The Russellville Democrat., 1890-12-25
For the DEEooRAT.I
 THE WAR OF THE PRESS.
Written on reading poem in the Boone BaN-
 nsr, entitled "Battle sf she Books"l
BY A POPE COUNTY BOY

Desp in the RUssELLvILLE DEMOCRAT, Late one night, in my study sat; Scattered about me, upon the floor Newspapers various by the score The metropolitan daily, the country sheet And illustrated weskly-all at my feet; Educational, Literary, Scientific, Instructive. Immigration journals Of fdevelopms snt product Political, Religious and Masonic, Society and Humorous papers ironic. Suddenly, faintly, there comes from afar The din of battle, the fierce shouts of wAri Nearer and nearer the dreadful sound comes The clash of sabers. the thunder of suns. Now faintly, now clearer 1t strikes on my ears. Iris two armies in battle;-see the Eiittsring Hart! The death dealing biowsl List the
 crushing of bonesi The dying warriors agonizing groans. i, As he falls meath the stroke sf an iron -giovsd Godsi Can such things exist in a civilized Oh, for some power these crimes to arresti But. there's none under Heaven; 'tis the WAH Why are shese hosts thus engaged in conten-
 tionf
 Iris for "various reasons" "toe numerous to
 mentionn--
 Politics, Race Problem. International Copy Grant Monument Fund and Worlds Fair Site, Reciprocity. Tarin Reform, Protection, National Banks and Fair Elections. For these causes and many thousands more, Do these nights heroic thirst for gore. Iris not war that is fought with swords, But war more deadly-"ths war of words"- A war with paper. ink and pen, Which is "miKhtier than the swords" of men. See the noble chieftain, Democracy, Advancing 'gainst proud PlutscracyI His motto is Reform and Legion his nane. See his war-steed shake his glossy manei COuTfSF-
 Journal
 With watterson. the gallant "Blue Grass" The Republic, standing like odysseus of old, With heroic Major Jones. fearless and bold; The Memphis Commeroiai, dealing blows left Like Grecian Achilles. in the shickest of the
 fight.
 They light with barred breasts. no helms 'pon
 their heads,
 And high, meath their strokes. heap the piles Plutscracv proud. with his brazen- mailed men Rssod s. n asmor There's the New York Tribune and St. Louis
 G.-D.,
 nd others as countless as the sands of the SC They trembls with fear as the enemy advances With blood stained swords and dazzling iances Monopoly is among them; his armsr of gold Outdazzles that of Paris of eli. Sec Labor, a giant with paper cap, Belabor him with blows from his steel battle
 
 Proud crested Monopoly nipchss not, But stands firm while the battle is fierce and
 hot.
 Who is that maiden with countenance serene, With the form of Minerva and face of Athenef Iris the Society Journal and Fashion Maga-
 zine.
 Her heavenly smile, and eye sparkling with Would excel, in compare fair Helen's ofTroy. Like fairy she glides 'monEst both women List the xroans Of her victims-the Fashion
 cursed slainl
 See her gold-bedecked chariot in the sunlight She's the siren of the fatal Isle of Fashion. And who Is that elf. grotesque and fantastic. Lively and gay, with tread elastic? 'Tis HamSr,, whose weapons are mirth and With which he causes the world to laugh. The smiling chieftain who rides in the lead Is son of the Bear state-the peerless opie
 Read.
 Near him is one. who, though aged, is Sweet; The Irausier and SVtinQs march at their feet. And one whose cloak with cartoons is bestuck. A brave little warrior-the earth EirdiinE Their blows are unlike the dssth-dealing
 strokes
 Of their fellows;-they're only innocent jokes. See those hidsous wretches, half man. half surpassing the tabled Minotaur of Greece. They're the so'called "story papers" of the And ''6unday journals" teeming with "sport" And literature of the vilest sort Dark visa ged, trembling. in biackest of mail. Before gigantic Morality they sicken and pale They care not for honor; they're fighting for
 "rocks."
 There is Sullivan. the Big 'Un," and Richard
 K. Fox;
 Tousey is there. and beside him Munro. Behsld Young America fall meath the blow of their deadly weapons-yile literature, Ever seeking. the youthful mind to allure. Would you win honor3 Then shun all suchi They arc the instruments Of Satan; beware
 their touchi Fisree rages the battle, nor either side pre-
 yails.
 See tn. carnage -bsthed colorsl List the rattle
 of mail Huge Eiants rally and fall again; With mems life blood fows the battle plain; Higher md higher grow the heaps sf the slain At last tho mad foes recline pen their arms. While the Literary Magazine displays her Look They rally once more-again bursts
 the storm But, hoidl High in air. all ba ttered and torn. Is an armistice, by the Religious Press borne. shouts the bearer;
 sDesist; cease this wasting of life 5heathe your swords, and think no more Of Henceforth shall the Scientific and Progressive
 Press Walk hand in hand, and with knowledge shall But, these foul eravens, Filthy Literature And vile Sunday papers" no more shall en- They are enemies of all tha. is truthful and
 pure" shuddered, awoke, and d,smiled, I confess, Tor l had only drsdmsd of THK WAR OF THE
 PRESS.