Middletown transcript., 1896-04-18
pIcKwrcKIAN HUMoR.

pICKwICKIAN HUMOR.
There are excuses and excuses, ex-,
plantations and explanations. of many
grades and shades, but the most laugh
able one ever given by any newspaper
in this State, appeared in the Laurel
Susse1 Countian last Saturday. This
paper said some very harsh things OF
Republicans generally. and of the Re-
publicans in Kentucky especially when
the Legislature in that State adjourned
without the elecliOnof a United States
Senator. The TRANSCRIPT called at
tention to the fact that the Republic
cans lacked two votesof a majority on
| joint ballot hence it could not be ex-
pected of them that they should elect.
The Republicans and Democrats had
each an equal number of members, two
Populists holding the balance of power.
There were those on each side who
hoped to get those two votes and thus
elect. Both sides failed, and then lol
the Republicans are denounced for the
failure.
The Ccuntian was called to account
by us and it answers in very gentle
manly and pleasant way, but its Pick
wickian style is ridiculous in the ex-
treme. 1t says:
ssIf the Republican press of the
country is to be believed the Republic
cans did control the Kentucky legisia-
ture. We have never made any claim
as to majorities or minorities but we
very distinctly remember that just af-
ter the election last fall there was a
big amount of rejoicing among Repub-
licans over their great victory in Ken
lucky. Nearly every Republican paper
| in the land announced in flaming head
lines that the Kentucky legislature
was Republican in joint session and
crowded a great deal over their asser-
tion that the Republicans were sure to
elect successor to Sena or Blackburn.
Republican success was published then
| in the Republican press as glorious
truth, but when it turned out to be
dismal and disgusting failure the ed
itor of the Transcript Immediately
assumed an air of injured innocence
when we referred to it. II the Repub-
| lican press was truthful when it made
its claim last fall surely the "Countian"
is truthful in its statements this
spring. But if the Republican press
distorted the facts for policy's sake
last fall, is it justified in censuring us
when, on its own authority, we make
its victory in Kentucky reproach to
the party it represents?'
Oh! Myl Here is an editor, either to
pull himself out of hole or having no
respect for thu intelligence of his read
ere, who five months after the election
and after two months of c0nte t to
elect U. s. Senator with the daily
papers devoting column after column
to the matter, claims that his informa-
tioE as to the political situation is linn
tied to the political news of the elec-
tion given the morning after the cleo
tion or soon thereafter when it was
supposed and hoped that the Republic
cans would control the Legislature.
Since this editor has been honored by
bis party with the clerkship Of the
Senate, presumably because of his
childish ignorance of public affairs, we
are ready to believe that those good
old Dimecrats who are yet casting
vote for Old Hickory and Mr.. Levy
Court really have an existence. Until
the Susser Cogntian illustrated how
far in the past a Democratic editor
may live we had thought those stories
pleasant myths. Perhaps thu editor of
our Laurel contemporary may have
been SO disgusted with the election
news last November that he ceased to
read the daily papers. Ii SO, he will
cease to read all papers after next No
vember. He will turn to the book of
Job.
But the Countian has allowed itself
to be imposed upon in another respect.
There is an insinuation in the follow
ing that is not worthy creditable
journalism:
sour observation Of an encounter |
between the editor of the IRA nscript"
tafi Of hn cl
from Sussex, not long since and not
far from Laurel. ;mpresses us witt the |
idea that there is enough abuse heaped |
upon the editorial head by brother Re
publicans and that it would be unkind |
in us to add to the tribulaiions of the
transcript"
If there is anything worth relating,
then tell it. Do not strike from behind
a stone wall and then hide. The editor
of the TRANSCRIPT has had no en-
counter, personal or otherwise, with
any member of the Legislature or other
person nor has any abuse been heared
upon his head. What may te said at
his back in the way of political abuse
he knows not of nor does he care. So
come, brother editor, be manly and let
us have in plain words what you have
or come down the tree little more
than you did on the Ken
tucky Senatorship. Accept thanks for
the pleasant language of your answer
as well as for lis Pickwickian humor.
1t is refreshing at this early spring
time before the green becomes so gen.
eral.
TIE Democratic Senators are in
deed tr, ing to talk the DUPONT matter