The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-29
Mirage.

For tho cdification and instruction OF
certain misguided Democrats. and for their
reclamation. IL possible. to tho tranquil
paths OF political sanity. it will be profit
able 10 quote somo part OF n description
which an observer furnishes to the Globe
Democrat of St. Louis. He Is writing about
tho mirage land OF eastern Texas. where
you Gun see what you want w~ithout.asling
for 1t. and without getting 1t.
In that portion of the Staked Plain which
stretches from the Pccus River to the Pan
handle. the atmosphere. this citizen re-
ports. plays odd freaks and makes strange
revelations. When the sun Is ut tho proper
angle for the purpose. 1t is possible to SEQ
II belt of timber where mono exists. A
ranch may be lifted out of a valley and set
on II hill. A sheep herder grows into gigan-
tic proportions and his lambs become
c%lrphantinr. \ railroad train in the dis
lance looms up Il hundred feet high. ana
appears to be about five miles long. Three
or four miles to the enst of the town OF
Midland. IL il bo about noon of n sunny
day. tho stranger will SEQ II fine little city
in tho midst of II glistcning lake. The sill
very water moves in gentle ripples as II be-
fore u scntlc breeze. About three hundred
wiuIinills are apparently in motion above
the city. and it does not seem that tho tract
they stand upon can exceed IL mile square.
Around this city and the lake is n fringe OF
dark green timber. Beyond the timber is u
, boundlcss rXpansc Of green grnss. On tho
| prair,e cattle may be seen grazing. As
! The train comes nearer the COWS appear to
| become mns,odons. Tho sheep seem to be
/ woolly horses. Tho buildings shoot up
into tho heavens. The windmills become
EIrrEL towers. standing on nothing. The
people walking across tho street tread on
air. There is n general repeal OF tho law OF
gravity. The lake has suddenly disap-
peared: the city vanishcs: tho trees be-
come men and the men trees.
Then tho traveller steps upon a real
wooden railway platform and out into the
dusty. sandy ~thoroughfare of n Texas town.
He experiences of II sudden all the dis
heartening sensations with which the rain
bow chaser is familiar on election night.
To the ovcrheated imagination OF the po-
liticul mirage hunters. endless cavalcades
of Democratic recruits. deserters from the
Republican camp. are constantly march
ing. TO tho strains OF inspiring music. to-
ward the Democracy in Iowa. Illinois.
NlStOlSlu, ANuiAsht' uh'
These States are atlame with excitement
and enthusiasm. The Democratic vote Is
growing like JACKS bean stalk. and the
Republican vote Is rapidly shrivelltng into
nothingnrss.
tariff reform circular expands until 1t
covers II whole State like a panoply. A
Free trade speech. uttered in shrill and pip
ing accents to an audience Of three dudes.
q small boy. and an unnaturalized tour.
list from Canada. becomes n trumpet blast.
in tones OF thunder reverberating through
valleys and hillsides. and calling myriads
OF political volunteers from forge. loom,
anvil, work bench. and factory. BY this
mirage n member of the New York Reform
Club appears to be SIX feet high. His
placid eyes dilate with tho fury OF battle
His spikc-tail coat becomes sharpened to
point. and he resembles the devil Of a Eel.
low. his bangs turned to horns. and his
crutch cane Il phantom spade. with which
he hurls the whole Republican vote into the
bottomless pit Of oblivion.
At closer vision things change, and this is
what appears to the sober-minded citizen
Invested of his mirage phantasy:
IowA.."'" EeeppuOiiean majority. 1855 ,,,,.,,,, sI.72I
~ , Re publican majority. 1884 anna. II, 69t
"iscoss's" Republican majority. 1885. b.. -. Il 1921
~ IRepubllcau majority. 1894 ....... 22.J2
HthhAshA'', Republican majority. lsSo.......2I.sI
Republican majority. 1894 ......... $50:
h'c''c"N'." Republican majority. lSSS........ 22.0ls
. Republican mAjority. 1874 .,....., 6t,2I!
hANsAs' go Republican majority. 1852. ...,.... oo.lo'
No Democrat should misuse. valuable
time and needed political ammunition by
going on q mirage hunt in the West this
year. Above. beyond. and before all. thu