Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-06-18
"B0b FrizZle Men. "

A late citizen of Alexandria, noted for his
genial humor and relish of joke, as we'll as for
his excellent qualities of head and heart. used
to relate with great gusto the story of Bob
Frzzle, as an illustration of the determination
OF obstinate men.
Bob Erizzle it seems was a citizen of our
neighboring county of Fairfax. He was rather
fond of going to the county court, and doing as
many countrymen are too apt to do there on
court occasions, when drouthy neebors, neebors
meet" On one of these days Bob had taken
on too much conviviality, and late in the day,
on his way home, in walking over small bridge,
had taken one step too many In side-long d.
rection, and gone down into the small stream
beneath. His head being sufficiently lightened
to float, he did not drown, but his legs being
unmanageable under water he could not ex-
tricate himself, so he sat very quietly up to his
waist in the wave, waiting for the subsistence
of the food or Of the muddle in his brain. which
would enable him to navigate to land, and
looking rather less like picture of patience on
monument than of dignity imperturbable by
undignihed surrounding circumstances. In this
position he was found by neighbor who was
vending his way homeward, with little less
inspiration and more discrimination than Mr..
Frizzle. ''Hallo. Bob,'' he exclaimed, on see
ing the figure of his friend with the waters Law
ing its base, and its unsubmerged portion sway
ing to and fro like the wind-rocked branches of
the overhaDging willows, Halo, Bob, did you
the ire of the untrammeled freeman was arous-
ed in the bosom Of Robert. He felt the sting
of the imputation conveyed In the question and
the reflection it seemed to cast upon his proper
appreciation OF the franchise of individual lib
erty. YES" he replied in tone of lofty de-
fiance, (morally lofty Notwithstanding his abas-
ed condition physically, Yes, fell in, but l
fell in myself, and LII fell in agin, if | choose
to.
The moral of the story is apparent, and would
as we have said, be applied by our lamented
Bob Frizzle mem who, bent on doing foolish
and useless act, would boldly put down con-
demnation by an assumption of the ipalienabe
right of the citizen to 'fel! in any puddle, or
get in any muddle, If he choose to-"
The men who perslstently proclaim the wis
dom of ''a square fight" by the Democratic
party are surely Bob Frizzle men," The
Democratic party has been trying to cross the
bridge which leads over the stream of contest
70 the vantage shore of success for many years.
We do not say they are in Bob Frizzle's condi-
ton, but circumstances are against them. -
In the attempt they have had sundry falls.
They fell in in 60, and on came the war; They
fell in in 64, though the truest and best soldier
that war brought out on the Federal side was
their candidate They fell in in 6S, when they
had IS fair show and as straight path as
they could desire, and they are now, some of
them, proclaiming their determination to ''fell
in agin.
Gentlemen, it will not do We, the South
ern people cannot allow you that privilege just
now. We are rather too much interested. 1t
would do very we'll for us to let you fall in your
selves, but then you drag US in with you, don't
you see?' And the trouble is that We must fall
on the bottom and be submerged, head and
ears, while you only get your feet wet. We
must perish, but you will be all right. when, a
little while after the accident you sit each at
his own snug fire-side, dry and warm, enjoying
the liberty of doing as you choose to" with
the recuperative means at your command.
Wait yet another term. Let the broad prin-
ciple of universal nationality be established
by the election of the nominees of the party
which has proclaimed it as the vital question
Of this contest, and pledged itself to establish
it. After that is assured, it will make no diff
ference if you try experiments on minor mat
ters. But just now, gentlemen of the Northern
Democracy, for it is to you we specially appeal,
do not, oh do not on this momentous occasion,
insist upon being bob Frizzle men p Kir-
giinia Sentinel (Alecdndria.)