Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-13
A LETTER.

!, 10 Cuc present ScnaCOrldl
i, struggle. One of the most touching of
, them comes from the Fargo Argus. 1t
is an unsigned letter, given as having
been written to Congressman johnson
by some one who introduces himself
thus:
Why do l write to you this evening? I
do not know; what the heart is full of
tho mouth rum over with"
This is encouraging. Especially where
the writer admits that he does not know
why he writes. But it is interesting to
note that his heart is full. Perhaps his
head is full also, but he says nothing of
that. Particularly affecting is the state
ment that he has run over. This would
be suspected if it were not stated, but
when it is admitted we feel sure of it.
Stopped over might be better but we do
not essay to criticise. Running down
the line we discover this apologize in
quiry:
Why should a letter from me interest
you Just now when your time is SO valu-
able?
Here again we are stumped. A great
many constituents who have written the
congressman at Washington have made,
doubtless, the same inquiry. We do not
presume to state whether the congress
man found the letter interesting or not.
But certainly it has an element of thrill
in the chapters alluded to thus far that
is exceeded in no literary production of
the campaign. Here is another gem.
Never before in my life have 1 been so
intensely interested in the outcome of a
political contest, and I have never had
the honor of calling you my personal
friend.
This is grievous indeed. 1t is more
than grievous-it is appalling. Ger
tainly the writer cannot have struggled
along for many years under this weight
of darkness and gloom. Nor is it strange
that he seeks to bask in the sunshine of
acquaintance. A little further:
Nor have I any personal interest in
the outcome because I do not want any
thing in the world today, politically. I
GIL oAu1pAy "OAhC0 UP OfO1 tuc pIcScuG
danger of a repetition of the spirit which
predominated the Fargo convention-the
victory of a few %sagacious political
schemers over tho popular will of the
people.
The latter portion Of this sounds al
most as though it might be Editor Win
ship of the Herald. And the dissatisfac-
ton with the convention that resulted in
1900 majority for the republican ticket
would seem to indicate that there might
be a tinge of populism Or democracy
about the essayist. But it is not Editor
Winship. The first part of the state
ment proves that. The essay grows more
thrilling as we proceed
I would to God your election could be
placed in the hands of the people this
morning!
In the first statement in the letter the
correspondent asks why he writes 'this
evening" Now he says this morning.
But this is immaterial. We do not pre-
sumo to criticise. Perhaps he started
the letter in the evening and wrote till
morning and the latter season had
dawned when he reached this invocation.
Nor do we know when the letter was
written and so cannot state what condi-
tons prevailed, whether it was clear
cloudy, or partly cloudy-or what other
conditions at the time might have made
it particularly suspicious for a senatorial
election. 1t is presumed the people
ale the same people who ratified the
ticket nominated at the Fargo conven-
ton by the largest majority given in the
past eight years-notwithstanding the
boiling of some of the congressman's
leading supporters at this time-and
whose popular will" was defeated, las
the correspondent states in the proceed
ing paragraph. But this is pardonable.
A correspondent SO enthusiastic and full
that he runs over is to be excused fol-
losing the grip on the thread Of his ar
gument. But here is an objectionable
admission:
I admire your political career, not SC
much because I think you have always
} been right, but because I think you have
been upright.
Certainly the congressman has been
up right after the appearance of any op.
portunity to benefit himself. He has
> been both up and coming. But to ad.
NIT that there are times when he has
not been right! It strikes us there
should have been a little judicious revis.
> ion here. The. following lies near the
bottom:
, OF course the political vultures do moi
, want your election; they could not ex
: pect you to swarm with them in the pc.
litical swamps, over rotten carcasses-
partaking in their miserable practice oi
!, trading principles for patronage, person.
al conviction for stuffing idols.
! Certainly. The congressman made q
! savage assault upon the Mckinley ad.
ministration because she had not beer
treated right in the matter of patronage
, He was out of the "miserable patronage
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