protestations of loyalty. Senator Baker, having eloquently championed the Union cause on the floor of the United States senate, volunteered his services on the outbreak of the rebellion and was given a command. On October 21 he was killed at the head of his men at the battle of Balls Bluff. In appointing a successor to Oregon's Republican senator, Gov. Whiteaker further re- vealed his animus in the choice of Benjamin Stark. The ap- pointment was received with disappointment, disgust and an- ger. The Statesman declared Stark to be "a secessionist of the rankest dye and the craziest professions a traitor as infamous as any that disgraces Northern soil. He has enjoyed the credit i Union, June 8.