The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-21
THURSDAY, APRIL Fl, 1904.
IN THE DEPTHS,

The desperateness of the Republican
local campaign and the clear recogni-
ton by sympathizers with that party
of their disfavor and pending defeat
can be sensed accurately from the
level to which the practical working
campaign has now sunk. When a
party is hopeful as well as active, its
appeals are directed to reason and
common sense, and are based upon at
least apparent facts to which it can
refer as evidence. It is only when it
is seized with the same madness and
desperate spirit which inspires the
Malay to run amuck that political lead
ers and newspapers initiate his ex-
ample.
One can read acknowledged defeat
In the editorial statements of the morn
Ing Republican organ in this city, and
feel absolutely certain Of the result of
the balloting if he had no other knowl-
edge whatever; for those columns as
ordinarily conducted, though often mar
row and prejudiced, are generally de-
cent, dignified and free from faint Of
the raving insanity Of the yellow spe-
cies. Not SO now. To read the articles
appearing there on the local situation.
whether viewed from the standpoint of
fact or of style, one might imagine
that Mr.. Hearst himself had asked and
obtained control Of a newspaper in ST.
Paul
We refer particularly to indecent and
abusive attacks upon Mayor Smith and
the police commission, and the pre-
posterous eulogies in which Col. Wright
Is beslavered. The former can have
only the effect of repelling every fair
minded and decent voter from the Re
publican cause. Could anything be
more idiotic than to attempt to repre-
sent Robert A. Smith as a good-na-
tured and well meaning, but weak and
half imbecile gentleman to this COM
munity that has known him all his life
honored him so repeatedly and had
such satisfactory taste of his execu-
tive quality?
Two years ago the same old song was
sung, The public was warned of the
perfectly dreadful things which were
TO happen should Robert A. Smith ba
made mayor; not because of anv de-
fects in him, but because the very had
people behind him would ride over his
meekness and have their own wicked
way. Two years experience have shown
the Stiffness of the prophecy that &c
now put forward again. Robert A.
Smith has been mayor in fact and in
name. He has displayed exactly the
good qualities which even his enemies
must credit him with, by selecting
suitable, upright, competent and fit
ting men for public place. ST. Paul
under him has been well and honestly
and economically governed, and no
SANDER can obscure that fact.
In aiming at the police board and
the police department over Mavor
Smiths shoulders, the paper in ones
ton sinks to the lowest depth. It
knows as everyone knows, that there
IS no graft in the government of St.
Paul; that there is no such thing here
as protected" vice; that nc ilI-gotten
gains cling to the hands Of the public
authorities; that the reflection and
lnnuendo which it repeats and amplI-
1ies with the purpose Of making the
people believe that members of the no.
lice board are corrupt is base and
wicked fabrication.
These antics become the more all
surd and uninteiligible when we re-
member what the same newspaper has
already said to tire public on the same
subject. 1t assured them weeks ago