The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-06
Parten's Lecture.

james Parton, the distinguished biographer
and writer delivered to large audience at City
Hall last evening his new lecture on "Our
Scandalous Politics"
Mr. Parton is a slim and rather tall man,
with dark hair and a thin intellectual face, in
which refinement and sensitveness, pride and
positiveness blend with intelligence, His
voice, though not strong is well trained. and his
enunciation distinct He is not a rapid speaker
and makes use of but few gestures.
He began by referring to the Fourth of July,
1776, when the declaration OF Independence was
signed aud gave graphic view of the condition
of the body and mind of the sgners. Flies said
he. FASTENED the signing. After the signing all
things looked hopeful; no one could foresee the
long period of disaster that was to follow On
the Fourth of July, 1876, century will have
passed since the declaration was signed.
He referred to the centennial anniversary to
occur at Philadelphia, and spoke of the various
projects that had been proposed for the cee
1rating.. One man wants to build tower 500
feet high; another to empty all the prisons on
tnat day; another suggests that at the hour of
noon on that day every bell in the country be
rung, every available gun be fired, and a grand
chorus of human voices be sent up throughout
/. the land; another that all the farmers in the
land unite in making a monster cheese, upon
which hundreds of people can stand and unite
in singing the grand old national Hymn. He
then gave Satircal sketch of such a celebra-
ton as would please him. whereby all the
meanness, rascality and degradation of life
could be fifty illustrated, such as Tweeds sta
BILE magnifcently furnished in contrast with a
tenement block; the various frauds in politics;
Cakes Ames returning to his constituents BLACK
Friday; John Morrissey at his gambling house
at two o'clock in the morning; the photograph
of an intelligent jury. Such an exhibition
would be salutary.
Is the Fourth of July triumph, or failure,
He referred to Thomas Paine in his garrett in
Paris during the French revolution, and de-
scribed the downfall of the Empire. The re-
suit of Paine's theory in France was hunger,
terror, anarchy. He did not doubt the value of
Republican principles. With all their scandals
our politics are the least bad of those any ma
ton, for they speak to the world lessons of
good. 1t is well our politics are not free from
scandal, for all Europe would then precipitate
themselves into Republcanism in an unpre-
pared state. The practice of our politicians is to
draw the worst men into Office. Politics are
one with the worst men in the community.
The speaker referred to Fisk as the master of
politicians; to Stanwood of New York, though
but % years of age, rascal who was honored;
to Tweed and Jay Gould. He thought the
country towns initiated the cities in scandalous
rings The speaker dwelt upon universal suf-
frage. He believed it was better and safer to
admit women to the ballot box than ignorant
foreigners He thought the only safety of the
public tor the future was IN offSettlng the large
immigration by the intelligence and votes of
women. He eulogized woman and referred to
some whom we all love to honor He mention
ed that women were already engaged in various
occupations supposed to be exclusive for men.
He thought the true solution of all these prob.
lens was by admitting to the ballot all who
had residence of five years in this country a I'D
can read English Understandings. He de-
scribed the careless haste withewhich important
bills were passed in the Legislatures, and be-
lieved in a general law that would cover nine
tenths of the bills. He referred to the public
school system of the country and eulogzed it.
He referred to the manner in which Virginia
in colonial times selected her best men for Of
fee. He believed in paying our public men
better. Estimate their value in business
light and pay them accordingly. AT Washing
ton the Supreme Judge of the United States
walks to the Capitol, while the lawyer who
pleads before him, rides. One receives $500
for the mornings work, the other $50. He did
not believe in rotationin Office That system
began with jackson in 1929 We cannot as
people go back, we must progress He thought
the breaking up of the New York rings was
the beginning of the better days for the coun-
try. In conclusion he drew graphic picture
of the future of this country and thought it was
destined to become the centre of all civilization.