Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-03-29
A FALLEN IDOL.

IL may never be known who the
genius is that writes over the nom
de plume of ''Siva" in the Chicago
Inter Ocean, but he has a command of
language and a knowledge of human
nature hat makes him a dangerous
man with a pen. He has skinned
Grover Cleveland and hanged his pelt
on the fence to dry. In a recent article
he tears the mask from the apostate
Gresham in a manne to excite pity.
The following are the opening and clos
ing sentences of a lengthy article on
the presidents chief cuckoo"
In the general wreck of spurious reputa-
tions which characterizes your present
reign" there is none more pitiable than
the utter collapse which has beialIen your
secretary of state. From the circuit court
of the United States to the cabinet OF a
| president is. at best, n doubtful prefer
| meut; but for one who had won deserved
distinction in the field, had served with
honor in two Republican cabinets, had oc-
cupied "a place both upon the district and
circuit bench, had been once a candidate,
and twice an anxious possibility, for the
presidential nomination of his party, to
say nothing oil n very pronounced fiirta-
ton with a party of immature years and
somew hat magnified charms, the position
of head laekey to a president whose cour-
age never rose above the level required to
serve his country in the person of a sub
~stitute, whose party is dominated by the
very same political impulse which he won
all his renown by brave endeavors to re-
press, is one of such doubtful honor that
only the most potent incentives could have
impelled any man to risk so questionable
an experiment.
1t is only in the single instance of the
establishment OF a new party upon issues
not before dominant that such renuncia-
ton of the old and and adoption of new
party affiliations has hitherto been sue
cessfully accomplished by men who have
already risen to distinction in public life.
.
Alas, alas, for the fragile character of
human hopes! Only IA year has elapsed,
and every pillar on which the secretary's
dream rested has crumbled to dust, Well
may that be counted a Dismal Swamp"
in which his regrets mingle with your anath-
emas on the failure of your luck! You are
no longer respected by your own party
nor feared by any other. Were a conven-
ton to nominate your successor to be
called tomorrow. it is doubtful if you could
control a score of votes in it for any can
didate you might prefer. Even the
are ashamed of their servitude.
The secretary is, indeed, the ~legatee OF
your luck, but it is now the wrong kind of
luck. The Democracy not only hate him
an intruder but despise him as a syco-
plant. The Populists. who loved him so
well when he had "a following, mock at him
now that he has none. The Republicans, |
who loved him as IL faithful leader, turn
silently away, wondering that they should
a broken idol, fallen from a high pedestal:
And you, through whose luck he hoped Tor
success, are not only powerfess to aid him
in his sad estate, but have literally fallen |
upon him. Today, instead Of being a sig
nificant figure in American politics. you
W would be unable by the utmost exercise OF
your power to secure his confirmation by
The senate to any office at all commensurate
IN dignity and Importance with that which
be resigned. So passes from our political
lorison one OF the most attractive figures
[ has ever known. |