Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-27

OMNIBUS HleE, une DlDulouS PoieioA - e-AS
| House devoted themselves to the task OF
sitting down upon the young ana 1resh
and exceedingly irritating Mr.. Watson
After they had made their indignant little
speeches of censure upon him the country
was lett in doubt for a while as to whether
Congress was really in session, or whether
some temperance organization had secured
possession of the Capitol. Such great
temperance moral show had never been on
| exhibition in Washington before. The dis
covery was made that there were really no
men in Congress who drank anything and
only a few who knew liquor when they
saw it, The literature of that episode is
| still doing good work in the cause of re
form But strange as it may seem young
| Mr.. Watson absolutely refused to be
| squelched. He plainly showed the Bibu-
lites that he wasn't at all intimidated by
metaphorically skinning several of them,
and prodding the others with an array OF
sharp and exceedingly uncomfortable facts.
Among the number who specially suffered
at his hands was certain learned and
dignified judge. Mr. Watson did not hest
tate to tell the country that this august
parsonage had been guilty of endeavoring
to make a speech in the National House
with more than his own buoyancy of spirit.
In the midst of his coherent and scholarly !!
remarks he suddenly lost the thread OF
his discourse, and after looking about the
hole for moment with vague and
bewildered air. anxiously inquired Lets
see, Mr. Speaker, where was l at?' If
Mr.. Watson had done no more than to
embalm this expressive phrase for the
use of future generations his congressional
career would not have been wholly in
vain and frankness compels us to say
that this was about all that he succeeded
in doing while at Washington.
| The Georgia Bourbons could never be
reconciled to Mr.. Watson's descrtion of
their standard, and when he came up as
"A candidate for reelection to the fifty
third Congress they turned him down by
their most improved methods. OF course
Mr.. Watson, with good cause shouted
fraud" He had some pretty conclusive
evidence, too, to back up this claim; but it
never occurred to Mr.. Black at that time
| to accord him another trial ut the polls.
He depended upon Il big Democratic ma
iority in the House to keep him in his seat
and the result showed that his confidence
was not misplaced. Now the conditions
arc changed. The Republicans are in con
troll of the House There is no reason,
however why they should haze any prefer
encc between Mr. Black and Mr.. Watson.
If they had any prejudces whatever they
would probably be in favor of the former
gentleman. Mr.. Black knows, however,
that if his seat is contested they will give a
full and impartial hearing and decide fair
" upon the evidence submitted. If he has
a good case, therefore, he has nothing to
fear The fact, however, that he seeks a
reelection looks to many people as if he
reasoned somewhat as follows 'tThe boys
were a little too open in throwing Watson
down. The evidence is easy to obtain and
would look mighty bad for me, and the
Republicans will be sure to decide the
matter upon the weight of testimony. ]
had better make big bluff ut fairness. l
will resign and have another election. l
will even have Watson men at the polling
places. The boys will be made to under
stand the Importance of being very sly in
their work and thoroughly covering up
their tracks. OF course l will be elected.
If Watson contests l will go before the
more could do for this man? l have been
more than fair, have resigned and given
him IA second election and still he ism t
satisfied Surely the Republicans could
not help seating me under such condi-
tions''
In view of all the facts the belief is
rapidly becoming general that Mr. Blacks
proposal is the very shrewd political de
wise of very shrcwd politician and it is
by no means improbable that it may be
successful.
Personally there is good reason to be
licvc that Mr.. Black is man of much
larger calibrc than his opponent, and if
he can secure an honest election from his
district, no prejudiccs will stand in the
way of his securing his seat.
The recent contest between him and
Mr. Watson was in some respects, pc
culiar one. Watson had the support of
the Farmers Alliance and entered upon
a campaign in which the country districts
were arraycd against the towns. The
campaign was turbulent, coming even to
the point of riotous disturbances At its
close, Black was returned elected by ma
jority of 1000.
1t seems almost incredible that so large
a lead could be wholly due to fraud in
the election; but it is well known that
such results are by no means new to