The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-07-28
1t Founders Around In Hope
less Condition
And Has Now Become An
Object OF Pity

Columbus, o., July 25.-with un-
worthy men trying to direct, with
crew of babbling novices and schem-
ing buccaneers, the Republican ship
of state is headed straight for the
rocks.
This gallant old fighting machine,
veteran of many contests. and with
many inspiring victories to her cre-
dit, has become an object of pity. In
the old days, when that stern COM
mander, Mark Hanna, trod the quar-
ter deck, she was an engine of des-
truction. With crew that knew
how to obey orders, as grim a bunch
of fighters as ever manned the yards,
there was trepidation as she steamed
into the fighting grounds and cleared
her decks for action.
From commander to cabin boy
! there was unity of action, oneness of
purpose, complete cooperation and
effective team work. No pink faced
cherub e'er sought to give expert ad-
vice to the man whose collar bore the
stars of service and the emblem of
authority. His only purpose was to
| obey.
Campaign after campaign that old
| fighting machine tore her way
through the line of defense the Demo
Gratis made ready. With ammunition
and rapid fire guns, with the heavy
ordnance that sent the kissing weight
of destruction miles away, straight to
the mark there was required grim
heroism and sacrificial love of prin.
ciple to arm the Democratic forces
for the contest that, time after time,
ended in their utter defeat.
There Is no grim and stern faced
commander in charge now. There is
no crew, drilled in every detail, en-
thused, willing, eager to obey. She
is the same old fighting man of war.
Her outlines are unchanged. The
same battle flag flies from her top
mast The same grim guns peek
from their semi-hiding places.
But those great guns belch forth
no more destructive shots. Her hull
is grimy with the illsmelling accumu-
lations Of her last cruise. No paint.
er has freshened her appearance No
set of devoted workmen have strip.
ped her bottom of the barnacles that
seem to ever increase in numbers.
Unkempt, uncared for, she no longer
| inspires fear Of those she fights, she
no longer inspires valor and fidelity
among her crew. Drifting with the
tide she drags her anchor In dan
gerous harbor. A spdden crew of
self seekers brawl away the hours
unmindful and unappreciative of her
danger. The rocks are charted, but
they study not the chart. Anxious
for personal loot, they forget the dan.
ger to the ship.
AT the special session of the legis-
lature this old battle ship, limped into
the open and hoisted her signal OF
battle. What a demonstration of in
capacity, what showing of incompe-
tence! At the first pop OF her tiny
one FOUNDER, half her crew went
overheard and swan, affrlghted, to
the Democratic launch hard by. Not
another shot was fired. Her puny
effort did not even call forth res
ponse from thte Democratic gun.
boats, Their commander knew no
one was in jeopardy.
Hold your fire., was the signal
from the commander. With every
man in place. with every gun pointed
straight, with ammunition holsts
tested and working, the Democrats
stood by and watched the futile
maneuyers of the ship that had sent
many of their comrades to the hot.