Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-08-04
Vigorous as Ever.

Col. w. G. Plummer writes from
70 East Canton street, Boston,
the following vigorous comments
on anti-expansionists, Democrats
and things. This morning I got a
circular from Pat Donan, who is at
Portland, Oregon. The circular
consists Of a string Of vituperative,
pyrotechnic MISUNDERSTANDING
ing everything and everybody.
Pat claims to be the original anti
expansionist. Some people are
proud of the itch. He hits Hans
brough and everybody else. He
is mistaken in claiming to be the
original anti-expansionist Every
generation Of Americans has been
troubled with anti-expansionists.
But in spite Of them the country
has expanded and gone forward
and will continue to do so long
after the ants Of the present day
have mouldered in the dust.
Donan is a brilliant word painter,
a great deal better natured and Of
a kindlier disposition than what he
writes would seem to indicate.
He hates members of congress
and senators, because no consti-
tuancy has ever called uponhim to
serve in either branch of congress.
When a man gets gangrened
with jealousy and soured by disap-
he is apt to indulge in
mean and bitter thoughts and fall
into a vituperative and vindictive
style in speaking and writing.
The trouble with our friend DOMAIN
and men like him, is that the
people have not taken them at
their own estimate of themselves.
But the world will go right on,
regardless Of the scurrilous scold-
ings Of these scribblings and
jawing literary vixens.
[ hope you will write often and
let me know how you are getting
along. I would like much to keep
in touch with North Dakota. I
like the state and the people. It
is one Of the best sections Of this
country, and it's people r among
the most intelligent Of this great
republic. Critics like our friend
Donan find fault with the state be-
cause the people out there have not
flushed a covey Of Websters, Clays,
Calhouns and Blaines. Thus far
in it's political history, the state
has not needed such men. The
senators and congressman chosen
by the people Of North Dakota
have been men Of good sound COM
mon sense,plain men Of the people,
practical, intelligent, fully able to
represent and take care Of the in
terests Of the great state that has
honored them. Senator Hans
brough, I happen to know, stands
high in the estimation of his col
leagues, and I predict for Senator
McCumber a successful career.
Even when the state went wild
with Populism and Roach was
elected, the state always had man
always kindly disposed and ap-
proachable. The only objection
to him is that he is a Democrat.
All who came in contact with him
recognize him as a thorough gen
tleman, courteous and obliging.
Of course his election, at the time
it occurred, did the country great
harm, for it gave the Democracy
control of the senate. But Roach
was not to blame. He was and is
a Democrat. "Can the Ethiopian
change his skin or the leopard his
spots?" It is just as impossible
for a natural thoroughbred Dem
ocrat to realize that the world has
passed out of the eighteenth cen
fury and is moving grandly oninto
the twentieth. They are not to
be blamed for this. They are
made that way. If you can catch