Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-04-20
Special Washington LesterI

Al VIC Aftrt ltN NtdAS we AdYG uEdII
much twaddle from Republicans to the
effect that the Democrats are badly
split up, Democrats cannot get to
gether, Democrats are killing each
other off, and the like. in all Of
which there was only too much truth.
1t must be confessed that since the ca
lamitous extra session of 1893 we have
not lived in such perfect unity that we
can boast Of it as matter of pride.
But, unless all signs fail. when Repub-
licans gny rs for quarreling among our
selves it Is a repetition of the old and
ridiculous performance OF ''fhe pot call
ing the kettle black. They would dc
well to set their own house in order be.
fore meddling with ours, | never think
of the rancorous hatred between Repub-
lican factions and their CHASTITY attempts
to appear TO be cheek by jowl with each
other that am not reminded Of a his
toric incident recorded in the ninth and
tenth verses of the twentieth chapter
of II Samuel which rims in this wise
''And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou
in health, my brother? And Joab took
Amasa by the beard with the right
hand to kiss him. But Amasa 4o0k no
heed to the sword that was in Joab's
hand so he smote him Herewith in the
fifth rib, and shed out his bowls ON the
ground. and struck him not again, and
he died
] cite the exact verse. chapter and
book so that my Republican friends who
read this and who are meditating slay-
ing each other may become familiar
with the most ancient and approved for
mula in such cases made and provided.
Republican War In Ohio.
Hon. Robert E McKisson, Republic
an mayor of the city of Cleveland soon
to be ex mayor, is evidently in frame
of mind to fully appreciate Lord By
ron's declaration. Sweet is revenge !"
On the first Tuesday in April his aspi-
rations for third term as mayor were
ruthlessly crushed by certain of his Re-
publican fellow citizens It is clear
from publications in The Metropolitan
Press purportiDg to be interviews with
the aforesaid mayor that he has no
difficulty whatever in his own mind
in locating the gentlemen who wrought
his downfall. 1t is clear to even the
dullest reader that henceforth be-
tween the McHannaites and the Anti
McHannaites of Ohio it is war to the
knife and the knife to the hilt In
this exigeney in the country's his
tory all good citizens viii say. "More
strength to their armsl" Immedi-
ately after his defeat Mayor Nc
Kisson made this declaration, about
whose meaning there can be no misun-
derstanding "The Hanna bolters and
corporation influences, through lavish
use of money, defeated the head of the
Republican ticket yesterday. That is
all | care to say at present. What Idr.
McKisson proposes to say in the future
can at this writing be only matter of
guesswork, but the chances are that it
will be decidedly hot and vitriolic
Whether III the end he will be able to
say, with Gibbcn. Revenge is profit
able can now be only the merest con-
lecture
1t may be that, after some more ex-
perimentations with Mark, he will be in
a frame of mind to say with Milton,
Revenge at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back on itself reeoils.
For Mark is something of fighter him
self, and he may again run in ON top of
McKisson through the lavish use of
money as he did On the first Tuesday in
April But in this April struggle Mark
had the advantage OF position. He was
not a candidate and McKisson was In
the next struggle conditions will be re-
versed-that is TO say, Mark, or rather
Mark 5 chief. will be candidate and
McKisson viii not-and as MeKisson
has nothing further TO hope for in the
immediate future he may conclude to
repeat Samson historic caper and pull
down the temple on the heads of the
whole congregation, which would prob
ably be the most patriotic service that
he conld render his country.
Like Kilkenny Cats.
In these moments Of his agony and
ire he may proftably con the following
lines from Paradise Lost, which |
suggest to him in this emergency as
yonsolation
What though field be lost,
All il not l0st--unconqueTahle will,
And study for revenge, Immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield,
Ard, what else, not to be overcome.
But if McKisson 8 charge is true, that
Hanna and his gang bolted his nomina-
ton in the mayoralty election, it re-
veals Mark to the world in an entirely
new light. for only two years ago no
body in the land was louder in denunci
alton of bolters than this same Hanna
gang. Even so pure and illustrious a
man as Senator Henry NJ. Teller of
Colorado, who had been Republican
all Of his life, and who bolted at ST.
Louis only for conscienee's sake. was
denounced by Mark and his gang as a
sort of cross between the impenitent
thief, Judas Iscariot. and Benedict Ar
aoId. Now, according to Mckisson,
Mark and his gang are doing for re-
venge the very same thing that Teller
and his Republican friends did from a
sense of duty. This MeKisson fight may
turn ont to be mere tempest in a tea
pot or it may have very farreacking
effect, mol only on Ohio state politics,
but upon national politics as well. From
time immemorial, with short intervals
of peace, Ohio politicians of all parties
appear to have taken the Kilkenny cats
for their models, twill he remembered
by those who pay any attention TO such
matters that on two or three different
occasions John Sherman could have
been nominated for president if the
Ohio Republicans had supported him
cordially and unanimously, but he was
always stabbed to death in the house OF
his Ohio friends. Allen G. Thurman
might have been dominated for presi-
dent by the Democrats in 1879 if the
Ohio Democrats had not been divided
in their affections between him and his
iilustrious uncle, Old Bill Allen
So that If the McKissou gang should