Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04
,,AxvArAuous LAST.

For some time prior TO the assefnp''"s
OF the Ohio Republican State Convention
the political wisoacfes wore free IN pio-
phcsying that In that body Mark A. Han
ma would have TO make the Eight OF ms
NE II was no secret that strong com
bination against him had been formed. IN
which tho ruling spirits were Governor
Bushnell; Cox, the Republican dictator
OF Cincinnati; McKisson. the lsaoeS y.
the Republican cohorts OF Cleveland anu
last but not least. Foraker. This com
bInatlon represented in intense degree
lust for power. envy. anu
sire for revenge, but, "i'"a''
better element of Ohio Repuonea"-
ism, and in the preliminary
mish ON the eve OF the gathering had
succeeded in making 1t look pretty oiue
for Mark. The combination eashy are"
first blood and when the newspapers got
,e,egraphic good night Thursday night
the National Republican boss had' 10 on
appearances, retired TO his corner D'ui'
winded.
But the convention IL now thing ol
the past. and affords but another ilus'i"-
,ion of the truth OF the saw, 'Nho iaus"'
last laughs best" The final trial OIL Gun
c,us,ons which took place on Friday wac
mero formaIity. Hanna came into 'he
RING smiling serenely and the hshl was
hut little more than an exhibition Oh eoi"e
through the motions. Some time between
midnight Thursday night and O'CLOCK
FRIDAY mornlng Mark delivered a dow
nm the solar plexus OF the comblnauoh
tbot knocked IL clean ont. 1t put BUSH
non beyond coming to time. stretcheu
McKisson on the grass. sent foraA'i
knife fiying through the air. ana as lol
Cox. it acted upon him Ike ora"-sho'
at billiards. seeing that it pulled MIN o'ei
into Hannas corner.
oh. yes: Hanna laughed last and laugh
cd hest. And he had reason 10 lausn
best. for his victory was a great anu
rar-reaching one. 1t was victory ioi
himself. victory for the administration
10 which he bears the relation OF con-
scIence-keeper, and q victory 1or '"o
snoilsmen. as was shown by Ne howl Oh
apnroval that went up when was read 'he
resolution "COIncnulIS tHS l. '~''
tho malicious modification of the CIVIL
service rules recently promulgated. l.
uas q victory for all that Is Represented
nv the word Hannaism. The result was
an endorsement of debauchery, corrup-
tion cbicanery. and bribery in politics. IL
was an endorsement Of infractlons OF the
Constitution; of hypocrisy, as exempt
fled in Mr. McKinley's policy with reler
ence TO the Philippines; OF the pollutihs
iobhe,-, connected with AlSerisnl; OF MILL
tarism and Of blood-drawing taxation.
AS the champion of all the abuses ana
communicating agencies and influences we
have named. Mark Hanna made the hght
at Columbus, and won. No wonder he Is
REPRESENTED as feeling good" NO won
der that in his merry satisfaction ne
should have gone so far as to attempt 10
CIV the public by introducing into his
platforn, a Pickwickan plank aimed AZ
his best friends, the trusts. Especially Is
there no reason to wonder at this since
Mark fully understands that these FRIENDS
will thoroughly appreciate the JOKE Wheh
they see through it, and are well aware
that the perpetrator will not permit 1t 10
become. and could not afford That II
should become. a practical joke.