Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-31
Colonel Jack" Chinn.


The Inter Ocean contains the infor-
nation that Colonel "Jack" Chinn, the
noted politician of Lexington, KY, has
been indicted by the grand jury as a
common nuisance. Anticipating the
sense of violated chlvalry which this
action will arouse in the breast of an
outraged world, We rise to defend the
name and fame of Colonel Chinn. To
indulge the useless fOrmality of intrO-
ducing this illustrious citizen would Of
fend the intelligence of our readers and
rob Fame OF her rightful mission.
AS all men know, Col. Chinn repre-
sents the fullest develOpme mt of Ken
lucky chivalry, and the most perfect
ideallZation of Kentucky art, in their re-
latlon to the peculiar, pugna cious and
picturesque We admit t at Col. Chinn
has made, and has, many enemies, but
the variegated course of life so re-
plete with tragic and dramatic incl
dents will plead an extenuation, if it
does not fully pardon. Col Chinn now
has fewer enemies than ever before, and
cherishes righteous determination to
have fewer yet. Many Kentucky
widow attests the sincerity of his pur-
pose and the accuracy of mis- aim, but
while she mourns her loss, she has at
least the consolation that her husband
fell before a foeman worthy of his steel.
The failure of his gun to work in his
recent discussion with Senator Bronson
was an incident which he could not
have fOreseen, and while it left the
number of his enemies unreGuced the
sincerity of his grief at the unexpected
turn Will solicit the sympathy of all con-
siderate men. The unwarranted assault
upon the respected colonel by the tenn
perance element of the country merits,
as it will meet, the disapproval, if not
the reproach, of fair and candid pos
terity. Consistency is jewel unknown
indeed TO those who would fight king
alcohol in his stronghold, and yet re-
prove this man who has dealt him more
cruel blows than all the eloquence of
John b. Cough could effect. Give Ken.
lucky another ChInn anG shortly whis-
key Will become as 4 deed that is done, as
a tale that is told, an evanescent vision of
the past, more fragile than the baseless
fabric of an undrempt dream. The
charge that Col Chinn entertains pc
culiar hatred and aversion to water is
as groundless as its source is perfidlous
1t is admitted that he has little infor-
nation on the subject. but submitting |
to popular prejudice he comedies that it
may possess certain merits as a means |
of ablution. To the vice of gamb ing |
this excellent gentleman has been |
deadly foe. What game of poker worth |
the name was ever played in Kentucky |
without the colonel's presence? And in |
what game did his opponents ever win |
Is it not known to all deyotees of the !
game that the "full house" is his regu-
lar hand, "fOurs" His relaxation and |
amusement and the royal flush" his
tried and constant friend when the
game is warm? Under the influence of |
such refOrmer what becomes of the
much Wanted fascination of the game?
Who in cOnscience's name would not be
induced to forsake games of chance IN
der the cOlonel's mystic influence? In
rejecting upon his many delightful
qualities it would indeed be adding SUI
perfluity to the superfiuous to attempt
to defend the colonel's linguistic accom-
plishments. Reared In a community
where it Ilay be said with Artemus
Ward that language is naturally "furi-
Gus, fearful, frequent and free" he has
improved to the utmost the advantages
of his environments. Under the inspira-
ton of excited discourse his words glow
with the excessive heat of the tropics
and radiate an effulgence like the lurid
blending of the red and emerald and
blue at the setting of summer sun.
So firmly is his reputation fixed that
anything his few remaining enemies
may say will not injure him. So deeply
has he impressed his individuality upon
the country that the historians pen will
"pass him mp" and leave to traditions
song and story the recital of his words
and deeds. His character compels the
recognition of the passing civilization,
which, in its own defense, must ever re
we're the name and fame of Col. Chinn.