Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-04-12
DEATH STRUGGLE
The Last Shot Of the Retiring Gov.
ernor Is at the Teller" at tho In.
stance OF the Ed. Of tho News /"


fit to send letter to our cotcmporary Of
the Ne'cs for publication, The following
opening to his letter shows whatFprompted
him to write:
DEAR SIR--Although contrary to my
custom to reply 70 newspaper statements
regarding my official, or other acts, no
matter how unfair, unjust and false such
representation may be, yet, as you have
50 kindly pofIered me the use of the
columns of the Ne- Perez Nems for the
purpose Of refuting-if possible-the
misrepresentation of the TELLER respect.
ing my actions on the question of 'an.
nexation," | am impcllcd to avail myself
OF the courtesy.
So it seems that Parker stirred up the
controversy to secure the aid of this re-
tiring Governor in making an onslaught,
upon the editor Of the TELLER unde,
whose aegis he might himself proceed
to make war upon the TELLER. This is
plain, for the Ex-Governor in his letter
referring to the editor of the TELLER
says:
'Those who have known him best and
longest informed me that he was ehroni-
caly indisposed to tell the truth when ii
could possibly be avoided, even though
the truth answered the purpose better
than lie"
He then adds:
'lf this reputation is undoserved the
fault is not mine, for it is the one given
him by every reputable person who ever
spoke to me Of him including many of the
best citizens of Lewiston"
He then instructs Mr.. Parker in this
wise:
''1f then, this estimate of the man does
him injustice, please consider it withdrawn.
You are at liberty to eliminate this por-
ton of my letter, if, in your judgement,
it is too severe ON your brother journ-
alist."
But Mr.. Parker did not eliminate, and
hence endorses, and goes farther and in
an editorial says that:
"Governor Neil has much the best
Of the argument.
So now we have Mr.. Parker's status
together with that of the retiring Gov
ernor, and when occasion requires viii be
inclined to profit by the knowledge. Now
to the cx-Governor's complaint against
us. lie uses the following language:
at has been charged by that sheet
(TELLER) and the accusations have been
repeated in some form in almost every
issue Of the paper for several weeks past,
that ! had proved traitor to the cause
Of annexation and had been guilty of
double dealing and duplicity in relation
thereto"
In substance we have said as much in
the TELLER in several issues, and told
the truth too, and in no wise in that par
ticular has the TELLER misrepresented
you Your own language in the letter to
the Ne,rs just published convicts you.
You say that:
"At consultation of leading members
OF the party in this city Including yoti-
self held the evening before lis (Sin2is-
er's) departure for Lewiston, it was gen
orally agreed that inasmuch as the plat
form upon which he was running was
silent on the question of annexation, he
was at liberty to adopt whatever course
he deemed wise in relation to it, and was
assured of the earnest support of those
present, without respect to that question. y
Mr. Post was present at that meeting
and was Chairman of the Republican Ter
ritorial Central Committee and immedi-
ately after said meeting Ne writes us, that
whatever pledges Mr.. Singiser made to
the people of the North on the question
of annexation, the Republicans of the
South would endorse and carry out Ex-
Governor John B. Neil was a party to
that pledge and it was made to the North
to induce her people to believe that they
the Southern Republicans, would all join
with us to have North Idaho attached to
Washington, and we endorsed Mr.. Sing
User under tina; belief that the prominent
Republicans of the South would not only
vote for Singiser, but do all in their pow.
er to aid the measure of annexation when
Singiser was elected. Not a vote wculd
he have obtained in the North had the
people supposed that Ex-Governor Neil
and leading Republicans of the South
were to betray us, and prove troacherou>
to their promises, as he did and Others
did at the late Legislature. Ex-Goyern
or Neil's allegation that he was under NJ
obligation to call attention of that bod,
to the question of annexation and the
great majority it had received in the Ter
ritory, and suggest memorial to Con
gress to carry out the expressed will of
the people, is all lie and he knows it
1t had become general question among