The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-08-19
THE DISCUSSION Ar xnosAuauA.

Having little business to attend to at
there on Monday, to attend the political de-
bate between the candidates for Congress.
The day was pleasant, though q little cloudy,
and the roads were fine. The District Court
commenced its session at the same time, so
that everything seemed favorable for very
large outpouring of the people of the county.
The crowd. however, was nothing like az
large as we anticipated, nor was there the
slightest indication Of enthusiasm on the part
of the people in attendance. As both par
ties we're equally Interested and alike rep
resented, on the occasion, the fact charac.
terizes and effects both parties alike, at least
in the bounds of Van Buren, county. And
however local and peculiar circumstances
may account for the lack of enthusiastic
demonstration in that county, there is no
question that the same fact characterizes to
greater or less extent, the political cam
paign thus far throughout the North. We
have not time at present to elucidate the phi
losophy of this very general and noticeable
absence Of manifest enthusiasm on the part
Of the masses Of the people.
As the hour Of three drew near the people,
to the number Of some 1900, collected on the
Court House green, under the shade Of the
trees, and the speakers assembled the plat
form. EMPIRES were selected, and Isaac
Nelson took the chair on behalf of Clagett,
and Il. N. Cresap on the part of McCrary.
Geo. +. Wright then announced that Mr..
ClAgett would open with speech of an
hour, and Mr.. McCrary would follow in .
speech Of an hour and q half, and then Mr..
Clagett would close in half hour speech.
Thereupon Clagett took the stand, apollo
gised in his usual happy style, and made q
speech which seemed intended to ignore the
record Of the Rebels and the Copperheads
during the war, and only to remember the
taxation imposed BY Congress, and the eff
forts which Congress had made to reconstruct
the Up;on.
1athe main he was courteous to his oppo-
nent, and INDUCED in very little blackgnard-
ism and bully-ragging, but rambled on in .
disconnected medley of assertion and argu
nent, which produced no effect on his au-
ditors, and seemed dull, stale, fiat and I'M
profitable.
The truth is, Clagett tried to be decent and
moderate, and thereby did such violence to
his natural proclivities that he became utter
" spiritless. We regret that we cant com
pliment Clagett's efforts, for We would like
to encourage him TO persevere, and repeat
his attempt at decency and decorum of de-
pertinent. But decency is not his forte. ar
gunent is beyond the highest range Of his
faculties, and truth is q stranger to his lips
and he will commit suicide on himself a. =
stump speaker if he persists in his effort to
conduct himself with decency and decorum
in his speeches.
bis audience was disappointed, the Demo-
cratic portion thereof were chsgrined, at the
tameness and lack of force exhibited through
ont bis address. For ourself, We confess that
though We never had . very high apprecia-
aos OF Clagett's stump speaking, We ye.
never entertained 90 poor an opinion Of his
powers a. was forced upon US by his openino
performance in this discussion.
McCrary followed him in : .peecb If an
hour and half. His opening was direct. |
positive, earnest, and full Of spirit and patri-
otism; and the honest sincerity Of his man
ner not less than the eloquence aud force Of
bis opening attracted the attention Of the
crowd and produced = decidedly favorable |
mpression. The crowd Vas awake and .liye
= once and gave him breathlsss attention. a
hsy followed him along in tho path Of his
straightforward recital Of facts, and his plain
ID convincing argsusnts bsssd thereon. |