Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-11-23

Et-NN ~ - $3.50
Brundage are all gratuitous. We care
nothing for them. We can afford to
be called 'puppet, heartless hypo-
critic, dirty demagogue. irresponsible
and crack Drained scribbler, scandal
scavenge,' in fact we can endure any
term Dir. Brundage may throw at US.
1t is sort of hellish ability one pos
sesses which throws out such epithets,
as a volcano vomits forth its ashes and
sublimed rock. They don't worry us
in the least.
Mr.. Brundage asserts that we have
been pursuing" him for "six weeks"
with venom" Now Mr.. Brundage
knows better. We have only replied
to his attacks upon US, which have
been low and filthy; that we have
used some hard words we are ready to
concede, but has he not also used hard
words? We said not one word rela-
tive to Mr. Brundage's candidacy.
We opposed him openly, but we can
say that we asked no man in Wood
county to support Mr.. Wood, we ad-
viGed no man not to support Mr.. Brun-
dage. We have been disguised with
Mr.. Brundage's political course. We
can see no consistency in it. We do
not believe he has been honest. We
know that he has "gone back" on his
best friends and consorted with gamb-
lers, and defaulters, and the degraded
ones in politics, and largely III social
life. For this we can find no excuse
for him. He can find none for him.
self. Ever since Mr.. Brundage came
to Grand Rapids, we have been a
friend to him We have been willing
to sacrifice ourself for him in many
ways.
We have not been always to him an
irresponsible and cracked Drained
scribbler." He has not always
thought us "puppet:" There have
been times when our service has been
very welcome upon the Tribune, and
we were glad to be Of service to one
whom we counted on as friend. We
have no desire to bring up out of the
past anything that may awaken bitter
That our most implicite
has been betrayed many
times, even 20 an extent that has ut
terly cast us down, is too true; but
all has been forgiven, though not for
gotten as it can never be. We say it
with no exultant pride, but because
it is a truth that we must utter, that
we have withheld no good thing from
Mr.. Brundage ever. We have been
at his service always.
1t is but just that the public should
know facts that it may rightly judge
whether we are the villain Mr.. Brun-
dage would paint us. We have been
treated by him as a nonentity in our
office. Our presses have been at his
service for the striking off of his Dem
ocratic sheet. He has maligned US
with our own type and published
broadcast his ISLANDERS in our own
ofice-upon our own press. He has
not thought US of sufficient account
to even speak to US relative to such
privilege We make mention of these
things only in self defence, for we can
net believe ourself to be so vile man
as Mr. Brundage would have the peo-
pie believe us to be.
The past IS past, and forever. The
future IS open to receive the written
record. Mr. Brundage and the editor
Of the Reporter can never more be
friends. We only ask that he cease
his malignings, that he speak Of US
not at all.
We cannot forbear utterance of one
thought. We stood only few days
ago beside the grave Of 'sbrother, y
the grave Of one who, by fraternal ties
was a ''brother'' to Mr.. Brundage,
and after the ashes had been lowered
into its cold bed, we all listened to the
beautiful words of the burria al services
of the "Order." They were full of
love, full of charity, and to them Mr..
Brundage responded, $50 mote it be. "
o the hollowness of that utterance.
With no i'll will toward Mr.. Brundage
we herewith cease all controversy.
Whatever he may say of us or ours
shall be nothing to US, in all the long
future.
The only known copy of the first
newspaper printed in America is in the
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