A House Divided

"A House of MLB Fans Divided"
A modern day spin on Abraham Lincoln's famous speech

If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it. We are now far into the fifth year since the move to Colorado was initiated with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to all things Atlanta. Under the operation of that move, that agitation has not only not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached and passed. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this household cannot endure permanently half Braves and half Rockies. I do not expect the Union of Marriage to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of the Braves will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new -- Georgia as well as Colorado.

Have we no tendency to the latter condition?

This necessity had not been overlooked; but had been provided for, as well as might be, in the notable argument of "acknowledging your hometown," otherwise called "not being able to acknowledge your current state of residency," which latter phrase, though expressive of the only rightful basis of any fan, was so perverted in this attempted use of it as to amount to just this: That if any one person choose to be a Braves fan, no person shall be allowed to be a Rockies fan. That argument was incorporated into the most recent debate itself, in the language which follows: "It being the true intent and meaning of this act not to dictate that no person shall not be a Braves fan, nor to exclude any person from watching thus; but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regulate their current domestic loyalty in their own way, allowing the possibility of becoming a Rockies fan." Then opened the roar of loose declamation in favor of "acknowledging your hometown," and "not being able to acknowledge your current state of residency." "But," said opposition members, "let us amend the marriage so as to expressly declare that we may be equally both Braves and Rockies fans."

Our cause, then, must be intrusted to, and conducted by, its own undoubted friends -- those whose hands are free, whose hearts are in the work -- who do care for the result. Two years ago the Rockies mustered 2 post season sweeps to become National League champions. They did this under the single impulse of resistance to a common danger, with every external circumstance against them. Of strange, discordant, and even hostile elements, they gathered from the four corners, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud and pampered enemy. Did they brave all then, to falter now? --now, when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered and belligerent? The result is not doubtful. They shall not fail -- if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise fans may accelerate, or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later, the victory is sure to come and a Rockies fan made.