He found plenty of listeners, for
protest was abroad. But the persistent defamer irritates even his
friends. He offends the innate sense of patriotism and loyalty which
slinks even in the breast of the rebel. The Duke noted with satisfaction
the outward symptoms of Mr. Spinney's campaign; he was winning a
following in those days of unrest. Through the columns of his newspapers
the old politician exploited Mr. Spinney, seeing to it that he was well
advertised as a man who persistently branded his own State as a den of
infamy. Thus he made Spinney strong enough to play against Everett and
weak enough to fall far in the estimation of men when the time came for
him to fall.
And then at last, in the latter days of June, all roads led to Rome. The
Republican Convention was called for the twenty-eighth, in the big hall
of the State's metropolis.
On the day before, Thelismer Thornton emerged from the back room of
headquarters at the State capital, and with Chairman Presson and Harlan
journeyed to the scene of the conflict.
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