The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-23
THE INTELLIGENCER.
InTEITXs, HovEMBEn 90, 1899.
Mr.. McaraW's Brief.

MI John 7. McGraw Is a very smooth
citizen. He is the incarnation of suav-
ity and urbanity, but for ways that are
dark and tricks that are vain Oily Gam
mon was feeble amateur compared
10 him. He has caused to be published
a momentous brief OF case that is not
before any tribunal in the country. 1t
comprises a condensation of ex parte
testimony authorized by no one except
himself. and which is wholly for him
self. 1t is in the nature Of a pamphlet
In witch he recItes the alleged clrcum-
stances which moved him, in a spirit
Of touching sacrifice. ''to preserve to
West virginia a republican form Of
government" The state is bound 10 re-
member him, his heirs or assigns for
this remarkable act Of self-abnegation.
We do not see how 1t can escape sub
stantial recognition Of his efforts in this
line short of a statue Of Immolation,
representing the yawning gulf whose
gaping jaws received with whetted ep-
petite this modern curtius.
Mr.. McGraw has one thing that Is
very c6mmendabls in all young men
ambition. So had Cardinal Wolsey.
who was much older than Mr.. McGraw'
but who saw his folly too late, and was
..left naked to his enemies" Being de-
cldedly friendly to Mr.. McGraw-as a
young man with ambltion--the Intelll-
gencer would very much regret to see
such misfortune overtake him.
Mr.. McGraw besides possessing the
qualities Of smooth citizen, has GER
tain hypnotic powers asaslick politician,
which he has been practIcing on the
remnants Of the Democratic party In
this state for some years. Politics with
Mr.. McGraw takes the form OF amuse-
ment. In anything he undertakes in
that line he must not be considered
seriously, in spite Of the fact that he
saved to his native state republican
form Of government and allowed US to
20 on enjoying life and pursuing hap
uiness in the manner guaranteed us by
the benign provisions Of the Constitu-
tiou, For these reasons we positively
cannot '.view with alarm" the porten-
tiouS document he seeks to frighten US
with. Some day, perhaps, when in a
nervous mood. we may recall its Fall
stafaan terrors and ponder over the
tear.movlng sacrifices of him who by
one fell act cleared the sky Of anarchy's
torch-lit reflections and saved the viz
gin sod from being dewed with the
rich, red authentic blood Of our sover-
eIgn mountalneers. At present We are
calm; <and refuse to be moved. We
opIne with others endowed with mod
crate amount of perspIcaclty that Mr.
McGfaw's transplcuous motives can be
seen through.
In his contention In regard to Sena'
tor scotts title to his seat in the United
States senate he becomes too hypo'
critical to hide his TartufFian scheme
He aims to be the leader Of the Demo
crazy Of this state. To gain this end hi
first allowed himself to be sacrificed II
the congressional campaign with Mr.
Dayton. Having a robust appetite fol
sacrifices he gained the caucus nomIna
ton for senator through the hypnoti,
influences of his bar'L Failing in at
tanning anything but the sobriquet o
the Knight Of the Purple Pencil" HI
now poses as a martyr. Making sacri
nee after sacrince, and pllIng immola
ion upon immolation, he now says t
the Aforesaid remnants Of the Demo
cratic party In West Virginia, "all thes
things have done for thee, and all
ask Is to lead thee unto Interior object
which have In view"
Mr.. McGraw has no more idea tina
the United States senate will pay an,
attention to his political pamphlet
which he Affects to cali brief, than h
has Of voting for President MclInle
next year. But his trick is to use 1t 1
the next campaign to work up som
energy in the Polonian tribe in his par
ty while he plays the Hamlet. When h
says It Is shaped like a camel they wi
ncquIesce. Changing the form to
weasel they will. of course, assent tina
come to think about IT, 1t Is backed Tx
one, until It takes the final form of
whale under the discriminating guild
ancc of this leader of West vIrginI
Democracy.
As the Democratic party has swnj
lowed everything in the way of lssu,
we do not see why It should gag on
whale. especially enc Of the artistic NJ
McGraw's construction.
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