The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-03
III the Union was worth fighting for ii is
worth paying for.
A SOcdOlager.

Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms de-
fines ''socdolager" as ga conclusive argu-
ment." "a settler" ''a patent fish.hook hay
ing two hooks which close upon each other
by means Of spring as soon as the fish
bites" Having in mind these definitions we
may properly call General Garfeld's speech,
made in the House last Saturday, a socdola-
ger. The Democrats find it so, and are
quite unable to meet its arguments. But as
they are obliged to say something, and as
they cannot reply, they retort.
The Democratic method of treating the
speech is very ludicrous. General Garfield
reminds the Congressional majority that the
law they areenow seeking to repeal was in
troduced into the Senate by Mr.. Powell of
Kentucky, and was voted for by every D emo
cratic Senator, and that when it went to the
House every Democrat there voted for it.
Pendleton, Randall, Wood, gave it their
votes.
In reply the Argus shouts s'DeGolyer."
General Garfield reminded the Democrats
that their national convention at Cincinnati
In 1856 affirmed the right of the veto as one
of the sacred rights of the Government, and
that the doctrine was again advanced by the
National Democracy in 1860, when it was
declared that any law which could not be
passed over veto by two-thirds vote had
no right to become law, and that the only
redress was an appeal from the veto to the
people at the next election.
In reply the argus cries: "A roaring
specimen of tragic buncombe."
General Garfield recalled the fact that the
doctrine of the veto advocated by the Demo
Gratis in 1856 and 1860, has been Democratic
doctrine since Jackson's time.
In reply the Argus accuses the orator of
stealthily tucking into his trowsers pocket
a So, 900 fee.
General Garfield reminded his Democratic
hearers, in conclusion, that only six years be-
fore the war their law authorized Marshals
of the United States to 60 through all our
households and hunt for fugitive slaves. It
did not only that, but it empowered marshals
to call for posse comitdtus, and to call upon
all the bystanders to join in the chase.
"And," he added, "your Democratic Attor-
ney General declared, In an opinion in 1854,
that marshal of the United States might
call to his aid the whole posse, including SOL
diers and sailors and marines of the United
States, to join in the chase and to hunt down
the fugitive. Now, fell ow-members of the
House, if, for the purpose of making slavery
eternal, you could send your marshals and
could summon posses and use the armed
forces Of the United States, by what face or
grace can you tell us that, in order to procure
freedom in election and peace at the polls,
you cannot use the same marshal with his
armed posse?"
In reply the argus again sounds its barba-
ric yawp, and shouts, ''De Golyer Garfield
If it can't whip the other boy it can make up
faces at his sister.
And the course of other Democratic jour-
mails is much the same as the course of the
Argus They do not attempt to meet Gen.
eral Gar6eld's arguments, but keep up
lusty shout of "De Golyer." That may sat
isfy them, but the people will be apt to think
the epithet very poor reply to the Ohio
Congressman's arraignment of the Demo.
Gratis for their gross inconsistency, their revo-
lutionary spirit, and their attempt to starve
the Government into submission to their de-
mands.