Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-10-27
Political Discussions Whitcher and
Dewey.

We attended one OF the evening
discussions announced by Dewey and
Whitcher, opposing candidates for
the Assembly, Third District. They
are announced to discuss the points
cal issues in all the towns of the Dis
tfict, and several places in some Of
the towns
The people cannot fail TO be great
ly protited by such discussions, and
we have about concluded that pai ty
candidates should be chosen with
special reference to their ability to
engage in public discussion OF the
merits of party issues. The practice
would develope much latent ability
for public speaking which, for want
of opportunity, must fail of develop
ment. By pushing men into il we
rouse to action what Is in them
The public speaking faculty which
exists in most persons to some eX-
tent is almost suspended at present
by asfoolish, bigoted, narrow and
unnatural notion that the speaking
talent is damage to men, especially
to young men, and that silence is a
greater virtue to the legislator than
rising and speaking to the point 1t
has come to be ansaetual truth that
the dullest stupidity is priced as the
equal of wide>awake sharpness and
that a sort of profound silence, dig
nitied with owlishness and sharpen
ed with snakish cunning, are taken
for higher merits than out and >out
manly expression from the mouth in
the form of public speaking. Such
has been the popular prejudice
against stumping that of the dozen
candidates in Grant County, not one
could rise and defend his party and
the issues involved in his own cleo
Mon. Such work was all left TO the
press and to men in the party who
could talk, but whose talking ability
was damage fatal to their own
rise to public position. Even at the
present we can think OF but three or
four of the twenty democratic and
republican candidates in Gcant Co..
who have the ability, at least the
will, to go out and talk to the people
"Ah, but your talking men consume
time!' Grant it, but your stupid, close
mouthed men consume still more
time, and your silent crafty ones
found to be mere policy vendors.
But among the changes required
in view of a more thorough poltica
education of the people, that of free
and open discussion by the candi-
dates will be the first and greatest
The newspaper falls short Of captur
ing the popular ear and the public
heart and judgement seem TO crave
the human voice for schoolmaster
Let the reform extend next year.
wHlTcHER AND DEWEY.
The Third Assembly District, a;
noticed at first is to be well canvass
ed and the people enlightened by
the democratic and republican can
didates for the Assembly Whitchel
and Dewey.
Mr.. Whitcher is an earnest Sey-
mour democrat, and really believes
in the creed OF Seymour and Blail
as the Turk believes in the Mohame
dan faith In his speaking be affirm:
and denies from conviction. Hs
combines the actor and orator. His
language is ready and flowing hi.
points well made and telling, and
his augmentation well trained ane
forcible.
Mr.. Dewey is Il ready and excel
lent speaker and is never in wait Q
either words or ideas. He move,
along with ease, only aiming 10 re
flute the strong positions 81 his an
tagonist
The two are oddly matched a
disputants but still, their meeting.
are largely attended by men OF boil
parties. Il would be on. Of order il
us to offer any opinion calculated Il
prejudice the public mind for o
against either-so we hurrah tol
both