The Portland daily press., 1880-11-20

The Democratic newspapers have finally
found reliable person" who is acquainted
with another ''reliable person" who has
learned from third person similarly charac-
terized, all about the visit of Gen. Grant and
Senator (onkling to Mentor during the re-
cent campaign. This ''reliable person. has
learned from these other reliable persons
that at that visit an agreement was drawn
up and duly signed in which Gen. Garfield
delivered himself into the hands of the
"stalwarts' to be moulded, like clay in the
hands of the potter, as they saw fit. The
consideration which the "stalwarts'' agreed
to'give Gen. Garfield, was the Presidency of
the United States which it is we'll known
Senator Conkling had been for some time
carrying around in his vest pocket with the
intention of presenting to the man who
seemed disposed to show the most gratitude
for the gift.
The description given by the ultimate
reliable person" of the meeting is very
touching. Gen. Garfield, we are told,
was feeling very blue. The "relable per-
son" doesn't seem to have inquired of the
General what he was feeling blue about, but
inferred that it was about his prospects in
the coming election. The conversation at
first was of very gloomy kind, as the con-
versation of man who is blue is apt to be.
Garfield expressed the opinion that MS cause
was hopeless and that even his own
State would go against him. With
diabolical cunning the ''stalwarts'' seem
for time to have encouraged
the Generals depression; calculating no
doubt that the more melancholy he became
the more grateful he would be to the men
who should save to him the prize he be-
lieved to be lost beyond recovery. The cur
tain went down on what may be called the
ing profusely. When the curtain was
rung up again Conkling's tall form was
stretched to its full height, and his counte-
nance betokened consciousness of power
more unmistakable even than is it's wont.
He cast a pitying glance at the bowed form
before him, and then with tragic air and
tone exclaimed ''All is not lost; promise to
turn out Merritt from the Custom House
and give Logan the patronage of Illinois
and you shall have the Presidency" Gar
field promised. "Put it in writing" de-
manded the stalwart autocrat, and Garfield
again complied. The curtain fell on Conk-
ling presenting the Presidency.
Now this is very pretty story and there
is enough of the tragic about it to make it
immensely taking If the reliable persons
had been discovered during the campaign
Barnum would undoubtedly have had it il
lustrated and scattered broadcast through
out the land. Barnum's failure to find these
persons furnishes another confirmation of
the fact that he was not the best man to be
found to run Democratic campaign. He
injected great many lies into it, but here
is one which he failed to avail himself Of
Perhaps, however, anticipating the detected
state of mind in which the election would
leave the Democratic editors he pur-
posely left it to cheer them up. If so he is
entitled to their warmest thanks, for it has
proved very fruitful in consolation. They
hug it to their bosoms and fondle it with as
much tenderness as mother bestows on
her only remaining child. OF course they
all know that General Grant pronounces the
story whole cloth falsehood, but then they
feel that if they should rely on the truth for
comfort they would be wretched forever
THE Argus has finally got round to SEN