The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-19
A POLITICAL SATIRE FOE THE
TIMES.

Since the foundation Of our government
there has bee, no lack Of political satiristz.
Philip Frsneau "a. . famous satIris; Of
Washington's day. shooting his arrows.
under the inspiration Of Thomas Jefferson.
at Hamilton snd John Adams, and not
sparing Washington himself Ssba Smith.
under the nom de plame Of Major Jack
Downing. satirized the administration OF
President Jackson; James Russell Lowell,
in tie Yankee dialect letter. OF bird Of
Freedom Sasln,p held up the Mexican
war and the standardization Of Polk 20
ridieale. and in lssjl-e5 did not spare JEFF
ferson Davis and the government OF the
Confederate States.
AcCleilans campaigns we're derided By
Newell. who. under the signature Of or
pheus c. Kerr" was the historian Of the
''Mackerel Brigade" and ID. Il. Locke.
under the nom de plume Of Petroleum '.
Nasty" was the trenchant satirlst Of
Andres Johnson's administration, the
whole. period OF reconstruction and the
fat money or greenback craze Of 1874.
Since the day Of the Nasty letters We
have had no political sstiris. Of notable
csussieity. but the dismal industrial
caiamities and financial disturbance that
have wrapped the nation in 3 cloud Of
gloom under Grover Cleveland have
moved ex-congressmsn Jane. s. Biery. of
Allentown, Pa. to publish political satire
for the times under the title of king
Grover. Chronicles Of His Reign" which
IL reported 20 Us as having attracted very
favorable attention in political circles in
the East
The author, who Is busy lawyer. has
chosen the old form of Biblical chronicles
ss the dress of his satire This was sue
oessfuily employed during the civil war
by the author of The New Gospel of
Peace. which was devoted 20 the humilia-
ton of Fernando Wood and his confeder-
or Peace Democracy of is6i-e5.
Mr.. Bisry's characters include among
Others liking Grover. the Great" oval
ter, the Doabter;" "John, the Griffin.
whose surname is Carlisle;" "Moloch.
the Sugar KING" benjamin. the Just"
and Brother Jonathan" The form of
this satire Is Likely TO make it popular
among the rural districts.
1t 10 vigorous to the point of coarseness
in spots: il describes King Grover as "a
deyou. worshiper al the shrine of Bac-
chus." For popular circulation we assume
that Mr.. Biery thought IL best to rough
grind the sabre Of his satire.
II his preface the author sees forth the
purpose OF his little pamphlet as follows:
1.-The effort is intended as an earnest
protest against the acts and doings of
those into whose hands the adminislra-
ton of public affairs has. for the time
being. been committed, and TO awake the
reader 10 the danger and suffering that
must follow a eontinuanss of the policy
inaugurated. Some OF the topics touched
upon-such ~ the tyranny and curse Of
slavery in its day. the re-estabiishment in
power Of those who upheld and still believe
in that institution. the destruction
OF the prosperity Of this country under
revenue tariffs and the consequent injury
10 domestic manufacturers and suffering
10 laooT, are subjects which have engaged
the authors thoughts for years; and " hen
% these are added a reckless abandon o.
high purpose IN tho appointment of men
10 positions in the public service, and a
disregard for true Americanism IN the ad-
ministFatlon OF the government, he would
seize every legitimate weapon az his com
mand TO strike down those evils, and ex-
tirpate the spirit that anlrnates them"