The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-03-04
4 FRIENDLY LETTER.
THE COMING COMET.


4 FRIENDLY LETTER.
THE COMING COMET.
We have received the following let
ter:
Hon. Isnatius Donnelly:
Dear Sir:-Apparently through the
kindness Of some one, l have been re-
ceiving the paper edited by you,
known as THE REPRESENTATIVE"
and have never subscribed for the
same, you will please discontinue
sending it to my address.
l will say this much however. and
you being sensible man, and used to
joking. will take no offense at, but
will certainly apply it as it is Intend
ed, and that is that l regard you IN
the same light as that "half- baked"
fellow did his pet buck sheep, when
he saw him among that scraWny.
measly, degenernted flock.
Now honestly Mr. Donnelly, please
quit this BILLY Act" and come out
from among that measly crowd, and
your life will be like a summers
dream. Sincerely yours,
NORMAN HORN.
Appleton, Mimi.
Now we take Mr. Horns letter in
all kindness. We are only sorry that
he did not proceed to show wherein
THE REPRESENTATIVE was unworthy
Of his support. A man as bright as
he appears to be should have had no
trouble in taking our arguments and
tearing them to pieces. And what a
glory that would be-! Think what a
feather it would be in his cap as long
as he lived, to have men point to him
and say:-"There goes the chap that
pulverized the great Popu!ist organ,
and proved it to be an ignorant tool
and liar!'
But instead of that he turns tail
and runs away, even from the silent
impression Of the cold type. What
kind OF man must he be to whom
truth has such hideous presence?
In an age Of intelligence, when an
universal debate, on all sorts of SUBJ
iects, ranges over the whole world,
Mr.. Horn Is seen carrying THE REP
REsENTAT1vE out of doors. with a
pair of tongs, and crying QUIT can
neither disprove its statements nor
endure to look upon it. am no long
er free man, but the abject slave Of
party. I refused to use the intellect
God gave mo. until my brain is ossi-
fed. have filled my ears with wax
and bandaged my eyes with the dirty
pocket handkerchief of some corrupt
politician. God take me to himself
as speedily as possible for am unfit
to perform the duties of this life"
Here is the horn Of the dilemma on
which we impale Mr.. Horn. Either
THE REPRESENTATIVE tells the
truth or it does not. II it does not
why don't Horn rip it open? II it
does tell the truth why don't Horn
follow it's teachings? Or is he mere
case Of hollow-horn,-or the foot and
MOUTH disease-with his foot in his
own mouth;-or are his brains "in q
horn?''
There is quite an excitement in
| scientific circles because it Is claimed
that comet is advancing directly to-
wards the earth and will strike it on
March IA, and possible knock every
thing to smithereens. Now imagine
a book peddler trying to sell Mr.. Horn
book on that subject. He points
out the tremendous consequence s
that may follow, to Horn and his
family, if the comet does strike the
| earth. Then Mr.. Horn asks:
"Has the Republican party endorsed
| the comet?'
mo-
"Then it isn't = Republican
comet:'
"Certainly not"
"Then 1 refuse" says Mr.. Horn,
striking patriotic attitude, ITO con-
slider the subject any further!"
"But it may knock you Ralley.west. "
81 don't care darn" says Hsrn
proudly, II am a Republican;"-my
father was a Republican and my
| grandfather was Republican, and by
the grace of God shall live and die q
Republican"
| Just here jackasss sticks his head
over the fence and, with many fluc-
tuous calculations, interpelates these
! remarks:
| Observation-Disclosures! My father
was a jackass, and my grandfather
was jackass, and by the grace Of God
| l shall live and die a jackass"'
But" says the book-peddler, ignor-
| ing the new old-party advocate. "how
about the comct?"
II don't want anything to do with
| it," Says Horn, ut isn't a Republi-
can comet; it never was endorsed BY
the Republican party; we can't tell
whether it is favor OF Mckinley or
Reed for president. or Dave Clough or
Eustis for governor. 1t is new idea
did not have thirty years ago, and
am opposed to the reception OF all
new ideas. There ought to be law
against a man learning anything aft
err he is twenty-five years old. Such
learning is a delusion, q mockery and
snare.'
! "But the comet will smash you and
kill your children" says the book
| agent.
| II don't care continental" says
Horn, Il efusc to investigate anything
that would unscttle the fixed beliefs
of years. I would rather go to the
devil with the G. o. p. than go to