The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-21
''Fhe Wickedesf ParIy''-A Proposition
for Queer Canvass.
:. q

"The Wickedest Pariy''-z Proposition
for n Queer Canvass.
BoorHBAY, Oct IS, 1868.
To the Editor of the Press:
In the Argus of Oct. 5th l noticed an ar
tlcle editorial, presume, as il was leaded)
headed, "Piety and Morality of Radicalism "
wherein the author prefaces an essay on lie.
publican srnfulness by declaring that "the
party in not only reeking with corruption.
but is the wickedest party that this country
was ever afflicted with" and closes by assert
ing that "the Democratic party at its worst,
was as virgin to harlot in comparison, &c.
In the next column find an item headed.
"A Radical Stronghold" asserting that vote
was taken in the Louisiana penitentiary the
other day with the following result: Grant,
S79; Seymour, 8.
Now propose through your columns to test
the sincerity of the authors faith in his own
assertions. The Louisiana penitentiary is a
little too far off for our purpose and it is tol
erably safe to make almost any assertion in
regard to the political sentiments of its in
mates, but would like if possible to take "a
poll OF some prison nearer home. But as that
is probably impracticable, would propose to
the author of the article in question that he
accompany me on tour through the gros
shops, dance cellars, rat pits and other hauDts
OF vice where the wicked most do congregate
in New York or any other large city, and
take the votes of their male inmates and reg
ular habitues. We will also take the votes OF
all the gamblers, pimps, pugiists and others
mclud ng rumsellers, who live by the vices
and toles oil their fellow men we can find
Also Of every one we can find unable to write
his own name, OF every deserter, Of every one
Who ran away to avoid, or banded with 9th
ers to resist the draft, and of every one who
justified and avowedly sympatbized with the
rebellion. 1t he will give me twenty five
cents for every vote Seymour and Bfair get
among the classes enumerated l will give
dollar fol every Republican vote. propose
also that we take the votes of church men,
bers, of men who can show an honorable dis
charge from the army or navy and OF every
one who possesses a good English education,
the test to be as high as he pleases but al
least the ability to parse plain English SEN
tence. For everyone of these who gives a
Democratic vote will gire him dollar, il
he will give me twenty-five cents for every
Republican vote. 1t is barely possible that
the odds may be a little too great on the ed
ucational test, but [ think not, and If they
are shall much more than make up for it en-
The others. am willing to make the odds
mu n greater on the soldiers. A short time
before the election publicly CHALLENGED any
Democrat to give me the names of six in this
town who had served in the army or navy
and would vote tor Pillsbury, but, though we
have upwards oi eighty who have so served,
no one has as yet responded. Without
counting deserters, l can learn of but four
Now if the author of the article in question
or any other respectable man sees TT to "take
me up" iet him notify me through your col
umns or, il he prefer it, those of the Weekly
Argus. l am in earnest in this matter and
therefore beg that should you see fit to de-
cline to publish this article you will send it to
the Argus Office. SI.As SMITH.