The sun., 1889-11-09
Tho Cyclopedia in the South.

The Roman and LacedRmonian speech
delivered by the Hon. ROSWELL PRTTIBoNR
| FLOWER in Atlanta few weeks ago is still
going the rounds Of the Southern newspa-
pers. and We may add that it is regarded
with just admiration by all who read it. We
print the Atlanta speech at this late day
because 1t throws new light on the mys-
terious Cyclopedia incident.
It may be remembered that one Of the
theories offered to explain Governor Hills
reference to the Cyclopedia in his remarks
at Atlanta and at Chattanooga was that the
alusion covered good joke at tho
expense OF certain of his travelling COM
panions on the Southern trip. The extensive
historical and statistical research displayed
in some Of the oratory along the route had
been the subject OF pleasant banter In the
party, and at Atlanta as we'll as at Chatta-
nooga Governor HILL had this in mind
when he humorously declared that he. for
one. had not brought his Cyclopedia along
with him.
The force OF the remark lies in its applica-
ton; and can any one doubt after reading
the Hon. ROSWELL P. Flowers Roman and
Lacedemonian speech. justwha application
We are aware that the Hon. ELLIS H.
ROBERTS has pointed out the fact that the
Atlanta speech Of Governor HILL was written
In Albany before he started southwark; and
that the speech, Cyclopedia allusion and all.
was furnished In advance In q printed or
typewriter copy to the Utica Herald, the
Albany Eeenin0 Journal and other New
York newspapers. How, then, it will be
asked by those who are bound to twist the
incident into q deliberate insult to Mr..
GROVER CLEVELAND. can Governor HILL
have meant FLOWER, and not CLEVELAND.
II the Cyclopedla joke was devised at Albany
several days before Mr.. Flowers speech
was delivered?
In the most simple and natural way in the
world. Mr.. Flowers speech, like Governor
Hills. must have been prepared before
leaving home. What is more natural than
to suppose that Mr.. FLOWER submitted q
copy Of his proposed remarks to the Cover
nor before they started; and that the latter,
with a quiet twinkle In his eye aimed
harmless and good-natured joke at a friend
whom he knew to be too substantial and
sensible man. too good fellow. too little
wrapped In pompous self-contemplatlon, to
take the slightest offence2
II Governor HILL had maliciously intended
to wound the sensibillties of Mr.. CLEVELAND
on the Cyclopedia question, he would not have
destroyed the effect of his shaft by repeat
ing the allusion at Chattanooga. II he had
merely intended to poke little friendly fun
at Mr.. CLEVELAND. he would have dropped
the subject at Atlanta as soon as he
found that he had underestimated the sore
ness which the original CylopediA incident
had left In the mind of that statesman.
Governor HILL is q man of tact and good
feeling. The fact that he repeated the Cyclic
pedia allusion at Chattanooga, after it had
been hastily but very generally interpreted
by Mr.. CLEvELAND's friends as an insult to
the ex-President. is strong proof that he
wanted to show that Mr. CLEVELAND and
Mr.. CLEvELAND's copy of the Cyclopedia
had not been in his mind.
AS for Brother FLOWER, we think him
abundantly able to stand a little fun with
out squealing. Indeed, he would be the first
man to chuckle over his small army OF
Romans and Lacedemonians marching
through Georgia, under the leadership of
AGEsILAUs, and RoDERIcK DHU.