Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-03
DIR. LEONARD.


bitiou rubernatoral candidate, resides IN
this city. He is man of great energy,
and is a smooth, graceful and eloquent
speaker. We believe him to be the ablest
| and the most effective stump orator in th"
Prohibition ranks, not only in Ohio but in
the country. We believe him 10 be in
every way superior to St, John--in per
sonsl presence, character and in power as
a speaker That is to say..he is the
Champion Prohibitionist But, with all
this, we must say that DR.. Leonard is not
a safe leader of public opinion, in his
treatment Of either moral or political
questions He is Partisan Prohibionist
land not at all prominent as anything
else. We do not mean, in this, that he is
not good preacher or pastor, and has
| not good standing in his denomination
in which he is regarded as one OF the two
q
York Christian Advocate---Dr Buckley
a Republican, by the way.--being the
other. But We mean to say this
that DR.. Leonard is more widely and
properly known and has more fame as a
Prohibition politician than as preacher.
We have to say of him, further, that his
concentration for long time on the spe-
cialty Of Prohibition has narrowed his
sympathies and his information to that
| one point and that he therefore lacks the
scope and grasp of man who gives all
great moral and political questions due
attention and consideration. Consequent
ly, he is from this alone, disqualified as
popular instructor and leader We may
say, too, that DR.. Leonard has additional
disqualifcations. Confining his sympa-
thies to one thing and bending his emo
tonal and fiery temperament to its consd
Grafton he has acquired such consuming
zeal and such tremendous personal mo-
mentum, that he is personally disqualified
for that calm consideration of public prob
lens which is necessary to the formation
Of right conclusions, and once upon the
stump, as the result of the conditions we
have named, he will betray lack OF in.
formation and power to do justice either
TO the problems he discusses or the men
from whom he differs. He will be in great
danger Of showing himself to be bigoted
and ntolerant, and Of doing great wrong to
hundreds Of thousands of men who are as
sincerely opposed to the liquor traffic as
he is but who have broader views, by
careless, reckless and falls statements con-
cerning their position and the bearing of
their conduct Indeed it is possible that
he may become, unwittngly, as great
prevarcator as ST. John--and we have too
much regard and esteem for him as a man
and a neighbor to wish TO see him sue
cumb to such degrading temptation. He
is capable Of better things he is not ma
| licious and bitter, either by nature and
certainly not by grace, and if he will trust
to argument and persuasion, and is fair
and charitable to his opponents no one
will have word to say in condemnation
Of his course. We will be glad to have him
take this course, as the one which will
prove most creditable and honorable to
himself and his cause; not that we ask
any favor or leniency, for we feel abuLd-
antly able to take care Of ourseives--and
of him too, if he oversteps the line Of pro-
propriety and courtesy, i,r if he or his asso-
cates commence throwing bricks we shall
be apt to demonstrate the fact that the
rapid and forcible distribution Of missiles
is game that we can take hand at, if
real y necessary. And in all cases, or any
possible emergency, we propose to treat
our opponents fairly-and with courtesy,
so long as they deserve it.