Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-01-18

listened to by large and very intelligen
audience. MIR. McNutt spoke OF times witt
much earnestness and animation, though nj
general style of delivery is calm and deliber
ate. Ho seemed duly impressed with tn
important bearings of his subject and coca
sionally betrayed Impotence, we thought, Q
the restraints of the ecture-room upon tul
expression of the views he entertained. In
subject being entirely of political character
naturally trenches on partizan grounds
which, however, the lecturer skillfull.
avoided, as far, at least, as possible. Il
was too guarded, perhaps. in this respect a
it prevented him from arriving at any prac
tical conclusion - such, for example, as t.
specify distinctly the principle which shoul'
recommend itself to the statesmen OF tn
present day for the permanent adjustments
the irritating question underlying the sec
tional commotion which threatens the very
existence of the nation.
Mr.. McNutt, with a polite regard for thu
prophecies of the occasion, as already init
mated, confined his remarks to a genera
definition of the terms employed and thu
presentation of some of the most prominen
chara cteristics which distinguish the dema
gogue from the statesman, as relates to the
motives and aims that actuate the conduct o.
each. Ofiice-seeking he regards as legiti
mate outgrowth of our republican institutions
which give to every person voice or vote
in the selection of legislators and rulers; and
it is not to be expected that the question Of
fitness will at all times circumscribe the
bounds of those aspiring to positions Of honor
and trust The evil Immediately and una
voidably connected with this system is that
it warns into life and activity a pestiferous
swarm of greedy of1ice-seekers, destitute Of
principle, having n respect to any interests
save their own or those pertaining to some
particular section. In pursuit of their own
selfish aims they employ every conceivable
artifce that may win the favor Of the masses
advocating mere timely interests, and
addressing themselves ever to the passions
and prejudices of men, never to the cool
dictates of reason. They are ever the friends
par excellence of "the dear people," accord
ing to their own loud-mouthed profession.
"The people" say they, fare always wise,
are always virtuous, are always honest the
people are always right-ror Popuh, ror Del
est" And this is the badge of the dsma-
gogue. The earliest illustrations afforded in
history of this pest to the body politic was
drawn from the ancient Republic of Greece;
thence they were traced in republican Rome,
their prototypes in the arts of
aattery and deceit, and taking deeper faint
Of corruption; and, finally, in our own
where they flourish in unparalleled
uxuriance, crowding every avenue Of public
life and exhibiting a skill Of meanness and
lepravity such as defies the power of ade-
luate description. They are mortal disease
in nation, and left to unrestricted sway,
oresage with unerring certainty its degrade
ion and death. The only safeguard against
heir arts is the education of the masses-the
diffusion Of knowledge.
On the other hand, the statesman is ma
If clear intellect, deep penetration and fore
thought, honesty, and, above all, of straight
Onward purpose. Heis devoted to the inter
,sts of his country-his whole country and
will not shrink to tell the people of their
errors, their follies and their crimes, and of
he diseases which afllict the nation. He
counts the interests Of his country, not by
lays and years but by centuries. He despises
,ot the lessons of history and profits by the
experience Of nations that have passed away.
The demagogue magnifes matters Of petty
concern into prodigious Importance, hoping
% derive advantage by the mischief resulting
herefrom. The lecturer cited the case of
TIE paid emissary of Philip, of
Nacedon, who, in order to disrupt the
1recian Confederacy, succeeded, by the skill
Jul exaggeration Of an act of sacrilege charged
,pon the people of one section, in melting
\ bitter feeling of sectional luminosity, which
'esulted in the ruin of the nation. 1t re-
minded him (the lecturer) of the pitiable
spectacle of men in the halls of Congress,
asst winter, endeavoring to show forth IN a
most horrifying light little book called
Helpers Crisis"
The lecturer closed in feeling appeal for
The Union, denouncing in strong language
the bare suggestion of dissolution.