The Portland daily press., 1888-05-22

For paper that plumes itself on its plain
speaking, the Evening Express is very
successful In making itself misunderstood.
Some months ago it INDUCED in what it sub
sequently said was intended as philosophi-
cal disquisition onI politics, but which was
generally construed as stab in the back at
the representative from this district. After
a week Of laborious explanation, sand
WICKED with tributes of most touching
character to the congressman, the Express
succeeded in convincing itself that it had
convinced the public that its disquistion was
nothing more than general disquisitioD,
and meant nothing in particular After one
experience Of this sort, 1t would seem as If
1t would have exercised great care not to get
into another scrape of the same kind. But
here it is, only few months distant from
its first scrape, In another of precisely
similar character. The other day it was
moved to deliver itself of some philosophy
In regard to the caucus, subject in which
1t is profoundly versed. Nothing appar-
emily could be more innocent than dis
sertation on the caucus, and nothing
certainly could be more innocent than this
persons as guileless as itself. But, I'M
fortunately for the Express. this is wicked
world and all the people in 1t are not free
from guile. Now some Of these people with
guile in them, construed this innocent dis
QUESTION as a stab In the back at Portland's
candidate, the Hon. Henry ID. Cleaves. They
even said that the Express was beginning to
knife the candidate-a phrase the meaning of
which is only known to wicked people and
concerning which consequently the Express
must be profoundly ignorant they were
inclined to get mad and use epithets which
ought not to be applied to the guileless and
good. The appearance of this article on the
caucus in the leading Burleigh organs with
staring headlines and appreciative comments
didn't tend to make them feel any better
about 1t. OF course the Express discovered
that it had got into another scrape. At first
It seems to have been inclined to do nothing
about it. but fall back on its well known
character for guilelessness. But the scrape
kept growing worse. The noise about its
cars kept growing louder. So 1t concluded
that something must be done, and 1t pro-
ceeded to do 1t. 1t began with a tribute to
Mr.. Cleayes--said he was strong candidate.
Then 1t pitched into Burleigh-said
IL wa, impOlitic to nominate a State
Treasurer and ought not to be done.
Then it administered a singing rebuke to a
correspondent of the Sunday Telegram who
insinuated that the Express wasn't entirely
free from guile, Then 1t got right down to
business and made an explanation which
ought TO bring the blush OF shame to the face
of those wicked persons that have insinuated
that the Express is not for Cleaves first, last
and forever. And yet it wasn't satisfied. 1t
appears to have feared that even all this ex-
PLANTATION might not be sufficient to reassure
the public Of the guilelessness oft perform
ance. So it went out and got the Hon. j. I'll.
Drummond to testify that he thought the per-
Torrance was guileless that the article which
the Burleigh organs were parading with SO
much glee was nothing more than high toned
philosophical disquisition which did great
credit to the head and heart of the editor.
We don't know whether any more explana-
ton is to come or not. 1t depends very
much on how this is received. Coming from
a wicked person it probably wouldn't be re-
ceiyed at all but guilelessness counts for a
great deal, and guilelessness attested to by
other guilelessness must of course count
for good deal more. But for Mr.. Cleaves's
sake we hope the Express will from now un-
til the twelfth Of June manage to keep out Of
scrapes Of. this sort