Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-04
The Called Iade Winces.

The Called Iade Winces.
A short time ago it was the good
fortune Of the journal to receive from
one Henry o. Morris of Pueblo, Colo
RADIO. a copy of a remarkable document
of which ne confessed to be the author
1t was entitled An Open Letter to the
People of the United States" and was
a weird and wonderful thing both in
syntaX and sentiment. 1t purported to
be an "anti-imperialistic" argument.
though microscopic examination
failed to discover any trace of an argu-
and lurid type characteristic of Pueblo
and other centers of Western culture,
and made famous by Ex-Governor
Waite of bloody brides" fame. 1t
could not be read without gaining the
impression that Mr.. Morris was suffer
ing from an attack Of acute indiges-
ton, caused by overlooking his stom-
ach with fireworks Aguinaldistic
proclamations and rarified Colorado at
mosphere. The writing of the letter
undoubtedly gave him relief.
Following the time dishonored eX
ample Of the New York Post and
Springfield Republican. Mr.. Morris re-
fcrred to the heroic work Of the Ameri-
can volunteers in the Philippines as "a
story of fiendish rapine and horrible
slaughter unequalled in the annals of
CHASTITY narrative of unnecessary Woe
wherein for the first time the Stars and
Stripes are made the emblem of slavery
and imperialistic despotism' He
ridiculed the churchmembership of
President Mckinley who has dis
graced degraded and scandalzed the
American flag" and whom he termed
"a plant tool of trust magnates mort
gage sharks and usurers,' chief of
whom is that "sanctimonious, indus
trial cannibal, Mark Hanna" The let
ter was a choice bit of fool literature,
and not the least interesting of its
features was the part where the author
paid his compliments to Postmaster
General Smith and dared him to sup
press the letter. In closing he said:
Edward Atkinson may crook the rusty
hinges of his attenuated legs, and
cringingly pull his foretop to one of
Uncle Sans hired men-but I will not
| am sorry, however, that on this ex-
pansion business Edward Atkinson is
for once right. He has for SO many
years been making an ass of himself
that cause no matter how righteous
is injured by his championship He is.
be CAD, almost as big a fool as Smith
Postmaster General Smith,
Realizing that only the too kind in
diligence of government which loves
all its citizens. however hayward and
degenerate they are. allows such man
his freedom, the Journal criticised the
document in the most charitable spirit.
/ suggested that since it would be too
bad to imprison poor wretch who was
50 evidently irresponsible for his
mouthings. the proper place for him
was an idiot asylum. But Mr.. Morris
has taken our kindly meant criticism
in the wrong spirit. He has taken his
voice in hand and shouted the follow
ing message to us across the eagerly
listening continent It's burning sar-
casm caused several prairie fires in
Nebraska and Kansas as it passed
over, and several young cyclones We're
set in motion along it's path from the
Arkansas to the Kennebec. The letter
follows in full:
Pueblo, Colo, June 81 1899
Editor Kennebec Journal, Augusta
Maine:
Dear Sir: Your pleasant littl,
roast of the undersigned received
Thanks! l find it impossible to gain
admission to the idiot asylum owirg to
ITS being overcrowded with Mckinley
ties and imperialists: this. notwith-
standing the institution is located here
IN Pueblo. This is explained by DR..
Ihombs. the superintendent, advising
me that his inmates nearly all hail
from sway down East" and having
been half starved and stunted on the