The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-08-30
Moses and Balaam.

MOhtS uHu DHlHuHls
From the New York Herald.
Mr.. Blaine's remarkable dictum con-
cerning trusts proves beyond the pos
sibility OF doubt that he regards him
self as the authorized Moses of the re-
publican party, with ten new com
mandments in his arms. He speaks
with the imperiOus as well as the i'm
perial emphasis which characterized
the Hebrew leader, and apparently
with the consciousness that his right
to do so comes from the same source.
1t is very refreshing in this extreme
ly hot weather to observe the cool and
eflervescent assurance with which he
establishes himself at headquarters
and assumes command of the forces.
Though the mercury is in the nineties,
the blood of the party leaders runs
like ice water in their veins. Senator
Sherman sits shivering in the frigid
zone of horror, clamoring for his win
ter furs, while Allison, his teeth chat
tering, hoar frost ON his eyebrows, is
as unhappy and chilly as the man who
faced last winters blizzard.
Mr.. Blaine, however, knows what he
is about He was foreordained to be
leader of the leaders, never doubts
in the wisdom of his own policy, does
not need to be sure that he is right be.
fore he goes ahead, according to the
time honored maxim of David Crock
EFT, for the simple reason that he is
always sure that he is always right.
He issues his DEGREES as his great
prototype Moses did, without consulta-
ton with his peers, for he knows he
has none, and with the serene con
sciousness that the party will come
when he whistles, and crouching at
his feet await further orders.
Trusts have been regarded by pretty
nearly every honest man in both par
ties as a social evil, but Mr. Blaine an
nounces an entirely different decision,
and that settles the matter. They are
"private affairs" with which no one
has right to interfere. They should
be allowed to continue in their mad
career, pile up millions for the few and
poverty for the many, and find their
remedy in the upheaval OF society
which must be their inevitable conse-
quence. The laboring classes are for
all political purposes to be regarded as
"our toiling brethren, "the bone and
sinew and conscience Of the country"
but for financial purposes they are to
be regarded as the luscious orange
which the small boy squeezes until the
best,part OF it is inside of him, after
which, he tosses the rind into the gut
Ter.
Mr.. Blaine's attitude toward these
trusts has the merit of novelty, orig
inality and great singularity. Still, if
Moses is Moses, why, then Moses let
him be, He has discovered that Eu-
rope also has trusts and large vari-
ETY. OF other kinds Of wickedness, and
and intimates that Americans ought
to be tolerant toward such evils. Be
sldes--thiS is strictly confidential
trusts ere generous. They give large
ly to campaign funds. There is moth.
ing mean in their composition. They
draw their checks in defence of their
rights, and if the republican party will
graciously become their stepmothel
these stepsons viii see that the old
lady is supplied with the necessities O
life in her declining years There i,
great shrewdness in that view OF the
situation, and Mr.. Blaine is the
shrewdest man on this continent. HC
never yet dampened the ardor of any
one who thrust his hand Into his pock
cts to support noble cause.
Well, if Mr., Blaine is the only genu
inc Moses of the republican party
with the trade mark on his forehead
to whom shall we lken Harrison
He is pure minded man, honest
practical, but at present hidden unde
a pile of rubbish in the background
II we dig him out Of his obscurity ant
present him to the people as a candi
y date for office, with which of tb
heroes Of past ages shall we compar
him?
t How would the gentle, retiring, bu
= obedient Baaam do?