CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1904-09-22

On the evening OF Sept. Z. 1904. the
land was at peace. and no auguries of
dread possessed il. Vermont had said
its say. in no unmeaning manner. and
all was calm in city and country, while
in New York was gathering band. just
few faithful editors of Democratic
antecedents- TO talk over the political sit
uation. and incidentally devour that
square meal which. when eaten in public
and accompanied by speeches, is called a
banquet
Among the chivalry which gathered
there was Henry Watterson of Ken
lucky. The moment he was seen at the
festive board those editors and specfa-
tors who are accustomed to observe the
usual progress of events knew that some
thing was going to happen They di-
yined that Henry had been seeing
things" 1t is way he has And then
he says things.
Time rolled on. The rich New York
viands. prepared for the unaccnstomed
palates of the visiting editors. the 6ery
cocktails. the generous wines. tie nips of
strong waters, all these had met the
fate prepared for them. And then came
Watterson, as chief speaker Of the even
ing.
Watterson is at times an exeisabls
man. This was one of the times. He
was not only excited. he was painfully.
morbidly. scared And of all things in
the world. this brave. loyal. chivairous
American gentleman was afraid OF an
other brave. loyal, chivalrous American
gentleman-the President Of the United
States, Theodore Roosevelt
There was rant about raising the
black fag." ..scuttling the ship of civil
service" -'and cutting the throat of re-
ciprocity" which made Watterson's hear
ers turn pale, though they knew NO more
than did the speaker to what these trueu-
lent words referred.
The trembling editors listened appall-
ed. Watterson lowered his voice and
mutfered forth charges of ruth and ruin
against Roosevelt past, Roosevelt pres
ent, Roosevelt future. Again he paved
the earth, shook his fists aloft and bel
lowed his predictions OF an everlasting
candidate for the presidency. and nm ev-
erlasting President in the person Of Ths-
odore Roosevelt, IL the Republicans con-
tinue in power. Watterson's auditors
! thought of Carter H. Harrison /. and Car
ter H Harrison H., perennial and ever
blooming Mayors of Chicago, but, -
these examples of political longevity -
long to the Democratic party, it ealne1
the nerves of the wronght-up banquef-
listen to the impassioned gentleman froa
Kentucky.
The food OF oratory went on and On.
and when it was over the editors felt re-
neved, because no seizure of q fatal
character had made fitting climax to tAs
u,terances of the choleric speaker. uhnss
eloquence has been whetted for years.
upon the obtrusive angles of his oWn
party.
And then the telegraphic wires bore.
as upon the wings of the wind. the
words of Watterson, to be printed in ths
morning papers that there could be read.
by the toiling millions, the fatal uesds
OF objurgation. adjuration and divisa-
ton.
The public read the burning Words
of watterson with that fatal apathy
which greets the efforts OF those who. IN
the first place, talk too much. and in IL
second place, habitually overshoot tAs
mark There was a good-nafured laugh,
perhaps. as some staiwart American
glanced over the scare heads" OF ths
morning papers, and one or another Of
the great army of freemen said 10 his
neighbors, as he looked up frem The
warnings, denunciatiops and predictions
of the hysterical orator of Louisville,
''Watterson's broke loose agsinr"