Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-08-10
IComm municated.
lCommunicated.l
FREE SCOPE TO MR. CHINN.
EDITOR CITIZEN.

an inquiry of public nature to one
of the public press, the readers of
the CITIZEN have learned before now
what | got for my pains. At the
outset of an editorial of over col
umn in length an answer was prom
ised to the inquiry, but look as | did
for its forthcoming / finally realized
it had got lost in the shuttle in the
series of paragraphs given to attacks
on me, the bludgeoning Of others ov-
er my shoulders who are imaginary,
so far rs | know, and other queer
doings in depressing from the point of
the inquiry. The editorial certainly
radiated at wonderful rapidity to
cover the sphere Of those Influences
which seem to control you, but l saw
no scintillation from the rays, or, to
use your novel figure, it certainly
shot scattering enough to bring down
almost everything if only it had
been shot with force enough, squir-
rel, knots and all. Neither shall
admit the age is altogether prosaic,
for even there is poetry of a kind,
and some sentiment in the mad
gush of irrelavancy we sometime see
in the defences OF the editorial
"we" against warlocks and witches,
or the defances made from behind
that much abused pronominal. In
deed, fury is sometimes presented in
rythmic fool-hardiness. Now, my
own insignificauce aside; my style of
speech aside; who my associates are;
my environments" aside, which il
you multiply too many times l must
surely be outdone; nay, how l stand
in any of my private relations, the
public can have no deep concern un-
less they become publicly offensive.
Without warrant, would the CITIZEN
make me out offensive in this respect?
BY a little analyzing, what | might
say of the editorial, aside; its man
ner, its frothing, its word and SEN
tence structure, its grammar, are
matters with which / have no abid-
ing concern. Bot you should be re-
minded / have no part in your polit-
ical fights and strife here in this
county. Just lately returned to al
most the spot of my birth, have
looked on in wonder at the feud car
ried on by Democrats in Lancaster
against each other. The ear and eve
are the chief organs of the sentient
being. In feud either side is likely
to do things no outsider would COM
mend, and / can but be impressed
the editorial in question was inspired
in main by that spirit because | am
on friendly terms and am neighbor of
certain gentlemen in the Litwalton
precinct. But pass all these by.
Many utterances in the CITIZEN
/ applaud. You seem to be public
spirited; our national politics appear
to coincide in principle if not in
policy. Only to call attention to
your shooting SO scattering should
l criticise the editorial further, and
only in the way of interrogatory.
How does one insinuate when di-
rect question is asked? | do not see
the jugglery with truth when you re-
peat in the editorial the same condem-
nation, previously denying in the same
my statement, which prompted my
inquiry based on your prior condem-
nations of precise import. If one
says thing is unwise, does he not
condemn it? When did | desire any
secret converse with you? Heart to
heart talk over policy in matters po-
litical; to blind or hood wink some
body is talk seek with no one. AS
an economic proposition, did | hint
the CITIZEN condemned I6 to /? But
both before and after the Kansas
City convention / did intimate that
right along it condemned its adop-
ton as platform tenet. If this
distinction had been observed should
rather believe You would have given
my letter a fairer Interpretation, in
stead of scattering it over with dia-
tribe. "Mr. Chirn's Bait" was moth
ing more than desire to see the
difference made clearer between prin-
clple and policy, the one a living
faith, the other game. ] care not
how long the line or how illustrious
the names who would make a play
at policy in profession of faith, |
yet follow my standard-bearer who,
understanding the beliefs aud expec-
tations of the Democratic masses
throughoutithese States better than
any other man, has unswervingly CO.
ordiaated his principle with this pop
ular sentiment, and could maintain it
rather than have presidential nom
ination. With such a character.
known to all, that was why policy
flew out the window at Kansas CITY
when that man spoke to resume it's
talk over the country of condemna-
ton and foreboding. Instigated nv