The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-07
The Piumed Knights.

The "Plumed Knights" are in this
campaign to take the place of the
Tanners and Wide-Awakes" of
former campaigns. At the Blaine and
Logan meeting in New York some days
ago they wore dark trousers and long
skirted blouses, with red collars, cuffs
and belts. On their heads were silver
helmets topped with feathers-though
it is not fine feathers that make fine
birds-and in their hands were torches
in the shape of battle axes.
This parade and pomp is all very
well as a spectacle; but it is to be OBJ
served that Mr.. Blaine never fought as
a knight at all; never fought as a SOL
der; in fact be sent substitute. The
American veteran soldier will hardly
take as a compliment to himself this bit
of medieval humbug.
The American veteran wore neither
helmet nor shield; hurled no lance;
welded no battle-ax. He as often slept
under the stars as under shelter;
wrapped himself in his ragged blanket,
or was scantily protected BY a snoddy
coat on which some patriotic contractor
had made one hundred per cent. profit
by cheating the Government He was
unable to protect his feet from mud and
water in the miserable shoes with paste
board soles which some stay-at-home
and substitute-buyer like Blaine had
furnished at profit of one hundred
and fifty per cent. He was armed with
a rifle. on the sale of which to the Gov
eminent Mr.. Blaine had by Govern
ment contract already laid the founda-
ton of his present millions. He grimly
faced the enemy while Blaine was dodg-
ing the draft and hiring another man to
fight, who as it turned out, did not even
reach the field.
AS this sort of 'plumed knight in
blouse and cap Mr.. Blaine might have
met, in dangerous places, the ''Confed-
crate brigadiers" with whom he after
wards tried to brighten the country.
But he waited until they quit firing bull
lets in his direction. They came 20
Congress without their fire arms. They
were dressed in civilians clothes, and
sat peaceable, inoffensive and harmless
in the House of Representatives. Then
the knight rose up, put on his rhetor.
ical helmet, donned his wordy armor
and hurled his shining lance full in
their faces.
1t is quite in keeping with his peace
full limitations of war, after the real war
was over, that the ''plumed knights
who represent his military career in
the House OF Representatives should be
sharp soldiers, dressed in pasteboard
armor and accoutered with bogus weap
ons. They are honest only in resem-
bling MIR. Blaine-pretending to be
what they are not; mere effigies Of he
roes; mOck-kIights in humbug armor.
playing soldier for the amusement OF
spectators, as Blaine did in Congress.
There is another reason why Mr..
Blaine, as ''plumed knight" is only
pretense and sham. The knights OF
old were not only warriors bold, but
they were required to be genuine, hon.
est and pure. There could be no stain
upon their lives, no double-dealing OF
falsehOod or knavery in their careers.
There was to be nothing for explana-
ton or evasion. All was to be above
board, clear and simple; as Tennyson
makes Sir Galahad say:
My good sword cleaves to the casque of men;
My right hand smiteth sure;
My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.
1t is well, therefore, that Mr.. Blaine
is only sham knight, and that hurting
his lance is only a figure of speech.
Otherwise it would go hard with him;
it would be has casque that would be
cleft and his right hand smitten, sure.
Detroit Free Press.