The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-06
SPEECH At THE RIGHT TIME
Incidents Of Political Success Achieved
on the Impulse ofthe Moment.
Well-Chosen Words Sometimes Do More Than
Constant Labor-What They Have Done
for Certain Men of Prominence.

leading Republican from out of town re-
eently said To reporter of the Journal: s.Politi-
cal speeches seem to me to be the rungs of the
ladder that lead to and from political prominence.
II there is such thing as chance in the ups
and downs Of public life. they very well exsm-
pity IL. Speeches, very often brief ones, hsvs
made and unmads many men, No man with
the gift Of saying the right thing at the right
time-whether consciously or unconsciously-
knows when notoriety may strike in his neigh
borhood-
But does L not require keen perception as
to the time when TO speak and not TO speskr
the reporter asked
Undoubtedly; but short speech at the criti-
cal moment is often of more service than life
lime of assiduous labor. Myers's speech made
10 accepting the Democrats nomination for
Lieutsnant-eovsrnor was happy thing. and
not only let the speaker down easily and grace
fully. after bis defeat. but strengthened him in
his party. In strong contrast were the words of
Green Smith, when he felt called upon 70 say
somethmg after his defeat. They left . sting
and what party reputation he may have had
considerably lessened by them. Il is the
enjoyment that people take in hearing the unex-
pected but proner thing that gave origin 70 the
dark horse superstition without one or two Of
which no present political convention, great
or small Is considered success The
dark horse 10 but another name
for the unknown manor unthoueht-
OF msn--ho can rice to the occasion. 1t don't
lake the Americans long to get tired Of period
teal candidates for political preferment. and 1t is
fact SO patent that many prefer 70 remain in
comparative obscurity until the opportune mo-
inert and Snen burst nto prominence.n
'.Yon believe. then. IN the happy chsncel
YoG her xx,r.loo ~ q
Garfield Is notable one Had it not been for
bis brief speech in nominating John Sherman.
made a. Just the right time and IN the right
way. II Is OF at all probable that he would ever
have aseended to The presidency Garfield was
well-known and able man. but it was
more, II not quite. his happy speech
that nornin ated him. and not his reputation
have in mind several local illustrations of
taking speech. Some years ago, in my own
town, the young men organized debating
cisty. similar society near by challenged us
TO joint debate. The question was Hayess
Southern policy, then the topic Of paramount
importance. Interest on each side Was wrought
no to . high pitch. and great crowd attended.
Our town debaters spoke on the wisdom and sx-
psdiency OF the policy, and each made telling
speech. Since then 10 one. two, three order. the
debasers on the popular sids have represented
che county in the Legislature, and to me it has
always seemed not matter of accident coin
eidsnee, but because they happened TO say the
correct thing politically 1t a time when 1t would
count
Ira ID. Chase was nominated for Congress on
account OF fifteen minutes speech which he
made in the convention. he had not been
thought Of before as even possible candidate.
"Can you cite any other insrancel'
Yes When the Nebraska bill WAS aeitating
the people and Kansas. as a border-Fuffian Ter
ritory. was the subject of universal considera-
ton. Will Cum back had just hung out his single
wholly unknown. Alta Republican town meet
ing convention Il forget wnich-he happened
70 he called on TO say something and he made
brief speech. By chance he struck the chord of
current party sentiment, aud at just the oppor
tune moment In Democratic district he was
nominated for Congress against Judge Holman,
and such was his sudden popularity that he was
elected The other day the same thing was
illustrated j. N. Study. of Rushvills, the Re-
publican nominee tor circuit judge in that
judicial district, although for long
time well known q lawyer. was given the
nomination because of popular strength devel-
oped In short non-political speech. He said
that Office came within the scope of his
ambition. but the speech delivered few weeks
before the convention at . banquet In Green's
burg BROUGHT HIM into such pronaineuce that he
Wa proposed ana nominated over the heads of
aspirants who have been striving for years to
reach the same end In convention lis
timed IN y speech made by man who will be Q
candidate before the coming Republican State
~ntion for high Office. It was full of fire.
vim and enthusiasm. and one Of the kind that
puts . speaker high in popular favor. II that
spe~ch corld have been made. brief rs IL was in
the coming convention, the speaksr would have
road to . nomination. As it 10 10 has
placed him 10 decidedly good favor and has per-
haps done him "a much good a. long career of
us-fuinesss Another case. well known 20 all, 10
that of the last Speaker Of the House Warren
Sayrs Was known rs good and stanch Repub-
lean. but think it rnsy be safely said he owes
his election TO the House chair 70 the brief but
terrible arraenment of the Democratic party
made during the organization OF the last Legis-
lature Sayre himself was much surprised at
the prominencs it gave him. These illustrations
of what may come or brief speeches. and psrtic-
ularly of political ones. serve 20 show that the
quiet and modest mbition can achieve success
as well a. that Of more assertive character"