The Portland daily press., 1868-11-10
A Rod for the Deceivers.

sent the proprietor in all business HaIters.
A Rod for the Deceivers.
We do not feel like exposing fallen politi-
cal foe. unless some good may be likely to come
from the exposure. Our political opponents
have been, for the last few months, very bold
and defiant in their style of conducting the
campaign. Judging by their manner and tone,
one would suppose, while listening to them
that the Republican cause-just as it is-had
no chance of su cess. Assertion and predic-
tions for the future, were as plentiful as au-
tumn leaves, and as unstable as water. LII Is
to that spirit of braggadocio, winch arise
whenever the Democratic party nave pom
to carry to which we administer reproo1
Very likely it may do no good. But we intend
to do our duty by this unfortunate and hum
bled race, and perhaps we may be the means
OF taking some of that evil spirit of brag out of
them which has taken possession of them
much after the manner in which the swine
were invaded in olden time; and if they don't
take heed to, their Wanting ways will lead
them to the same swift destruction.
The Argus undertook to predict the result of
the election, and on the 18th of Oct, only three
weeks before it occurred, it facetiously told
story of General Grants saying to one of his
leutenants that when the war was over he
would be candidate for mayor of Galena, and
my platform" said he, twill extend from my
house to the railroad-station There I'll smoke
my cigar in the evening"" This was genuine
modesty. The Argus, in the profundity OF its
wit, turned it to another account, excaiming
"The General will have ample time to stand
on his platform after the Sd of November.
All, Mr.. Argus! the ''ample time" will be
Just four months and a day,-when if your
magnanimity will allow you to visit Washing
ton at the Inauguration YOU may see the Gen.
eral you have SO kindly assigned to Galena,
smoking his cigar at the White House, and as
ready to shake hands with you, and forgive
you your heinous political sins, as Reverdy
johnson was to embrace Mr.. Laird, and over
look his wicked course during the war.
The editor of the Maine Democrat was al
ways getting himself into hobble by his fool
ish desire to be aprophet. So he dashes away,
predicting that Seymour would have the elec-'
toral college without counting any from the
South" "a change of 1900 votes would add
New Hampshire 5, and Rhode Island cleo
toral votes to our list" But the trouble was
they didn't "cbange." Having said thus much,
the Colonel reachesa climax and exclaims-
"We need not look at details. The political
revolution now in motion will sweep the whole
North, and will permit many of the South
ern States to rise and assert their rights.
There will be no force, no disorder, no tumu 1t,
but an irresistible Democratic victory."
1t is plaiu enough that the opinion of the
Democrat, at that time, and no other in fact,
on political matters, was worth "ten cents" p
and that E. K. Smart did not reach Biddeford
any too soon to take charge of that wing of the
rebellious army. We hope Ephraim will "take
heed to his ways" and not fall into the same
slough his predecessor did, but strive tc keep
truth within hearing distance.
Mr.. Pendleton, ON his appearance here was
q little more cautious True he was rash
enough in other assertions, but when he came
to voting, he knew better. So he appealed to
his audience to give them victory. "Give
them vestige of victory here in Maine," he
said in September, Sand we will reply by Civ
ing you Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Gap
piause.) And when we do it we will elect
Horatio Seymour as our President" Now as
Maine did walk up to the work in September,
as laid out for her by Mr.. Pendleton, the
other States did not follow his suggestion.
We do not see therefore, as he can be held ON
that count, and the Democracy will have to
acquit him for not fulfilling his contract, as
they being the first party in it, failed to do up
the little chore he made preliminary to his
sweeping the three large States in the West.
George is excused, and may take his seat.
AS early as August LIST, Mr.. E. o. Perrin,
Secretary of the Democratic National Conven-
ton, deemed it necessary to come into Maine,
and look after the faithful. He was a big gun,
and the big trumpets ushered him on to the
platform and walked up the people to the mer
its of the distinguished stranger. Mr.. Perrin
walked into the present state of affairs, with
no mean stride. He saw ruin on every hand,
and no salvation but in the Cincinnatus of
Deerfeld. Hear how lie agonized over his be-
loved country:
Inever felt half the anxiety about the fate of
the country with JEFF. Davis openly attempt
ing its destruction, as with those secret enc
mics at home who pecemeal are pulling down
the national fabric until like Sampson they
will bury themselves and us in the general de-
struction.
Having uttered this fearful apostrophe, the
fatal spirit of prophecy fell upon him likewise,
'1f my own State of New York !" he said, 'does
not give 100 600 majority for her favorite son,
erase one star from her banner, and add one
stripe as an emblem of her own degradation"
Perrin was willing to have her wiped out if
New York didn't give Seymour 100000 MAJOR
ty. As the vote falls from 80 to 95 900 below
that mark, it would seem that his arithmetical
powers were rather below par, and New York
is to be wiped out. The Senate of the United
sl..s4 olr
they put the veto upon this prophets being a
Chief Justice of one of the territories.
1t was not, however, till the 22d of August
that the biggest gun of all-the hundred
pounder-appeared in Portland. This was
Colonel A. o. Brewsterl Before him these
other stars shine only as farthing rush lights.
He appeared at City Hall on that evening
and, after complaining that he was short of
of wind-which the result by no means verified
he rushed to the footlights, with all the
phrensy of Edmund Kean in Richard" and
exclaimed:
New York will be ours, so will New Jersey.
Ohio and Pennsylvania are ranging upon our
side. California and Nevada will be with us,
Indiana apd Illinois are sure, while Maryland,
Tennessee, Oregon, Missouri Louisiana. Dele
ware, Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky, will
fall into the grand Democratic line; to saw
nothing of Connecticut, New Hampshire Kan
sas and Nebraska, which will give immensely
decreased majorities for the opposition. even if
they do not go for Seymour, as some of them
undoubtedly will
And so Brewster having, with one daring
swoop, carried over about ten States for Sey-
mour, that went with rousng majorities for
Grant, his wind really gave out and he sat
down amid thunder of applause from the I'M
terrified.
1t was on this memorable evening that this
classic motto and picture appeared
"Let us have Peace" (Caricature of Grant
hanging to Mules Tail, while on the
Saddle were the words, Take your
Seat Horatio.')
Who hangs by the mules tail now? Who
vaults into the saddle with more than two hun
dred votes? And who rides upon the crup-
per?
Thus it was that on the evening of the ODD
OF an autumnal month, Col Brewster, with
pleasant jest, and touching pictures, amused
the hard-headed and ff-jointed Democracy
They drank in what he said with as much
faith as they would quaff the best of old Bour-
bon. Where is Brewster? Will he please
sy;ya ono mora entartain ment in or, Ii III =,