St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-22
A HIPPoDRoNE CAMPAIGN

JOHN ). WISE, the Republican candidate
for governor of Virginia, has adopted new
methods of political campaigning. He has
dropped the old style of stump-speaking.
Mr.. WIsE's constituency is largely COM
posed of the negro element, who have no
interest in discussion of the state debt,
because they didn't help contract it and
never expect to contribute anything toward
paying it. Mr.. WISE understands the Vir-
ginia darkey pretty well, and he knows
that, with the exception of watermelon
patch, the colored man of the South enjoys
circus more than anything else. Conse-
quently Mr. WISE has gone into the hippo-
drOme business, and it must be admitted
his tactics are attracting large crowds to his
political meetings. When the voters are
congregated together at the county town
on the day when the Republican
meeting is to be held, instead
of inficting two-hours' speech
on them, Candidate WISE proceeds to en-
terrain them with featS of his own skill.
During the war the Republican candidate
for governor was dashing soldier in the
rebel cavalry service. His distinguished
father was the leader of a partisan band
known as the WISE legion and young JOHN
was one of the most daring spirits of the
band. The boy was trained to be a superb
hOrseman and was the crack shot of the
legion. He now finds the skill acquired i'm
the Confederate service of inestimable
value TO him. He wins admiration from
his sable cohorts by mounting a thorough
bred Virginian colt and riding it at break
neck speed through the neighboring fields.
clearing fences, bitches and hedges, lust as
he did when, with sword and pistol in hand,
he rode down the Northern invaders who
were trampling the sacred soil of his
native state. When the steeplechase
is over Mr. WISE dismOunts and calls for
his carbine. This is the gun young WISE
carried in the war of the rebellion. and is
notched all over with the record of dead
Yankees who were made to bite the dust
by its fatal shots. The Republican candi-
date wants to warm the loyal hearts of his
Republican followers by showing them how
skillful he was in bringing down Yankee
picket every time he fired at one from am
bush. Accordingly the old carbine is
brought out, and along with it a box of
blue balls designed TO represent so many
Yankee soldiers The dusky-hued Repub-
lican voters of the Old Dominion amuse
themselves by throwing the balls in the air
while their brilliant young candidate sue
ceeds in SCATTERING them by well-directed
shots. Thus Mr.. WISE makes an inn
preston upon his partizans which no amount
of argument from the other side can wipe
ont Nor does it stop with the Virginia
Republicans. When Mr.. BLAINE hears of
the skill displayed by the valiant young
Confederate, and of the numerous notches
on the barrel of the faithful old carblne. his
loyal heart warns toward the youth, he
mOurnful!y folds the bloody banner and
lays it aside long enough to dictate letter
Of congratulat!on to his dear WISE"
There are a good many ms and outs TO
politics, but for downright inconsistency
and genuine hypocrisy, the Republican
party bears the palm. WISE in Virginia
and FORAKER in Ohio are the best illustra-
tons of this fact.