The Portland daily press., 1863-04-06
Fire from the Argus Eartbworks,

Fire from the Argus Earthworks.
We use the word earth-works because earth
is often used as the synonyme of dirt, and be-
cause the Argus has opened low and dirty
fire upon gentlemen who, but brief period
since, were in receipt of its most fulsome eu-
logies. Hon. JAMES T. McCoBB. because he
thinks more of the government than of the
success of mere fault-fnding party; because,
in order to unite his strength with those who
Internationally stand by the government in
its conflict with rebellion, he is obliged TO
step outside of his former party organization,
is assailed in the peculiar style of that paper,
and tainted with being influenced by low
desire for Office and place!
Shame on the hounds who will thus assail
an honorable man, because he stands by his
country's flag in every emergency! Who
needs informing that the spirit which prompts
to the traducing of man for standing nncon-
ditonaly by his country, is precisely identical
with that which in Texas compelled Hamilton
to fee from his home, and that has literally
loaded the forests of that state with the rich
fruitage of Union martyrs! Who doubts il the
Argus were transferred to Richmond, that il
would become one of the most obsequious
supporters of jeff Davis, and one of the vilest
prosecutors of the men who love their coun-
try's flag more than they do the emblem of
secession and treason!
Not satisfied with dirty attack upon Mr..
McCobb, it has opened its squirt-guns, charged
to the muzzle with filthy water, upon the very
man whom last year it supported for Mayor
and to maks even a pretense of consistency in
thus doing, it falsely charges Mr.. LcLellan
with having recently "turned his coat" 1t
says
1t seems that Mr.. Mcclellan is very, very
anxious to be Mayor He turned his coat on
the negro question about three months ago to
secure the abolition nomination, and turned it
two days ago on the liquor question to secure
his election.
Jacob Mcclellan anxious to be Mayor! A
falser statement was never uttered, and the
Argus knows it. Mr. Mcclellan has never
sought office; he has no taste for official life
in the present instance instead of seeking the
Office, the Office has sought hin, and it was a
long time before he could bring his mind to
accept public position rendered him by his
fellow citizens. The honest masses of the
people will enjoy the luxury of voting for an
honest, faithful and capable man, who is not an
Office seeker, but who required to be persuad-
want of the public.
Jacob Mcclellan turned his coat! False
as perjury. Capt. Mcclellan stands to-day
where he did year ago. He then went for
an unconditional support of the Government;
he does so now. He was then ready to sls-
tain the government in the adoption of any
measures needful to crush the rebellion; he
stands precisely there to-day. To whatever
the Government demanded one year ago he
said amen; he stands on precisely the same
ground to-day. II is the Argus, and those it
represents, who have turned their coats, /"
and basely deserted the Government in its
need. One year ago they did not qualify their
support of the Government; to-day they do.
| Then they said, crush the rebellion; now
it is to be crushed only by such>means as the
Democratic party approves. Then slavery or
anything else that stood in the way of putting
down the rebellion was to be thrust aside
now slavery must be untouched though the
Union fall in fragments. We repeat, Jacob
Mcclellan has not changed his position. He
has simply mored along Nth the tide of erents
with the necessities Of the hour, while those
who now traduce him have abandoned the
Union ship that they may lend their aid to
keep afoat the condemned hulk of negro
slavery.
"The liquor question:" Mr.. Mcclellan has
indicated no change OF mind on this or any
other question, ito secure his election" The
temperance men will vote for him, not because
he is specially committed to the temperance
idea of political action, but, first, because he
| is loyal to the core, and at this moment that
consideration overhadows all others; and sec
ond, because they confidc in him as an honest
man, and know he will do what-he believes to
be right, and will nerer betray any interest
committed to his care. They knew the Dem
ocratic party-ds party-is consecrated to
two things only, one free and the other re-
stricted,--free rum and enslared negroes-and
that the success Of such party would be
among the greatest calamities that can befal a
loyal people.