Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-07-17
THE COMIC FEATURE IN AMERICAN.
POLITICS.


at every Presidential election,
there are number of candidates for
the place who may be called comic
candidates. They themselves are not
lacking in seriousness or earncstncss.
which very fact makes them appear all
the more cOmical. They may be
comical in their character, or comical
in their attitude, or comical in their
principles.
They furnish world of fun to the
newspapers, and set Il great many
people laughing. In doing this, they
render valuable service to the
country. a Presidential election is
always Il very severe and bitter
struggle. Parties are violently in
famed against each other. The pas
sions of the people run high. lnsul-
ting cpithct- and infamous charges
are flung from one side to another. 1t
frequently seems rs though the con-
test would result in blows, and
could only bc settled hv main force.
Under these circumstances. the COM
teal candidates crratra fccliug of
humor, which has II tendency to tenn
per the fury Of the fray. People can
not help laughing nj them now and
then: and thus their minds are par
TALLY relieved of the passionate frcn-
zy which might otherwise upset
their reason. III his greatest tragc-
dies. Shakespeare always introduces II
clown, or tool, or jester, or some
sort Of silly fellow who talks or acts
in Il comical way. Even in the most
tragical or pathetic episodes of his
great dramas, no often Introduces u
character OF this kind. lie thus So
cures IL two.fold purpose. lie pro.
duccs the effect Of contrast. rs II mat :
ter of dramatic art; and he relieves
the mind of the spectator from the
painful sensation caused by continu-
Gus and unmixcd tragedy. The COM
ical candidates serve similar object
in the dolorous world of politics.
They tighten up the gloom and enlivrn
the imagination. There is ful!
number OF cs,nical candidates in the
present Presidential campaign.
The most notable of them all is
Mrs. Victoria Woodruff, who has
been somewhat notorious during the
last few years as an advocate of
Goman's rights. as n financial spcru-
lator, rs the cditrcss of n paper, aud
as II representative of political revo-
luton and social radicaliSm. Some
time ago, while walking down broad
way one evening, we were attracted
by a crowd Of people pressing into a
hall. We followed the crowd and
entered. On reaching the corridor,
we heard the shrill voice of woman.
loud, intense and fierce. 1t was Mrs.
Woodruff. who stood in the middle
of the platform, delivering a speech.
The platform was filled with her
supporters of both sexes, and the
hall was crowded with an excited
multitude of men and women. She
spoke 'like one possessed" or rather
like one frenzicd, exposing the talsity
and corruption of politics and glori-
flying her own ideas. When she con-
cluded her speech, she swept from
the platform into an adjacent room,
and Immediately the chairman of the
assemblage stepped to the front, and
nominated her as n candidate for the
Presidency of the United States.
The multitude, male and female,
sprang to their feet, shouted aye
till they were tired, waved their
handkerchiefs and flung their hats in
the air,-keeping up the wild and
extravagant scene for several min.
utcs. She reappearcd on the plat.
form, was greeted with storm OF
applause, accepted the nomination
with thanks, and again retired amids,
the widest excitement. She wa:
then culogized by half-a-dozen speak
ers, who predicted her triumphant
success in the election. Wha,
sort of people were they who com.
posed the audience: Well, the,
were rather q queer set. There were
quacks Of all sorts, social revolution.
lists Of every kind, "InternatiOnals'
of all colors, lunatics, or people hall
insane in considerable number, "mel
with long hair and women with shor,
hair" and a large crowd who haC
gathered together merely to see til,
fun, aud enjoy the jamboree. Sh'
has now been up as Presideutia
candidate for some weeks. She ha
been "interviewed" bv the reporters
and she has told them that her elec
tion is assured, for she will secure
eyerybody's rights aud rectify every
body's wrongs. Her platform
promises to give "cverything tt
everybody" and she declares she i
sustained by the spirits Of the othe
J world as we'll as bv the powers in this
The newspapers have all been laugh
ing at her. She is the subject of al
kinds of witticism. She is the frs
aud foremost of the comic candidates
George Francis train is another q
the comic candidates for the Presi
dency. lie advocates his own claim,
and shows up his own merits all owe
the country. We believe he has de-