The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1884-08-15

The "Plumed Knights are in this
campaign 10 take the place Of the
"lannersr and wide. Awakes I" of
former campaigns. Al the Blaine and
Logan meeting in New York some days
ago they wore dark trousers and long
skried hlouscs. with red collars, cuiis
and bets On their heals were silver
helmets topped with feathers though
il j. not fine feathers that make fine
birds and in their hands were torches
in the shape Of battle axes.
This parade and pomp i all very
well a. spectacle: bnt il /, 20 be oh
served that Mr.. Blaine never fought A.
knight al all; never fougnt rs a sol
dir: in fact he sent \ substitute. The
American veteran soldier will hardly
take as compliment 20 himself this biz
Of medieval humhus.
The American veteran wore neither
helmet nor shield: hurled no lance:
welded no battle.ax. lie a. often slept
under the stars as under shelter;
wrapped himsell in his ragged blanket.
or was scantilv protected ~ snoddy
coat on which some patriotic contractor
had made one hundred per cent. profit
BY cheating the Government. lie was
unable u protect his feet from mud and
water in the miserable shoes with paste
board sofas which some stay-at- home
and Substitutc-biyer Ike Blaine had
furnished nj profit of one hundred
and fifty per cent. H. was armed with
rife. on the sale ~ which to the Gov
eminent Mr.. Blaine had by Govern
msnt contract already laid the founda-
tion ~ his present millions. He crimly
faced the enemy while Blaine was dodg-
ing the draft and hiring another man to
fight. who. As il turned out. did not even
reach the field.
a. this sort Of s.plumcd knight in
blouse and cap Mr.. Blaine might have
met. in dangerous places. the "Confcd-
crate brigaiiprs' with whom he after
wards tired TO frighten the country.
But he waited until they Quit firing bull
lets in his direction They came 10
Congress without their fire ATM. They
were dressed in civilians clothes. and
sat peaceable. inoilenSive and harmless
in the House ~ Representatives. Then
the knight rose up. put on his rhetor-
zeal helm II. donncd his woriv armor
and hurled his shining lance" full in
their faces.
Il j. quite in keeping with his peace
FIJI limitations ot war. after the real war
was over. that the ..plumrd knights
who represent his military career in
the House " Representatives shonld be
sharp soldiers. dressed in paSteboard
arinor and apcout rtd with bogus wcap-
ons. They are honest onlr in rcSem-
bling Mr.. Blaine pretending to be
what they are not: mere clligies Of he
roce' mock knights IN humbug armor.
PLAYING soldier fir the amusement Of
spectators. as Blaine did in Congress
There Il another reason why Mr..
Blaine. d ''plumed knight j. only q
prctense and sham. The knights 81
OH We're not only warriors Tod. but
Tiny were required 10 b. genuine. hon
| ct anu pu y. There could be no stain
/ upon their lives. no doubIe-dealinr q
! ial>ehood or knaFcry in their careers.
I There was 10 he nothing ior cxplana-
ton or evasion. All was 10 " above
board. clear and simple; - Tcnnss on
makes Sir Galahad say:
NJ rool swori cIcAscs ID Tho caslue or men:
NY rixht hand Smisc'h sure:
Ny n rneth " wv The strength often.
lircausc nv heart ~ pure.
II i we'll. therefore. that Mr.. blaine
il only sham knight. and that hurting
4 his lance il oniy figure ~ spec u.
/. Otherwise Il would 70 hard with him
il would be his casaue that would b.
+. cleft aud his right hand sm.ttcn. sure.
detroit trec Press