The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-08-30
Presidential Tours and Speeches.

Presidential Tours and Speeches.
The President, In his New Englant
tour, has made thirty or forty littl,
speeches to crowds at different points
and every time he has made speech b,
has introduced members OF his Cabinet
who have been compelled, each 10 hl.
turn, to say few words. All the gen
tlemen have taken pains to speak in al
offhsnd, informal, and simple manner
The public read these SIMPLE speeches
without much knowledge Of the speak
er's surroundings at the time, and with
out proper realization OF the circum
stances calling them out, and it is little
wonder they eeem tirasome and not
unfreQuently ridiculous. They create
tho impression that the President and
Messrs. Everts, Key, and Dsvsns are
talking down to the people. The pub
Ito resents this, and INDUCES In criticism
that is not altogether juet.
When we Examine closely by itself
any one Of the little speeches made by
the President, 1t does not appear out OF
place, save perhaps, in one or Two
instances. 1t 10 only after be has made
many speeches under nearly the same
circumstances, and at the same level,
that they become tiresome. The mis-.
take is not in making 80 many speech CO.,
perhaps, but In having them reported,
and this, of course, is not the fault OF
the Presidential party.
Very few men have the happy faculty
OF making many little speeches on the
same day, so;se TO have them all interest
ing to the same people. 1t is too much to
expect that speeches go made Will bear
the test Of public criticism, when taken
up 10 order and read continuously The
most successful experiment Of the kind
was that OF Mr.. Lincoln IN his trip from
Springfield to Washington, Just pre-
vious to has Inauguration al President
Scarcely q speech OF that memorable
journey but WAS a model-thOughtfui
and, IN the main, admirably constructed
But the man WAS stirred as few men
have ever been, by tremendous emo
tons, and the circumstances under which
he made the journey, together with the
spirit in which people met him, called out
such words as have rarely fallen from
the lips of any man. Mems minds were
full of doubts, fears, and half-shaped
purposes. They reached out 20 their
chosen leader for help, Tor hope, and for
encouragement. There was q good rea-
son for every speech. There was a new
something, important and impressive, to
be said to every great crowd that greet
ed the President-elect. There was a
positive demand for the best he could
give at every stopping place, and Mr..
Lincoln's mode made him strangely re-
sponsive to all such demands.
After this, the most remarkable tour
through the country was that made by
General Grant, just after the close of the
war. The people greeted him as the
hero of the hour, and BIO met them with
the simplest acknowledgment of thanks.
No great GRO wds, no cheers, no demon
stratlve enthusiasm could force him TO
say more. The people gathered in
monster crowds, shouted themselves
hosrse over the great soldier, longed to
hear him speak, pleaded tor just few
words, stood expectant, and we're every
time Obliged to be satisfied with his
simple expression Of thanks. But that
was time for the people to do the talk
ing.
Mr.. Greeley, in his celebrated cam
paign trip in 1872, made series OF no
table speeches. There was little repe-
tition, and all we're Enthusiastically
vigorous and strongly individual. But
Greeley's brain WAS teeming with
thoughts, and peculiar and pressing cir
cumstsnces called them forth.
La the case OF President Hayes in
New Englsnd different elements are 10
be considered. He is responding simply
to the greeting Of crowds made up Of
people who desire 20 see and shake
hands with the Chief Executive Of the
nation. Uudsr the circomstances, Ar
gumsntative or elaborats speeches would
b out Of place aud 10 bad taste, and ai
times We have bean inclined TO think
that those made by The President we're
equally 50; bat 10 the nain they have
been simple and unprstsnso1s, sod the
We can readily believe, In this
- 10 other matters, has been good The
party may have gore too far 10 the di.
rsct.oo Of simplicity, sod, 10 their vel
meant sndssvors TO b playial, nay have
escaped icing aos1rd bai the
people wall more readily excuse this
than a. ofsnss in 40 opposite direction.
People are prone 70 compare ssy tour
Of this character to President Ioknson's
much talked Of journey through tie
ooantry- To many persons this Jour-
nsy OF President Hayes seems objection.
able because Of the memories oo1usct.3
With swinging roand The carcls" Eat
ihere - this difference President John
ION made b. joarney the oocasion for
. sores Of esseorA,s stump speeches De
ending Ira policy Presidsni Hayes
aas conssntsd himself With t&iIlsg The
,eople hos Esll be means 70 DO, knd
avoiding say AssaEsct.;2vs tsfsess Of
VIA. % tas done De nas -: 1=cs o.