Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-09
Mnrat Halstead's Last Joke.

Field-Narshal MCRAT HALSfEAD II
| bumorist Of the first water. His bum0r Is
extrayagant or nothing. When he gets up
4 Joke II is on hghly-colored scale, in
| which the blood tInts predominant. The
| Joke be started out In Cincinnati some
months ago about "a jailful OF murder
ors" Is monument TO his innate sense OF
fun. As little piece of harmless diver
sion for the dedication OF the public, that
Joke could not, we thought, be eclipsed
even by MURAT himself. He succeed
ed in starting a pyro:echnlc display
that attracted the attention Of the
entire country. However. we were mis-
taken rs to the extent OF MURAT'S power as
a Joker. His last is really the work OF
genius. He assumes that he is politician
and prophet-which assumption is IN IT,
self replctc with satire and humor, for
MURAT has seldom made a prediction that
came true--and then paints picture OF
the effect OF Democratic success. After
stating that the "rebel soldiers would be
penSiOned and the slaves would he paid
for ont Of the public treasury" he adds:
"The solid South would give law 70 the
nation. The Southern COnfederacy would
be supreme over the United States. There
would be ten thousand grievances TO re-
dress. thousand times ten thousand re-
venges, with compound interest for twenty
years unpaid. for rebels and cOpperheads
to crafty. The South would recOup her
self and would help herself TO tJe national
money with both bloody bands, and it
would be made in official circles discredit-
able TO have taken part in the uuconstitu-
tlonal war for union and liberty"
To those not acquainted with MURAT
IIALsTEAD this may appear singular Ian
gupge in which to couch Joke. But the
fact is that. despite the success OF his Gin
cinnati performance, he is not thoroughly
appreciated. Even Mr.. BLAINE does not
thoroughly appreciate him. II he did he
would have taken him along with his circus
TO do the political sOmersault business. In
1876 and in 1880 MURAT opposed Mr.
BLAINE rs ardently rs he now supports
him. TO those who do not see the humOr
in the above quotation, it is necessary to
explain that MURAT is one OF the most inno-
cent human beings alive, that he is incapa-
bic OF yindctiyenesS, and that he has
most rigid regard Cor the truth. He is
so conscientious and scrupuous. and his
record Is so entirely opposed to the idea
that he would write and publish anything
that he did moi believe or do injustice to a
40 hat "a
cusion is that he is joking. whether we
discern the joke or not. Yet after all, we
question the wisdom Of this piece Of hui
nor. II is calculated to lead TO injustice
are many people who have never yet re-
allied that there was any fun in instigating
the Cincinnati riot. while in commenting
on the Joke under consideration our stolid |
Boston contemporary Qhe
Herdid), which seems to have no more |
idea OF humOr than gate-post, says:
:" why not make the picture darker, and |
show the probable restoration OF the slave |
system. the cOnfiscation OF northern prop |
crty. and the destruction OF all our com |
lDerce ard manufactures"
1t is just possible that other papers and |
the general public may miscOnstrue the |
gentle MUBAr's motive. as the Herald has |
done, and thereby place him in the position |
Of showing that the cause Of the party OF |
high moral ideas is very weak. II the i'm |
presAAN &ould get abroad that MURAT was |
not Joking it might carry with it an I'M
preston tending to damage his reputation |
for ycracity. and bring into question his |
love for the South. Some might even think |
that he is leagued with those who hold
that the Democrats who fought on the |
northern side during the civil war are dis.
loyal and not tit TO be trusted to administer
the Government.