Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-22
EIGHT PAGES
SATURDAY. JULY %. 1899.
THE GREAT WHAT ISIT 2

To ride both sides of the sapling. to
stride the fence, to wire in and wire out.
\ to face both ways, to look one way and
row the other, to chase with the hounds
and run with the hare, TO blow hot and
4 cold, to have two squeals TO ones voice.
to have u double tongue,-all these and
aptly signify, and in some sort illus
trate. as with cartoons. the attitude,
4 course, or disposition Of that self-cen-
tered soul which, fully alive to the I'M
certainty of men, things and events, is
sXstill certain Of one thing,-that 1t does
not mean to be left, no matter what
3 befall.
AS an expert in equilibrium In doing
or seeming two things at once, and
other diversions of the wise and dis
4. Greet, our much esteemed, highly res
pected and very amusing contemporary
has taken first rank as becomes its
Z ability in everything It assays, and has
never had rival. It is unnecessary to
!. name the contemporary we allude to-,
as its pre-eminence in the arts enumer-
ated and limited at is recognized on ali
4 hands, and by none more generously
6 and admiringly than by the press Of
Virginia. 1t Is true that as Il leader
1t is too often in the rear, or waiting
4 by the roadside for endorsements;
and as a champion 1t holds itself rather
Y TOO much in reserve, insomuch that it
& has been mistaken for one of the
Z claquers that wait on success: but
fools, you know. rush in where angels
fear to tread; and IL our contemporary
$ is not an angel, neither is it an ass
that would perish between two bundles
2of hay. undecided as to which TO begin
on, as 1t would be sure to devour both
2 without waiting for grace.
But the eminent journal is distin-
g,ilshed for leadership, nevertheless.
and the moment any side OF any Ques-
ton turns up winner, 1t is ready with
quotations away back to prove kthat 1t
was its earliest supporter and the OPP
ponent Of every other view: just as, If
Virginia shall ever become goldlte and
monopolist, it Will show that never had
sthese policies an earlier and warmer ex-
ponent. We all recollect the able and
brilliant feats of agility With Which it
alternately. or even at once. advocated
and opposed this; or was all for that
Z one. day, and next day for tother. 1t
i fs this versatility, and the ability to BE-
a Il 1nc oil x,,a. t.
renee with everybody. that 1T it CON
Sspicuously for great reforms and new
{ niovements.-except that our contem-
pcrary can at once dispatch any pre-
tender that he was author of ANYTHING
whatever, by leading editorials of long
ago, that took both sides of any posi-
bic Issue arising out of the subject.
1t was thought however, that the
great journal for once had been caught
mapping by the Senatorial reform move
ment Of this year and its State Confer
.ence In Richmond, and that it had left
open no way for retreat.-so jealous
was 1t for the reform and to control and
direct it. But the resources of the
great dual-list had been under-ratod
and as soon as reform and anti-reform
put up their candidates, our wonderful
contemporary declared 1t was impar-
Hal and equally for both, and that 1t
WOULD await the nomination of Senator
bafore taking sidesI the nomination. by
segfsFatiye Democratic caucus being
equivalent to election! Remark. 400.
that one OF the candidates is Gov. Tyler.
Scr reform specifically; the s6fher SEN
Ht6x whose original election
ffsss,sed thts SenatorIel reform move
AZ AZ State. The Governor is