The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-09-28

man who takes sufficient interest in poll
tics TO listen to public discussion, is ia
miliar with most everything at issue be-
tween the various parties and hears moth
ing particularly new. The relative ability
and attractiyeness Of the two candidates, or
the three, as the case may be, is the only
fact impressed upon the audience. lfpublic
men would only learn that they are not
remembered so fayorably, or their utter
terances hall 50 much treasured up and re-
Elected and acted upon, when the discus
sion has covered multitude OF subjects.
already wellnigh worn thTCadbare, as when
in few pointed expressions they place the
controlling aud vital issue oftke day briefly
and clearly before the masses, and their
own position and intentions with reference
thereto, public speaking would become
wonderfully simplifed and much more
powerful. In former times it was indeed,
necessary for the politicians to discuss at
length all the questions before the country,
forupon such discussions the people de-
pended for their political information, but
now no such necessity exists, for the press
of the country has got to performing this
task for them Ali that now is necessary
is u statement merely of the exact position
and intentions of the candidate for public
favor and support. A reform such as indi-
Gated is not likely to occur soon, but we are
gradually approaching it and Unjust result
in time Men can spend four or six hours
to attend public dicussions where one hour
would suffice for all practical purposes.
The first distinguished step in the direction
suggested was taken the other day, and the
gentleman who had the courage to take it
was none other than the democratic caudi-
date for governor of Pennsylvania, Mr..
PArTsoN. His speech in opening the
campaign was unusually briei and pointed
and excited comment from that fact. He
made but two propositions, which he en-
larged upon just sufficiently to render
them clear, but they were the
vital issues before his hearers. and we're
remembered and dwelt upon by his aud
fence, We may rest assured, when a long
speech would not have sunk deeper than the
hearing, "ME. PATTIsoN takcst the position
that one of the greatest evils in our poiti-
cal system is the low estimate of duty held
by public funCtonarics, and that this arises
from their failure to recognize that lunda-
mental idea of our government that apub-
lie Office is trust to be executed for the
whole people. MIR. PArrIsoY asserted an
other truth when he declared that there is
"A widespread discomfort at boss govern
ment and that popular discomfort has gencr.
ally good cause, for the people have no
advantage in unnecessary agitation and
disorder that the great evil OF the boss
government is that the interest OF the OIL
cial is mado inimical to faithful public ser
vice. No unnecessary consumption o
| tics, no discursiveucsS, no political econ
omy. or rohash of current issues, but
plain, direct attention to the business il
hand aud then stopped. 1t strikes us tina
such speech should become the model io
stump speaking, rs II accompanies asmucl
and saves time and labor when compare,
with the regulation stump effort of the day
II is to be hoped that that the example o
Mn. PArUsoN will commend itself to III,
politicians of the present and future, hat il
lie At present asSreat novelty as 10 is
lmodeI.