St. Paul daily globe., 1886-11-06
Some of the Causes Which Have Brought
This About and Shattered
Public Idol.
His Reputation as An Orator lrrepAr-
ably Injured and His Tar1n
Views Unpopular.
Democratic Legislative Gains Unfa-
yorable for Him. Pillsbury as
Senatorial Probability.
The Senatorial Outlook.

carefully trained himself with this one alb
sorbing idea in view, and on every possible
occasion, where it was believed he could
score point to his own advantage, he has
posed as an orator, and strained himself to
create a pleasing effect with his carefully
prepared efforts, abOunding in well-rounded
sentences and striking periods, in which
the classics and the poets were so COM
mingled that the ordinary mind was bewil-
dered and false impressions were created.
The friends of Mr.. Davis have had moth
ing else in view for many years than to
make United States senator of him, and
they have zealously sought to create rep
utation for him as man of extraordinary
ability. These efforts have been directed
largely toward the political and literary
centers of the East-more especially, though,
at Washington-until, when his name is
broached abroad the query is almost inyar-
iably made: do you mean Gov. Davis,
the orator?' 1t is upon his reputation as
an orator that he has gained such nOtOriety
throughout the country. And this studied
effort to advertise him as an orator had the
one end in View-to boom him into the
United States senate. While there is no
desire On the part of any MinneSOtan to
detract from any credit that is due Gov.
Davis for his ability as lawyer-and as an
orator. if you please-there is steadily de-
veloping a feeling among the people
that the man has been greatly overrated
and that there is really no sound foundation
for the claim that ne is so far superior to
any other man in the Northwest. ANY
man-if he stops to think for a second
can call to mind a number of citizens who
are
VASTLY SUPERIOR TO Mr.. DAVIS
in a good many ways who are considered
better lawyers and better takers. Gov.
Davis might show TO better advantage at
banquet table. in a room where his voice
could be plainly heard and when he had
carefully prepared his Grafton, but as pO-
litical speaker, or in general otf-hand talk,
he does not maintain the reputation he
enjoys. This has never been SO mani
fest as during his recent campaign
in Minnesota. His speeches in behalf
of the Republican state ticket were very
disappointing, and were generally com
mented upon as such. This expression
could be heard on every hand, from the
lips of Republicans as well as Democrats
sentiment. and it is plain that the governor
has injured himself irreparably by partici
pating in the canvass and appearing upon
the huStingS. He was utterly unable to
hold the attention of the masses, and the
strength and huency of the prepared
classical Grafton were notably lacking.
None of the elements OF the natural orator
were apparent, and it was evident that he
was not at ease and out of his ele-
ment. This sense of disappointment
led to the almost general query:
Come to think of it. What has Gov. Davis
done to justify the eXtravagant claims in
regard to his extraordinary gift of oratory?"
And the more the people thought of it the
greater was their perplexity. They could
not find satisfactory answer to the queS-
ton. He had delivered number of ora
tions at local gatherings and on public Oc-
casons in his own state, that were highly
praised by the newspapers, but when he
was entrusted with more pretensious mis-
SiOn-the SecOndlng of the nomination
OF BLAINE AT CHICAGO
he made almost flat failure. and received
scores upon scores of adverse criticisms
from the leading newspapers of the country.
He showed that he was not equal TO such
an occasion, and from that time his star
began to set. His speeches in the
late campaign have called more
particular attention 90 the fact that he has
been elevated on pedestal that he was not
worthy to Dccupy, and thousands of those
who had never heard him talk, and who
looked rpOn him as phenomenon, now
consider that he is not above the ordinary
mortal and must take his chances among
the common herd. His reputation as an or
at3r having received such a serious set
back, it is question whether this will not
prove disastrous now in his canvass for the
membership. The grand orator, CuSh
Davisr' has been a sort OF rallying cry for
many Years. 1t would not possess the
Iame attractive force with the grand ora
tor left off. Plain ''Cush Davis would
not excite the enthusiasm that has
ebbed and flowed at various
times in the past when there
was a boom on for him. Speaking of
bOoms. Davis had healthy and well-de-
veloped boom in his favor not more than
two short months ago. and it did not seem
possible that he could be defeated for the
senate. Within that short period. however.
this boom has been scattered to the four
winds, and his nomination or election has
become a matter of doubt. And he has
only himself to blame for it. 1t is well
known that he is totally lacking in political
sagacity, and this has led him into a trap
set by his enemies. He should never have
made a speech during the campaign. He
had nothing to gain and everything to lose
by it. His boom was in excellent
condition and no one could have
made serious objection if he declined to
speak. His friends could have made a
plausible excuse as to the impropriety of
his doing so. And all would have been
well! His boom would have continued to
boom! But the general impression is that
Ex-GOv. Pillsbury and his crowd of
schemers have
MADE A TOOL OF GOV. DAVIS
to serve the aims of the former. Mr.. Pills
bury wants the senatorShip himself. He
first inveigled Mr. Davis into trap and
crippled him, and then he turned about
and killed r. B. Langdon by electng his
Democratic opponent to the state senate.
The scheme develops slowly. but there is
evidence of its genuineneSS. Gov. Davis.
it is asserted on good authority, made
pledges that he would not participate in the
campaign and make speeches. and the viola
ton Of this pledge has alenated good many
of his former friends. The governors posi-
ton on the tariff has also formed into life
powerful opposition which had little or
no existence before. This will prove to be
the more serious of any of the obstacles i'll
his path. There is a goodly proportion of
the Republican legislators elect who are
bitter enemies of the policy of protection.
and some OF these. who were friendly to
Davis will be certain to throw their sup
port to some one else now. Davis might
just as well have had the support of these
men if he had exercised little discretion.
His failure to influence the voters in dis
trictS which elected Democratic congress-
men, and in state which makes out