Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

cution for which nothing was too vile, moth
ing too low. In the early days Of The Bee,
threats, bulldozing. personal violence and
even arson were resorted to to head off his
growing influence. On one occasion in 1876
the conspirators procured a murdcrous as
sault by two huge and powerful negroes
who beat his head with a slung shot until
his life was despaired of. | remember that
I had just entered the public schools at
that time and that it was announced in
the school room by my teacher that my
father was hanging between life and death
and the children requested not to make
the slightest disturbance when passing the
house on their way home. The sidewalk
in front of the residence was, l remember,
carpotcd to deaden the sound Of the almost
innunerable friends who called daily to
ascertain his condition. The cowardly as
sailant was afterwards convicted and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary, but the insti-
gators of the dastardly plot escaped the
penalties of the law which they had called
down upon themselves.
In more recent years the persecution Of
Edward Rosewater for his faithful defense
of the public interests and fearless exposure
OF public thieves has taken on a more re-
fined cruelty. The violence of border ruff
fianism has given way to the more insidious
attacks upon his reputation and standing
in the community usually through the col
umns OF disreputable contemporaries which
have been deluded into the belief that they
can build themselves up in the public esti-
nation only by pulling Mr.. Rosewater and
The Bee down. Nowhere in the United
States or in any community making a pre-
tense at civilization has a more des-
picable personal warfare been carried on
against any man. Nniigned, misrepre-
scented, caricatured, viliHed. libeled, ac-
cused of almost every onense known 10
tho criminal code. Edward Rosewater has
been made the target for all the cheap
ponny-a-liners who have been hired as
catspaws for his political enemies. No
SANDER has been too vile for these hire
lings to circulate in their mercenary sheets,
no fal9ehood too transparent for their NAL
icious tongues and pens to repeat. In
order to blast his reputation and destroy
his influence and make The Bee
as the implacable foe of thievery, job
berry and corporate corruption, stories have
been concocted and given publicity in OPP
position newspapers that would be the
lasting disgrace Of reputable journalism.
Let me cite a few Illustrations. ! was
scarcely settled in a position in the editorial
of The Bee in the summer of 1893
when it was proclaimed in bold, black type
in one Of these scandal-monging sheets that
Rosewater's mind had completely given
way and that his reason was entirely de-
In all the elaborateness of the
detail the people were informed
hat | was in sole charge OF The Bee estab-
Iishment and that my father was permitted
by my grace to imagine he was still editing
4 great newspaper while in fact he was sim
ply going through the forms to which he had
so long been accustomed. Hypothetical
questions touching upon insanity were pro
pounded to local physicians OF repute and
standing and their answers printed as expert
testimony TO the truth OF the wicked fabrica
ion.
A year later, another paper started another
,anard TO the effect that my father was vast
ng away with incurable disease and that
lis every movement was under the direction
If a brother who belongs to the medical pro
iession. The people were told in all serious
less that Mr.. Rosewater's last days were In
light and that therefore to follow his politi-
leadership was worse than hopeless
oily,
Last year the annually-recurring fiction APP
,eared in a new dress. Our amiable contem-
,orary made what it represented to be the
,Gicial announcement of Mr.. Rosewaters
retirement from newspaper work
70 relieve him of the onerous duty the mag
native publisher kindly arranged all the
matters affecting the change. ! was to nave
Lssumed editorial charge OF The Bee the
moment the clock struck ~ on the first day
January last and my father, disappointed,
Iisheartened, his LIES mission a failure, was
o have betaken himself TO some far-away
where he could no longer be harassed'
Edward III SOuhh iiihuI Nun
,aired health, with fixed purpose and still
,otent influence at the helm of The Bee, as
/ passes its twenty-fifth milestone, is the
image that gives the constant lie to all
hese base and baseless
But one more example OF the INSCRIPTIONS
nd relentless persistence with which Mr..
osewater has been bounded by his political
dyersaries. Not satisfied with their on
laughts through an enyious press, the ma
hinery OF the courts was invoked about two
ears ago TO bring upon him If possible HUI
l~iliation and disgrace that would render
i'm impotent for further usefulness to the
Immunity. On a trumped-up charge OF con- a
smpt Edward Rosewater was dragged before a
he bar Of justice and because there had APP $
cared In The Bee without his knowledge or I
Onsent an article to which the Judge took Il
he was held to be in contempt Of h
1urt and sentenced to both a jail penalty b
nd a fine. For six hours, until the sentence r
as suspended by one of the judges of the h
lpreme court. he was confined in the county o