The sun., 1897-01-12

left 10 the Nation alone for there was nc
other rival. GoDKrS. however, Is by natural
disposition a snarler. with distinctly peda-
gogical cast OF mind, narrow, pretentious,
and bitterly prejudiced. Accordingly, he
soon began the series OF scolding. cssping,
and vituperative attacks upon our public
men, and the genius Of our political system
and our social life, which he has kept up
mouotonously from that time to this.
Meantime WILLARD had drifted from
newspaper writing into the railroad busi-
ness. and eventually he was made President
Of the Northern Pacific Railroad, in which he
had secured prominence as the representa-
tive Of the great German interests in that
company. With such an opportunity. he
accumulated large fortune, though in the
course OF time the Northern Pacific came
to grief, and thousands Of people interested
in its stock lost heavily. Mr.. WILLIAM c.
BRYANT, the distinguished editor of the
Ercning Post, having died. that paper be-
came purchasable, and WILLARD bought it.
At least. he put up about four-Hfths OF the
capital required, and Ia now the controller
Of the property. The Nation was thrown
in at nominal capitalization, GoDKTS in
cluded, aud he was brought over to be the ed
itor Of the Villardized Evening Post. While
WILLARD was working his Northern Pacific
schemes. his paper abetted them with
more or less craftiness. but without being
able to conceal its purpose from the fnan-
cial public. When VILLARD's downfall
came. he still retained his control OF the
Ercning Post paper. and he holds it yet.
- t1n
Evening Post the snarling and cgrping
policy which had distinguished the yation;
but as he gave to his newspaper Some de-
gree OF general literary efficiency he kept
its hold on the very respectable, somewhat
educated. and numerically restricted body
Of people who were it's readers. They felt
1t sort Of duty to wade through GoDKIN's
editorial essays. They thought that ability to
tolerate them would be accepted as indica-
tive Of a strong intellectual digestion. It
being GoDKIN's cue to assume tone
OF snobbish superiority to everything
American, whether social or political.
certain people, justly or uniusVy diffident
as to their own qualifications to be con-
sidered educated and refined, felt that per-
haps they required the dose OF GoDKIN's
snarls and sneers They accepted his insults
to them and their country with pitiful
humility, and even thought him a very
brave and superior person because he dared
to utter them with increasing effrontery.
That sort Of diet, however, pals on the
appetite when 1t is provided without varia-
tion for years continuously, and people began
to see through the Godkin game, until at
last everybody has become weary OF the
man siDcessant snarling and monotonous de-
probation OF everything that expresses
the genius OF America and it's institutions
He hammers away without producing any
effect. American Anglomania, serious as
1t may seem to be. is, after all, only super
fetal; mere pretence. Instead OF his
readers being ashamed OF their country,
the shame now is that they ever tolerated
the insoence Of GoDKIy.
The course OF political events and develop
ments has demonstrated also the shallow
ness OF tho political economy and political
philosophy of the man. His ignorance of
the principles of finance is dense and be-
yond enlightenment. He is incapable of
or understanding legal
principles His judgments OF personal |
are lndicrously false. One by one he |
mas been compelled to give up as |
hopeless frauds or incorrigible examples OF |
manly independence almost every man he |
ieemed worthy Of consideration as his docile |
pupil. The last election completed his dis
'omfture. Simply to save his own property,
40 was compelled to support the foremost
OF the political opinions he
lad opposed so bitterly, SO snarlingy.
20 sneeringly ever since he had got a
,hance to publish his views in n
newspaper. Mr.. MCKINLEY is thor
'ughly American, and there is no man
more typical Of the American statesman
against whom GoDKIS has been writ
ng with ceaseless vituperation during
many years past. GoDKIS's whole in
iustry went for naught. He had to tear
lown what he had builded, and to turn his
,and to building up the very structure he
lad so long labOred to destroy. The case Of
ioDKrN was almost pathetic.
IL is not necessary to go over the unsa-
'ory career OF PARKHuRsT. He expected to
make himself great figure In the last can
Ass as the spiteful opponent Of Mr.. PLATr,
eagued together with the equally spiteful
ioDKIN and tho malicious MILHoLlANp.
'ARKHURsT's plan was to give porno-
'raphic character to the campaign, that
'eing the speciality from which he had
'ained his notoriety; but he has not been
ble to uncork the nastiness in which his
morbid mind revels. Even his allies, GOD
I'm and MILHoLLAND, were afraid that the
ublic would resent the introduction of
uch pollution. For the time being at least,
'ARKHURsT has disappeared from the pub
&c view. That public nuisance has been
bated, at least temporarily.
The two other nuisances remain, but,
aving become generally known and dis
nguished as such, their remaining activity
ill produce little evil, however tiresome it
lay be for the community. We have en-
cred upon period Of grave and sane
olitics, and their occupation will be gone.
hey were figures in bygcne and
cry disagreeable episode OF our political
nd social history, which the people are glad
, fnrnat |