The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-23
THE RUSSELL
PERCEPTION"

Its the joke of the season-that re-
ception at the Mansion the other night.
Such a.erow eating. dirt -devouring CON
test the State has perhaps never seen.
And this fact is my apology for again
referring to it,
To it Republicans were invited who
had said all manner of evil about His
Excellency' and been roundly cursed
back again--men who neither saw nor
were seen by the Governors 300 pounds
avoirdupois as it passed them on the
street or met them in capitol corridors.
And yet they We're invited-and they
went. On arrival they were greeted with
a tropical warmth that found prompt
response, melting both host and guest
into mighty ''swears" that 1t was the
happiest moment of their lives.
1t almost makes me sorry for you,
Governor, this coming down from your
high horse. And yet it is a case of
the bitter bitten. Your own system has
only played against you. Those who
live by the sword must perish by the
sword And you who have humbled so
many of your political associates now
find yourself living entirely on Humble
Pie.
For nearly three years now. Governor,
Won have been raising corns in your
hands by clinging to the ship OF state
in most tempestlious sea. You have
steered by the compass of Personal In
terest and the theodolyte of Ignorance
until you've we'll nigh wrecked the craft.
In Senator Pritchard you have at last
recognized the King Bee of North Car
Dina Republicanism. His leadership is
natural as apples Yours it Is to follow.
This lesson it has taken you three years
to learn. Oppose him and you'll have
neither seat nor lot nor part nor voice
in the g. .. T. of these diggingS. nor
picking of any crumbs that may fall
from Hanna's table. You have discov-
cred this also.
There be desert islands in the sea of
politics as well as in the ocean. and you
have at last awoke to find yourself Il
political Robinson Crusoe. without so
much as Il Friday on whose neck you
may place your Trilby. Your crew has
mutinied and you have been marooned
And why?
The Executive office has slight in
terest for the place-hunter They have
never got any great gobs of AID or COM
fort from a Governor yet-these pie
eaters. As leaders they draw little pat
ronage from a gubernatorial victory. 1t
is to the National ADMINISTRATION the
heller must look for Pie and he that pos
sesses Hannas ear is the prime favor
tie. That's Pritclard.
So when you shook out the anti-Pritch-
ard banner and rushed on the mad
lance-heads of disaster your friends
promptly deserted you. They saw quickly
that Ilanna was in the game and they
did not for Il political second contemplate
comprising their own overthrow by thus
running their credit with the great OF.
fice-grocer.
Take deep breath, Governor. and
then give one hard long look ut the
above facts and say if they are not
true.
And now. my dear Governor. did you
make a full and complete confession at
that '.reception''-or before? Is there
not something that you kept back in
your layout of political sins? Did you
tell Piitchard all?
1t is not my aim to drive away your
appetite, nor have l formed designs
against your sleep. but III the interest
of a complete regeneration, pray you,
permit a question:
Did you tell the Senator how you
conspired against him during your car
paign for Governor?
Did you mention that little proposi-
ton you made to Major. Guthrie, the
Populist nominee for Governor?
You doubtless recall that it was con-
yeyed through John Il. Smith, then your
man Friday. but now yours no more, for
that you have put your foot on his
neck once too often.
Lest you have forgotten the terms OF
that proposition. and that the public
may duly appreciate the full import of
that reception complimentary to Sena-
tor Pritchard," | will here recount
them:
/. Guthrie to take Reynolds place
upon the Republican ticket. and call it
Fusion.
2. When elected all the power of the
State administration to be used to pro-
cure Pritchard's defeat