The true northerner., 1872-10-11

In recent " an Dureh COunty AllDerhl)
Republican" we find glowing account OF the
great meeting at the Town Hall in Decatur on
Monday evening, Sept. 49, when VIM. II.
Tucker Esq. gave his reasons why" etc. IL
10 characterized as ian enthusiastic affair"
and as enthusiasm" seems TO be sine qua
non with the Liberals, ii was doubtless great
thing for the Liberals OF Decatur. Your corre-
spondent had not the pleasure of being present
to hear those mighty reasons, and therefore he
must take the statement gwen by the Rebubd-
can? as correct, and for fear it may not elicit
all the attention that 1t deserves, wish to eau
, especial attention to some of the statements
! there made
After describing the grand "impromp,u
procession and other prelimlnares, we are told
that "the first part of his speech for about an
hour was devoted TO personal explanation with
regard to bis own course" and as this part OF
his speech is that IN which almost everybody
acquainted with the circumstances viii take the
most interest, and feel the most curiosity to
understand, let us attend to 1t a moment
Because where man ike Mr.. Tucker expert
ences such sudden conversion people are
curious to know the strong ''reasons' that
produce the change.
We are accordingly told that "with regard
to his change in opinion he said that had been
like 80 out OF every 100 members OF the Re-
publican party. lie had never read but one
side never heard a speech from the opposite
party, nor read their papers nor heard their
arguments his whole education in politics had
been TO stick to the Republican party
What poor, innocent ignoramus he must
nave been Politically, ! moan, OF course
no political education only to "sticb to the
Republican party!" OF course he had no un-
derstandiug knowledge Of the doctrines and
principles of his own party because this is
impossible without some knowledge OF the OPP
posing doctrines and principles.
Eut astounding as IS such condition OF iguo
rance in man Of professional attaiuments IN
this enlightened and reading age, it is nothing
compared with the facility with which he has
burst those bands OF darkness and Ignorance,
and the rapidity with which he has acquired
political knowledge to such degree as TO be-
come bright and shining light; 30 that by his
political ability and eloquence he could hold
" for over two hours the closest attention and
deepest interest OF "the largest crowd that
ever met IN the Hall; and as the Republican !?
adds: ." lie went on with an interesting and
carefully prepared speech on national affairs
which was really one o, tue best we have had
the fortune TO hear.
That person in such state OF political Ig-
norance and nanity as Mr.. Tucker represents
himself to have been IN, up to the time OF the
Lawrence convention, should arise thereirom
to such an eminent degree as to perform the
wonderful feats OF political eloquence attrib-
uted by the Republican to Mr.. Tucker, Is not
IN itself 80 very incredible. Indeed, achieve
ments as great have been made before. But
then it takes months and commonly years OF
hard application and study. Ii is the incredibly
short time in which Mr. Tucker achieved this
triumph which 10 80 astonishing. 1t must be
remembered that at the Lawrence convention,
held on the 18th OF August, he was in the be-
nighted condition stated above; that then,
sink or swim, survive or perish, -" whether
he was nominated for Prosecuting Attorney on
not" he was bound to support Grant and the
Republican Ticket and his great speech afore-
said was made Sept. ed, only Hirty-seren days
all told in which this great change was brought
about Only thirty da in which to dc
all the "reading on the otb.g side, to weigh
carefully all tho arguments and become thor
oughly acquainted with all the fects necessary
not only to convince birnself that be had teer
all wrong and the opposite party all right. but
= to prepare himself to treat of national at
q fairs" IN such mastery manner as represent
ed by the Republican. when prior, and up tc
that tlme he had "read but one side: neve
:, heard speech from the opposite party 40
o read their papers nor heard then arguments
: (where bad the poor follow been all his life
= And yet believe he had made pretersions Il
!. political 4tump speaking before that his Who'll
- education in politics" having been :" to sticl
TO the Repubhcan party. This is not the cas-,
of the political change OF q Greeley Shur2
n or a Sumper Tho political education" o
these men was not quite so limited az MI
s Tucker represents his TO have been. They ha
Vt read seme on the other side before, and wer
s. not quite in such state OF blissfu ignoranc
on political matters as Mr.. Tucker was-accord
= ing to his own showing-yet 1t took them
good deal longer to get fairly iutc the trace
lr and settled to the work on the opposite ED
4 than IL did Mr.. Tuc6er.
b But although there were thirty-seven day
y from tho Lawrence convention to tine evenin
OF the great speech aforesaid, yet 1t IL not at a
lie probable that the whole OF that time was occr
y pied by Mr. Tucker in thus making himself az
y quainted with the true history Of national pol
% tics % we'll as the history and soundness
unsouuiucss OF political partiss: for durln
- shat tine there was session OF the Circu
~ Court IN which hIr. Tucker had his usual nun
Der or important cases to trg. which must haS
~ occupied nearly a week OF that precious tIm'
and then it is fair to presume that the most G
- his time for a week or two previous TO the ter
II was occupied by him, AZ il generally the cat
i'll with attS rneys, in preparing for the trial
IT his case so that he could not have had mo
of than two or three weeks Of available time
to learn all that there is to be learned in rega
il 10 "natiOaal politics" aud the history ar
n character az both the great national parties
re For If his excuse is true lie WAS as lgnerant