Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-21

On the evening of Sept Z, 1904, the
land was at peace, and no aRsBries OF
dread possessed il. Vermont bad Said
its say, in no unmeaning manner, and
all was calm in city and country, while
in New York was gathering basd- just
few faithful editors OF Democratic
antecedents, to talk over the political sit
uation, and incidentally devoW that
square meal which, when eaten IN pHbiie
and accompanied by speeches, Is called
banquet
Among the chivalry which gathered
there was Henry Watterson OF Ken
lucky. The moment he was Scen ut the
festive board those editors ami specta-
tors who are accustomed 10 observe the
usual progress of events knew that same-
thing was going to happen. ISey di-
vined that Henry had been seeing
things 1t is a way he has, And then
he says things.
Time rolled on. The rich New York
viands, prepared for the unsccustemed
palates of the visiting editors, the fiery
cocktails. the generous wines, she alps OF
strong waters, all these had net che
fate prepared for them. And then came
Watterson, as chief speaker Of the even
ing
Watterson is at tAes an exeitahis
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 chivairens
American gentleman was afraid Of an
other brave, loyal, ehivalrOus American
gentleman-thn President Of the United
Sfo4aC Thandor. Daouatso}t
There was rant about raising the
black flag" "scuttling the ship Of civil
service" and cutting the throat of re-
ciprocity" which made WatteFsoa's hear
ers turn pale, though they knew no more
than did the speaker TO what these trucu-
lent words referred,
The trembling editors listened appall
ed. Watterson lowered his y0jre and
muttered forth charges Of ruth and ruin
against Roosevelt past Roosevelt pres
ent, Roosevelt future. Again be paved
1he earth, shook his fists alo!- and bel
lowed his predictions OF an everlasting
candidate for the presidency, and an ev-
e~lasting President in the person az The
odore Roosevelt, if the Republicans con-
tinue in power. Watterson's auditors
thought of Carter II. Harrison / and Car
ter ii. Harrison IL, perennial and ever
blooming Mayors of Chicago, but, as
these examples of political longevity be
long to the Democratic party, il Gained
the nerves of the wTought-up banquet
ers, and they were able 20 brace up and
| listen to the imprisoned gentleman from
| Kentucky.
The food of oratory went On and on.
| and when it was over the editors felt re-
lieved, because no seizure OF fatal
character had made fitting Gilman 10 the
utterances of the choleric spealer, whose
eloquence has been whetted for years,
upon the obtrusive angles Of his own
party.
And then the teIegraphic wires bore,
as upon the wings of the wind, the
words of Watterson, to be printed in the
morning papers that there could be read.
by the t5Iling millions, the fatal words
of objIreatiou. adjuration aud diviRa-
ton.
The public read the burning words
of Watterson with that fatal apathy
which greets the efforts Of those VITA, In
the first place, talk too much. and in the
second place, habitually overshaot the
mark. There was a good-na'ured laugh,
per APPS, as some stalwart tftertean
glanced over the scare heads" af the
morning papers, and one or another OF
the great army of freemen said to his
neighbors, as he looked up from the
warnings. denunciations and predictions
of the hystericdl orator Of Louisville,
"Watterson's broke loose AGAIN.
And that was all.