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328 W. C. WOODWARD There was a notable exception to this general negative atti- tude of the Democratic press. As the movement toward seces- sion developed, after Lincoln's election, the Statesman was far more vigorous and radical in demanding that the government put down the rebellion promptly by force of arms and hang the rebels, than was either the Argus or Oregonian. The lat- ter, as Administration organs, were cautious, desiring rather to follow and support Lincoln's policy, when it should become known, than to take the initiative by advocating those of their own which might prove embarrassing in being out of har- mony with that adopted at Washington. This attitude of the Republican press is well exemplified in an Oregonian editorial "The Union Can it be Preserved?" 1 "We are not dis- posed," said Francis, "to discuss at this time, the right of secession. Nor are we prepared to express an opinion as to the propriety of a resort to force to compel seceding states to remain in the Union, against their will and consent." Greeley of the Tribune was quoted with approval to the effect that he was opposed to a Union "which had to be pinned together with the bayonet/' and that "if they were determined to go, let them go in peace." Bush was prepared to express an opinion and as usual expressed it with unfailing vigor, urging the new Administration to adopt prompt and heroic measures for ruthlessly crushing out the rebellion and dealing summarily with the traitors. He wasted no time on fine distinctions be- tween nullification and secession, between enforcing United States laws and coercion. His term as senator having expired, Lane arrived in Ore- gon once more, the last of April. But he had never before ex- perienced such a home coming. It was an unfortunate coinci- dence for him that at the very time of his arrival, came the news of the firing upon Fort Sumpter. There was no longer any doubt that the man whom Oregon had long delighted to honor was a secessionist. Not only had his public actions so declared him, but personal letters written to Southern friends i Oregonian, Jan. 12.