Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/24



It has been seen that from the beginning of the war, the Statesman had been most energetic in support of the Administration and most aggressive in demanding a vigorous war policy. It not only supported the Administration but attempted to lead, or rather, drive it. The first manifestation of dissatisfaction, in fact, was occasioned by what Bush termed the one remarkable phase of the war the leniency of federal authorities toward traitors. He complained that the most notorious and virulent offenders, taken even in arms, were almost invariably treated more like honored guests than felons that they were. He, maintained that there was such a thing as sinning against humanity by overdoses of kindness and that the war would prove a contemptible failure if a "sickly sentimentalism" should let the "demons of secession go free, to repeat again the dread tragedy of rebellion."

For the first time, the Statesman distinctly questions the Government's policy in an editorial, October 6, 1862, on "The President's Proclamation." This referred to the preliminary proclamation issued September 22 by Lincoln, that unless the inhabitants of the revolting states returned to their allegiance by January 1, the slaves should be declared free. In the first place, such a policy at this time was held to be unnecessary and impracticable. But, more to the point, were the words: "It is not the loss that will fall upon the slave states that we object to. ... but the Government will have on hand at the, close of the war a 'Negro question' which will present more difficult phases than any shape in which the question has ever yet been seen." Another instance was this of the accuracy with which Bush foresaw and foretold the results which were to grow out of the war. From this time on the Statesman became more and more critical of Lincoln's policies. In a private letter to Nesmith, Deady wrote, October 22: "Bush is turning 'oppo-