The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-27
RUSSELL'S BOOM.

From the New York Journal.
When / first saw Ex-Governor william
f. Russell, Just now foamingly afoot for
the goldbug nomination for the presi-
dency on the democratic ticket-it was
during his last term as governor OF Mas
sachusetts. He was abroad in Boston at
the time on the back Of horse, taxing
part in some fashion Of procession, ana
gracefully engaged In removing ana re-
placing his shiny plug hat and in bowling
TO the bowling public then ana there Vo-
oiferously present on the curb. Russen
excessively liked these exercises. 1 learn,
ed later from one who knew him Wen
that his gubernatorial speciality con-
sisted in thus climbing aboard a horse
and louting to the multitude In low put
patronizing way. 1t all reminded me Oh
Vance's old story, which ne was wont
TO tell on his senate colleague RANSOM
Vance is now dead and Ransom Ameri-
can minister to Mexico, and this Is the
story:
1T see" said Vance to the darky who
Was leading the horse, 81 see you've
named your horse after Senator ran
SOM" The horse in question was wear
ing a blanket wherein was written In
large letters Matt Ransom.
" Yes. sah," replied the darky' oats
his name, Matt Ransom.
"Can he trot?" asked Vance.
mo, sab. CANT trot more'n cow
"Is he a runnerF
"No. sah." replied the darby, "he CANT
run neither. Fac is. him very SLOW moss
sah."
Vance.
.sWelI. sab. he CANT run. But he's
now'ful good locker an prancer."
And that's a fair estimate of Russell.
He's a good locker and prancer. Beyond
that your fisherman of character VIII
| seine in vain.
| while Russell was governor he made
NO stirring record; accomplished nothing
Of might; stood for nothing. He failed OF
| nothing. for he attempted nothing.
| He was made governor because OF ms
| ,,o,,tb He was a professional boy at the
| time. His lack of years was his STOCK IN
/ trade.
| Being now 40 and over he can now no
longer be billed in the theater OF poliucs
| as an Infant Phenomenon. And yet he
has added nothing in the way OF other
/ qualification or claim to take the place OF
his boyishness, now Ned to the hereto
| fore. This leaves him as he goes to ABOUT
| the culture of his presidential boom very
| much a political bankrupt.
| Russell was born in Boston. In educa-
| ten he eliminated at Harvard. By pro-
fession he is a lawyer. Incidentally he
Iobbies a bit about the Massachusetts
legislature when that profound college, OF
| state is in session.
/ Tn figure he is well-built, even athletic
He affects physical exercises OF the goii
| ana lawn tennis variety and which may
| he ,ndulred in without derogating from
an elegant gentility. These golf and lawr
| tennis things are always done In COSTUME
and never gone rudely about hussei
would no more play golf clad In anytnins
save the proper inform than he woul'
eat dinner at noon or eat II without AT
IL.
Mentally. he is neither deep nor shal
low and while he will never excite on
nv some sudden exhibition OF what n
| doesn't know, he will never startle VIII
| anv tremendous thoughts. He Is wen II
| looks: light hair. light eyes, fair as =
| forehead and nose. but wofuiiy shy as
| chin. IL is a small, retreating chin, VIVA
, one might call a cat chin. 1t shows ST.
, | and cruel in its effect. without any sug
: gestion of a bold firmness.
, AS a talker and, indeed. as thinke
or writer Russelrs name is on the rosie
| ~ the commonplace. lie gets MS view
: | ,ron, his environments and reflects IN
2 | onlnions of the roundabout. Being IN
1 syold region. Russell is. gold. Being IN
: | nrotection hotbed, Russell is not for IN
| iovrliest of tariffs. Were he Missou'
Z | man. now, born there. bred there'
, would be for free silver. In short kusse
Is of the sort who is acted upon rsth'
A | than one OF those who acts husseh i
. allxaH of politics. not an acid
|, our nero is not of the Massachuset
a inability. There is no Mayhower In
+ past. He is a plebian in his upcome. no
I | in Massachusetts this is important
i, sar has A. drifted from the stark day
= Warren and the elder Adamses that I
dav in Massachusetts the question
- ssXybo said it, rather than What w
said" or who did itg" rather th'
! | What was done?"
h FOR this lack Of Puritan ped,sree ~
!, sell is looked on as an upstart by such
: Iosiah Ouincy-that cross between a lei
an and a lump OF ice-and others OF Z
- natricians. 1t was 10 head on Russell
!, candidacy that Quincy and others OF I