The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-07-16
FOR VICE-PRESIDENT,
HENRY WILSON.
SIDNEY PERHAM.
Dragging as Means Of Conviction.

Dragging as Means Of Conviction.
The Argus for sixteen years has attempted
to create capital out of continual Dragging
and prophesying. There has never been a
time when it has not seen crowds OF converts
crowding Into the Democratic church. 1t
cannot be that the argus believes all of its
predictions which the election returns prove
to be the wildest.e wild that
they might properly be regarded as the spor-
tive extravaganza of the editor.
just now for about the twentieth time, the
Argus is trying its old game of bluff and
brag in the hope that it may lead some drift
ing people into the Democratic camp. Just
to show what kind of a prophet the Argus is,
we will quote few of some of its prophetic
utterances in 1868:
In July, 1868, the argus said:
Congress is so alarmed at the dissolving
prospects of Grants election that the leaders
are determined not to adjourn. They only
take recess But all this
won't save them. The people are moving
and their doom is fixed They may meet
and shiver over it in September, but they
cannot alter it. sa#
In the same month under the head of
How the Tide has Turned'it gives the names
og eleven Republicans of national reputation
who are supporting Seymour. 1t is said that
this number by no means completes the list.
July 18th, 1868, quoting the World the
argus puts down the election of Seymour a
certainty, being sure of securing 100 votes.
In November the Democratic party secured
half of that number, carrying New York, as
Mr.. Greeley said by shameful frauds.
Again, Aug. 9th, the Argus says the
Democrats of Indiana feel sanguine of carry
ing that State by 5000. Every day the
prospect looks brighter. ...ras ..
The Democrats lacked nearly 10000 of car
rying Indiana. --'
The same date it disagrees with the Chica-
go Times for allowing Grant 1873 electoral
votes to III for Seymour. Eastern Demo-
cratic editors concede Grant but 116.
Grants vote really was 234-more than
double what the argus conceded.
August 18th the Argus declares it is by no
means certain that the radicals can carry the
second district of this State. -ta
The Republican majority in the second dis
trict was 4,603. -...... -.........
The Argus of August 18th, says the news
that comes from every quarter is of the most
cheering character for the conservatives. It's
strong current is making steady and rapid
progress. It's strong current is still onward
and will overwhelm radicalsm in November
The same issue says the failure of Grants
name to awaken enthusiasm has become so
apparent that the question of withdrawing
him is really agitated.
Nevertheless Grants popular majority was
309,5S8. at t.....
August 7th, the argus quotes an Indiana
paper to show that the Republicans only felt
sure of Isl electoral votes-eight less than
majority. 3D.. ..H..i.
The argus said: We do not, however,
concede all of the States claimed by the ia
collins. We claim Indiana, Wisconsin, Ne
braska and Nevada, reducing their vo'e to
III Whichever way, therefore,
they look they are confronted with the ghastly
certainty of going out of power March 4th
next.
In the same issue it speaks of the great
reaction" and that the Jacobins hear the
thunder and are trying to stay the tide. Vain
effort! .,.-
= August 10th, 1868, Wisconsin was regarded
safe for Seymour. by this accurate sheet.
The Republican majority was "a AT.
August Goth, the Republican platform is
bound to go down and the conservative plat
form to go up. That is the feeling of the
people, says this prophetic sheet,
August 21st, the argus gives large num-
Der of items of converts of the Democracy by
scores and hundreds.
Nevertheless the Republi can candidates
were elected by larger popular majority than
any President except Mr.. Lincoln in 1864.
August 31st, the argus has the most cheer
ing intelligence from the great West. 1t even
claims Iowa.
The Republican majority was 1880.
September 5th it says:
Viewed i'll any light the indications all
point to an overwhelming Democratic victory
in November. Again ''The conservative tide
is sweeping on and will carry all before it.
Sept. 7th, this oracle predicted that the
radical majority in Maine would be whitfield
down to almost nothing. The Republican
majority was whitfield down to 1886.
Sept 9th, it says the Democracy were mon
opolizing the most of the great political en-
thusiasm now raging in Portland. Yet, this
monopoly" afforded the Republicans 976
majority the next Monday.
In July, 1868, the Argus quotes approving
ly-it always quotes, the following from the
Louisville Journal: "Greeley says that truth
will out. Certainly, but not out of his
mouth.
Pending most any election the last sixteen
years we may find column after column of
this stupid braggadocia. Has not the Argus
learned that the people cannot be bullied into
the Democratic party? Has it no fears that
this sort of prediction against all the facts, if
it does not strike people as falsehood, will
lead them to believe that our neighbor
is remarkably economical of the truth or that
its judgment is worthless? In short, hasn't
the prophesy dodge about played out?