Making the Dagger Stab the Holder
Upon the first debate of the Lincoln-Douglas series, an admirer of the former, having no doubt now “the stump speaker” would defeat the meretricious parliamentarian, said:
“I believe, Abe, you can beat Douglas for the Senate.”
“No, Len, I can’t beat him for the Senate, but I’ll make him beat himself for the Presidency.”
Douglas did gain the prize, but he lost his chances in the presidential race by alienating the whole Southern vote.—(Related by Mr. Leonard Swett, the “Len” above, to Mr. Augustus C. Buell.)