The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-13
"a Word Personal to Our
selves" by Mr.. Merritt.
Asheville Citizen.

Asheville Citizen.
Though the only accounts of the assault
made by Congressman Blackburn upon
the editor of this paper on Monday night
have been sent out by Republican cor
respondents and grossly misrepresent the
facts in an attempt to defend the action
of Mr.. Blackburn and those aiding and
abetting him, still an unprecedented man
who reads even them is forced to two con-
illusions:
/. That the article complained of con-
tanned no just cause for such an assault.
2. That there was a conspiracy or I'M
derstanding between Blackburn and the
friends by whom he was surrounded, in
Guiding Senator Prtchard, Clerk Cowles
and others. to the effect that he should
attack the editor of The Citizen, and they
would stand by and prevent any inter
ference by outsiders or harm to Black
burn from the man he was attacking.
The time and place chosen for the as
sault and all the circumstances attend
ing it show this: In the lobby of a large
hotel, at a time when most of its guests
would be assembled there and on the eve
of the arrival of the President.
Col Cowles' action in knocking down
and kicking the man who tried to sepa-
rate them is also proof of it.
Senator Pritchards activity in the
crowd and the fact that he himself came
near getting into a difficulty during the
fight is another proof of it.
That the fight was allowed to proceed
until it threatened to become general and
that it was not in fact, stopped until the
proprietor of the hotel ran in with drawn
pistol and commanded the peace. declar-
ing he would shoot the first man who
started the fight again, is another evil
dence of it.
In fact, the very presence of these dozen
Republicans around Blackburn, who a
Republican correspondent says, had been
hunting the object of his wrath for
hours" is evidence of an understanding
on their part in regard to his intentions,
if not ar express agreement as to his
mode of procedure
These circumstances are so plain that
even Mr.. Blackburn friends have not
denied them, but contented themselves
with avowals that he was justified in his
assault by the article complained of.
AS a matter of fact the article was
Simply Il quotation from duOIueE OIdlc
paper to the effect that his marriage was
dependent upon his reelection to Con-
gress, and we added the prediction that
he would not be reelected.
This is a publication that has gone the
rounds of the press of the State. AS We
remember, it was first sent out from
: Charlotte two or three weeks ago to all
/, the morning papers-Richmond, Wash
ington, Atlanta and perhaps others 1t
was a long special, covering the whole
matter. 1t was supposed by many at the
time that Mr.. Blackburn had inspired the
article, thinking to awaken sympathy and
gain votes for him in the campaign. Ger
stainly if he had been so grievOusly Of
Tended he could have found who sent it,
or at any rate could have had it denied.
In truth at least one correspondent did
offer to deny it for him, but he replied
that he thought it might be better to let
, it alone"
Why then this sudden outrage backed
by the whole Republican party of West
ern North Carolina? and when did this
Ashe county statesman become so thin
skinned?