St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-22
\ MlNNEApoLIs RICHEL1Eu.

destroyed. and the exact truth cannot
be ascertained.
A MINNEAPOLIS RICHEIlIEU.
The GLOBE has no sort of desire to
interfere with the, affairs of its neigh
borS. but cannot refrain from express
ing sympathy with Col. Charles w.
johnson. of Minneapolis. over the atti-
tude of thankless Mr.. Fletcher.who now
holds down the seat in congress from
the llennepin county district.
For nearly twenty years Mr.Fletcher's
mouth drooled in anticipation of eXer-
cising his remarkable legislative talent
i'll Washington. He schemed, and
clustered, and filibustered. and coaxsd,
and cried fer the honor. But there was
always something in the way. First,
it was the overwhelming ambition
OF his compatriot from Maine
Gen. Washburn-and Mr.. Fletcher
waited. Then Mr.. Gilfllan stepped
in. holding up four aces against bob
tail tluSA reposing III the hands of your
Uncle Loren. Again Mr.. Fletcher
waited. but his hair was commencing
to turn gray. Then the ambitions of
young Captain Snider demanded a
whlrl at the honors and emoluments of
congressional seat. Mr.. Fletcher
grew profane and bald. but waited.
Finally, in 1892 he determined to
strike. The frosts of many winters had
left their chilling marks upon the scat
tering hairs that curled around Mr..
Fletcher's ears. The old fire that had
served TO kindle many confiagratiOn
i'll the columns of the Pioneer Press
burned low in Mr. Fletcher's bosom
His form was bent and tottering. With
intermittent breath, between spasmodic
seizures of fits of coughing, and
hectic flush that would put TO shame
the STACEY make-np of the star in
"Richelieu," Your Uncle Loren con-
tinucd to whisper in Col. Johnson's ear:
"Only one term, Chdrley-just one term.
want to go TO Washington-to con-
gress-just once. to round out and fill
the complete measure of my lifen'
What could Mr. Johnson do? Poor
old man! With infinite tenderness, and
tears making sympathetic gurglingS
behind voice unused TO weep, Col.
Johnson whispered TO the boys: "Nevtr
mind me. Let the old man go! Let's
make it unanimous" The command is
sent out. Blind to the history of the foxy
statesman from Hennepin, Mr.. Johnson
led the forces III the convention. and
Fletcher was nominated without oppo-
sitlon. The hectic flush on his wan
cheeks deepened. The cough became
more hollow and convulsive. The
bent form grew thinner, feebler
and more emaciated. Poor man!
will he survive until electio n?
Hardly. The boys take the labors
of the campaign upon tEer strong young
shoulders, under the magnetic leader
ship of Col. Johnson. Only in per-
functory manner does the invalid fatten
the party treasury. The old man is
elected, hands down, Oh sympathy and
as memory.
Presto! What miracle do we discover
here? What colt is that gallivanting-
head up and tail aiert-through the
succulent pastures and beside the still
waters of our national capital? Who
that? That is young Mr.. Fletcher, of the
Fifth Minnesota district. The cough
has vanished. The burning, devastating
hectic hue has been washed by tears
of triumphant joy from his cheek. The
white and scanty hair that frames his
features is curled in catching and Sc
ductive ringlets - perfumed- and po-
matumed into lovers knots. The eye is
as bright, the step as alert, the sway
ger as sbuoyant and aggressive as in
those halcyon days of the Northern
Pacific Supply company. before the
profane fix of Winnipeg. With the
muscle of an athlete he swings into the
congressional arena and carries off the
committee prize from the feeble hands
of Mai. Baldwin, Notwithstanding a
Democratic house and a Democratic
speaker.
He is full of jokes and quips. His
humor effervesceS, like champagne
freed from the obstruction that corks
the music of its caioling fizz. His bou-
tonniere is immaculate, his smile allur-
ing, and with equal aplomb he atttud-
inizes, while counting the applause of
the gentlemen or flirting his perfumed
handkerchief at the beWltching sex.
Poor Col. Johnson! Still doomed to
wait. The GLOBES news columns to-
day proclaim the Information to wait
ing world that Mr.. Fletcher is in the
field for reelection. To paraphrase
the decoying speech of Richelieu-
you'll get to congress yet, Charley
you'll get to congress yetw But it will
be many, many moons, If the waiting is
protracted until Mr.. Fletcher-the IN
valid dies or retires.
The atmosphere OF Washington suits
your Uncle Loren. Heretofore he has
taken social enjoyment in brief and
furtive whiffS, between selling an order
of dry goods, purloiniug section of
piEe land, bnying Touring mill or
organizing a real estate deal. Today
he is fixed. Prudence in business
has been rewarded. and. like the boy
released from school for a holiday, he
chases the social butterfly from flower
to flower, plays marbles for keeps, peers
into forbidden orchards of delicious
fruits. and fishes for Joy in every
earthly pool.
Yes. Col. johnson must wait. The
Minneapolis Richelieu has no thought
of either dying or resigning or declin-
ing. Washington is plenty good enough
for your Uncle Loren for six or eight
years yet; and Mr.. Fletcher is good
enough for Washington if his income is
not curtaiIed; and that disaster. as yet,
is nowhere in sight.
THE INSANITY LAW AGAIN.
DR.. Talbot Jones intImates in criti-
cism of the GLOBES denunciatlon of
the insanity law of 1893 that we have