The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-16
AN APPLE OF pIsCoRp.


The feast of the Democratic gods at Chicago,
the annual convivium deorum yclept the
meeting of the Iroquois Club, was sadly dis
figured, if not actually knocked out of time,
in the last round. AS in the ancient feast
of the mythical gods, so in this more tangi-
BILE and feshly banquet of mortals, the
Goddess of Dscord wrought sad work. and
it is not improbable that ten years war will
follow among the adherents OF the factions.
The apple in the present instance was thrown
into the feast by Colonel Villas, of Wiscon-
sin, and it was picked up later by Everett P.
Wheeler. president of the New York Free
trade League. The fruit was beautiful in the
eyes of the free-traders present, and each in
turn fondled and admired it until Mayor
Harrison's turn came to make a speech in
response to the toast "a Public Office
Public Trust" Now Carter, anticipating
this duty, had prepared very neat and very
virtuous address on this topic, which at the
time he arose to respond was already in type
in the composing-rooms of the various Chi
cago papers. In that acknowledgements
speech there was nothing whatever that
would ruffle the feelings of his fellow
banqueters. Their surprise and chagrin may
be imagined when Mr.. Harrison suddenly
changed his tactics and brought his guns
to bear on those nearest about him. Point
blank he sent solid acknowledgements
shot into their ranks until they wriggled
and worried in manner most painful tc
behold. One after another of the speakers
who had preceded him had extolled the
beauties of free trade until the Mayors in
dignation knew no bounds and from nurs-
ing his wrath to keep it warm, he rose red
hot for the fray. Like the lrishman that he
is, or should be, he was saturated with the
knowledge of the harm wrought Ireland by
the free-trade policy of England; and
like an Irishman he was not
slow to express his condemna-
ton of the attempt to commit the Demo-
cratic party at this time to the principle of
free trade in America. AS the mayor went
warmly to work Bayard scowled and
squirmed, Hoyne met it duck-fashion by
taking the storm on his back, Hubert and
Wheeler, who had grown happy over the
enthusiasm evoked by free-trade talk, grew
strangely morose, while Villas ana Congress
man Springer Wed with each other in trying
to look sourest To say that the happy as
semblage was petrified with astonishment
and chagrn would be drawing it very mild
While horror sat on every averted face, each
tongue was tied, and the assembled
Solons were very unhappy indeed
The comfy of the symposium was
sadly marred, and it was evident that there
were present adherents of Minerva as well as
of Venus With no Paris present to adjudi-
cate the contest, there was nothing to do but
to depart as quietly as the exigencies of the
hour would permit, and this was done speed
lily, the benediction being omitted in the
confusion wrought by the enthusiastic but
indignant mayor. The morning papers re-
ported Harrison's speech as he wrote it-a
regularly prepared college green af-
fair-while the address he deliv-
cred was, in the estimation of
those present, very fine reproduction of
lively afternoon at a Donnybrook fair. But
the real speech was impaled on a reporters
stylus, and it is evident from it that Carter
whacked the pompous statesmen right
and left, and the few who had their
eyes open next day were only too
conscious of the fact that of the Irish legion,
that has ever stood fast in support of the
Democratic party, but few could be rallied
again if the party adopted the tactics of Eng
gland relative to free-trade. II is said the
burnt child breads the fire Ireland has
been consumed in the fire of free trade. Her
industries have gone down until now they
are the mere skeleton of what they once
were, and are not even the ghost of what
they should be. Educated IN the school of
bitter experience the Irish will not soon
forget the lesson they learned in this drec-
ton The leaders may rail at Mayor Har-
rison all they please, but they will learn
that Iroquois Clubs, at terrapin dinners, do
not make either politics or candidates for
parties in this free country. .i.
-
THE growing shortage of the water supply
in Naw NorL, city has ieveloned fine fact