Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-02-28
PourTroAL cHANGELrNas.
A Texas Editor has Excellent Reasons
for FloppinR. ' -.
[TexAs Siftings.I ]

toF rtopptnR'
Texas SiftIugsI
At the dinner given by the Harlem Demo
cratic Club in honor of the birthday of Sam
uelJ Tilden, the toast, political Change
lings," fell TO A. Miner Griswold, editor of
Teras Svti,l9s, who responded as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:-Therei is a
popular prejudice in favor Of a mans wear
ing his garments right side out, as the tailor
intended them to be worn, and the world Eas
always looked on a turncoat with suspicion
especially in political life. Worthy as his
motives may be-and will not say they arc
always sunwOrthy-they yet are liable to mis-.
construction, and men will ask, "What was
the consideration?"
No, indeed, gentlemen, we never like o turn,
coat-unless it be on the eve of an important
and closely contested election, when he turns
our way. Then we arc ready to swear that
that is the most picturesque and becoming
manner of wearing the garment, and express
surprise that he hadn't changed his coat long
before. General merriment)
While this is the case nothing fills us with
such unutterable disgust as to learn that an
old friend and comrade, who had stood shoul-
der to shoulder with us during the dust and
smoke of heated political campaign, had
passed over to the enemy when the battle
went against Us. r. .....
You can easily understand, then, what my
feelings must have been on receiving this let
ter from my old and valued friend, Col. Bill
Snort, of Texas, editor of that erstwhiIe Dem
ooratic sheet, the Crosby County Clarion and
Farmers Vindicdtor-with sworn circula.
tion of 800 copies week-informing me that
on the defeat of Cleveland he had changed the
politics of his paper. He had abandoned the
hnnnRoH hon Of
he says here, rallied round the standard M
Harrison and-and-ag gentleman whose name
he had momentarily forgotten at the time OF
writing. ...'..-, '..
he means Morton, of course. but he is ex-
cusaole for not remembering his name, since
1t was almost wholly unknown in Texas be-
lore his nomination, as it was nearly every-
where else, except on Wall street and in Par
Is. How Col. Snort could ever have aban-
doned the honest old red bandana of his par
ty, for the daintily embroidered, Paris per-
Tuned mouchOir of the e1-minister to France
ls more than / can comprehend. (Applause. J
The Colonel seems to feel that some expl q
nation of his conduct ia due me, as had Of
ten in times past Endorsed his Democracy
something, by the way, that never felt JUS
titled in doing by his notes. So it is that he
has written me this letter, which / will not
read in its entirety, but confine myself to a
few of its more essential points. ,'5l
1.-THE result of the electien," writes Col.
Snort, "proves that the people want change:
and as got little short of change myself
towards the latter part of the campaign find
myself in thorough harmony with the people.
Laughter Do not think for moment that
/ am actuated by selfish considerations (they
never are.) Consider what have given ND. -
When stated that never knew the Colo
mel to give up cent, unless compelled to,
you can form some idea of the sacrifices he
has made. . ,..... ... ..
With regard to Trusts, too-except the Glass
cents a glass-the Colonel has
changed his mind-thongh the saloon keepers
of his town have not, as he sorrowfully in
forms me in postscript. There are four or
five saloons to every block in Crosbyville, and
Col. Snort had worked them quite
on Dudiey's Indiana plan-in
blocks of fve-but latterly they have written
over their bars the depressing legend-"No
trnst-for Col. Snort" (Much laughter. } Z.
The Colonel ia angry. He says now he
agrees with Blaine, that a trust il wholly n
private affair, and he Indignantly protests
against its being made public in this ostenta-
tious and offensive way.
"You know very WE'LL" continues the Colo
mel, that have worked day and night in the
interest of refOrm-except, perhaps, in my
own individual case, but can do that later.
have talked reform in season and out of sea-
son, and when it wasn't very good season
for reform, anyhow. I have written columns
upon columns in opposition to high protec-
tive tariT. l have even carried the Clarion
voice of my paper far into the real of Free
Trade, exciting the admiration if not the envy
Of my brilliant contemporary, Col. Waiter
son; but the verdict of the people at the polls,
coupled with the fact that Mrs. Snort has re-
or fNT tod A,us,.
ne that the Infant Industries of our country
must be protected! (Great laughter and ap-
olause.)
while have been guided wholly by the
interests of the country in making this
change" the Colonel goes on, "yet the labor
II is worthy of his hire--and he comes higher
a ease like mine than ordinarily. do not
'spire to position in Mr.. Harrisons cabi-
let-and am probably the only great man
n the party who does not-but feel justified
n claiming for myself the Office of Pubic
olunder.''
That's what the Colonel has written, though
le doubtless means Public Printer. But as
he terms are SO nearly synonymous the Col
mel doesn't seem to consider it necessary to
Orrect the blunder. He says petition for
he ofiice will be presented to Mr.. Harrison
after his inauguration, by his old
riend, Col. Tom Ochiltree.
since the Colonel Intends to bring out his
aper as ll-fedged Republican organ, he |
) ambitious to have it shine among the pur-
ct and the best, go he has determined to head |
d. editorial page with a Bible text each week |
9 imitation of Col. Shepard, Of the Mail and
srpTess. As he is not very familiar with
criptural quotations he has sent me the fol-
,wing to see IL they will do: Z N |
To the victor belongs these boils-Job ill., 16.
What are we acre Tor? Fiannigan xviii. 81.
Claim everythir g!-Deut. vi. 2S. n
Who struck Billy Patterson, and for how much ri
-Wannamaker xviii. So. s. I'm
Long continued laughter.) il a l.
have thus briefly sketched one political
d type, though an exaggerated
ne, of considerable class of men who are
ways ready to flop over TO the winning side;
nt glory in the fact that a member of the
arlem Democratic Club never fiopss {Great
)plauae.) Ak .r4- rS-a slflatH
81 94rs,-s. /