Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-11-03
HOPKINS DID RiGHT.

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,sty. and fair play, the full value of
which will only be appreciated in the
days that are to come, by his action
Ia causing the arrest and prosecution
Of the man John II. Tanner For
years 1t has been the custom In this
city for the press to make the public
and private character of public men
and Office. holders the butt for all
kinds of calumny, viliacation aud
especially at times of cleo.
ton or during close and exciting
So reckless and daring has been
the course Of the public press in this
regard that no man has been safe
from its poisoned malice, and good
men were driven from politics
and deferred from seeking public
Office. Finally. seeing the impunity
with which the newspapers carried
on this Outrageous system OF warfare
upon mems regulations, the poll.
ticians themselves began to follow
suit and for years past IL has teen
quite usual for opposing candidates
to attack each other with all kinds OF
libelous abuse. 1t nlattered not
whether the assertions were true or
false, 50 the charges were strong and
villainous enough. The newspapers
and the mails were the vehicles used
for the dissemination OF this species
of campaign literature. Never per-
haps, In the history of Cook county
has there been campaign more
marked by personal abuse, lying mis-.
representation and damnable Islander
than the one now about to come to a
close. From start to finish 1t has been
on the part of the newspapers one long
attempt to befuddle, mislead ard
mis;nform the public on almost every
issue before them. While candor
compcls us to say that so far as the
newspapers are concerned this has
not been altogether confined to one
side. yet the facts will bear US out In
the assertion that the Republican
press and party leaders have done
the lions share of this dirty work
all through the campaign. Because
OF his superb leadership of the forces
of the local Democracy, because Of
the fact that no has proven too wise,
too able and too capable for their
best leaders, because they fear us we'll
as hate him on account Of his great
qualities as a leader, Mayor John p.
Hopkins has been made the especial
object of these foul attacks. For no
reason except that he dares to be a
Democrat and to help to success the
party that has chosen him for its
leader and elevated him to high Of
ice. the very sewers have been raked
for filth with which to besmear him.
Ridicule, falsehood, SANDER of the
basest kind have been hurled ut the
head Of the chief executive. He has
been accused OF almost every crime in
the calendar. II there was heavy
registration, the cry was raised that
the registry was being stuffed, and
that John P. Hopkins was the man
who was doing 1t. II the officials
OF election did their work at times
OF revision In the usual way, John
p Hopkins was charged with at.
tempting to disfranchise voters
through suspect notices and the like.
Colonization Of thugs for the purpose
Of illegal voting, repeating, and so
on, has been freely and recklessly
alleged against him; the usual as.
sessment of public employees for cam,
paign purposes has been made the
basis for a charge Of merciless eXtOr.
ton. The Mayor, conscious OF his
own rectitude, has gone sercnely
about his business and treated the
bowling partisans OF the press with
silent contempt. 1t remained, how
ever, for a hayseed statesman, one
John r. Tanner, to wit, to reach the
limit of endurance by carrying the
campaign of SANDER to point where
patience ceased to be virtue. Mayor
Hopkins has struck back, and a,
usual he has hit hard. This man
Tanner, who has foisted himself up
on the Republican party of IllinOi.
and managed to thrust himself int
the craftsmanship Of the State Cen
trail Committee, has been living al
the Grand Pacific Hotel ever since
handlin! the affairs OF the nation
and taking care OF the people at large
as 1t were. The Jayville statesman
has been in high feather ever since
the campaign opened, and anon!
other things he thought he would In
dulge a little in campaign literature
Mr.. Tanner procured the publication
and circulation through the mails o
a circular in which Republican sue
cess election day Is predicted, despit,