The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-04-16
WallIng and Gnashing OF Teelh.

ing than offensive. 1t was evidently
written with an intention to hurt
somebody's feelings, but the impotent
rage and malice to which it gives ex-
preston are as harmless and ridicu-
lous as the hissings and contortions
of rattlesnake whose faDgs have
been extracted. We copy the article
entire, that our readers may be amused
over it, as we have been. The fact
cannot have been overlooked that
the Courier has never once given its
readers a candid and fair statement
as to the character of the ballots
which we're accepted, on the one
hand, BY the Democratic Inspector,
when they were favorable to Mr.. VAN
RIPPER, and rejected, on the other,
when they could only count for Mr..
SEMONIN. This omission on the part
of that paper shows an unwillingness
to treat its readers fairly. 1t has
been unwilling 70 furnish them with
all the facts. in the ease. On the con-
trary, the journal has not only
given all the fac.s, but copied from
the Courier the best arguments it
could make in defense of Mr.. VAN
RIPER's right to his seat. 1t is in
pursuance Of this policy that we copy
the following slashing and gnashing
article from the Courier of yesterday
1t is one Of the finest specimens OF
file biting that we have seen:
THIRD W.ARD CONTEST. - 1t has
come to be such a. common thing In
these days OF Radical supremacy, for
a defeated Radical candidate to con-
test the seat of a successful opponent,
that the public were not at all taken
by surprise when Mr.. Peter Semonin
entered protest against Mr. Van
Riper's election. Indeed, we doubt
wheter Mr.. Semonin's action would
have been regarded in any way ex-
traurdinary even though the Radicals
had not established the precedent
of contestiDg elections only because
of a Radical majority in power.
if it had not been that IL
very disgusting card pub
lished in defamation of Mr.. Van
Ripper by Monsieur Semonin, the at
ter stated that he accepted the nOml-
nation as matter of business. lie
wants to serve the voters of the Third
Ward . as a matter of business" too
and consequently goes to the expense
of employing that amiable old hum
bag. the President of the Gas Com
paDy, and one of his eOat-tail bearers
to prosecute his case, all las a
matter OF business" of course
Now, we don't pretend to say
what attorney fees Mr.. Semo
min pays as a matter of business,
to help him to sRIndle Mr.. Van Ripel
out of a position which pays no sal.
airy, but we dare say MIR. Semonir
understands what he Is about, and
intends to make "a matter Of bust.
ness of it. There may, or may not
be any significance In the fact that
the President of the Gas Company
had charge of his case. John may
have no further interest In Mr.. Sem
ohin's success than a natural desire
to have a still larger Radical majority
on the Board than the legal voters OF
the city gave his party. Or it may
be with John, as the innO-
cent Peter so eandidly confessed,
1t was with hiHt "a matter of bust
ness. La any event, 1t Is plainly the
Intention OF Messrs. Chandler and
Senonin to make Messrs. Hopkins,
Orr, and their satellites do their bid
ding, no matter how low may be their
bids, and it is quite as plain that they
are doing 1t all ''as a matter of busi-
ness. lt may be said that there
could be no reasonable desire for
more than a tWo-thirds majority on
the Board, and that the addition
of a single member above that MAORI
ty would be no object. But John
hatters himself that he is good judge
of character aud of politicians, and
knowing Messrs. Hopkins and Orr tC
be honorable men, so are they ali hon
Orable men-he thinks i6 would bC
safer to put an additional Radical Oh
the Board, Zone who, however add
tlOTlGt he might prove, In a clear case
OF subtraction, took siXty-two from
slxty-nine, and produced a remainder
OF tlUenty seUea, and very properly
chooses q man who would accept the
ONCE only as matter of bust
ness lie knew, and the public
knows, that such honorable men al
Messrs. Hopkins and Orr would
not hesitate to sacrifice business
interests for the public good
lie knew that, IN an emergency, such
honorable men as the Representatives
of the Second and Fourth Wards
might fail to come up TO the pdrt9
demands. Their course, during the
trial yesterday, fully convinced every
body present that as honorable men al
they would not be governed by the
tyranny of a party caucus. Theil
votes, upon all questions, would be
gwen independent of the prejudg
ment OF party friends. They would
be independent IN spite of the party
lashi so 1T became absolutely nee
essary to do everything possible t.
put upon the Council Board mar
Who would carry out the party view,
as matter of business" Fortu
nately for Mr.. Chandler. Messrs
Hopkins and Orr did not think it il
conflict with their sense Of honor anC
justice to count two votes for Semo
min, which, according to the plai1
provisions Of the law and the decisions
or the Supreme Court, were clearl,
illegal, and SO we may expect to SCI
6lr. Van Ripper unseated and Pete
oemonin put in his place as a mat
ter OF business"
==- ---------z=--@
Rouuaso,