New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-09
GEMS 0F DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC.

The rhetoric of the Democratic orators at
St. Louis this week has been remarkable Tor
range and variety as well as originality. It's
prevailing cast has been classic and has har-
monized with the Spontaneous movement
for the nomination Of the noble old Roman"
Nearly every prominent speaker has referred
euphoniously to election-day as the ldes OF
November and many well-worn figures OF
Latin or Greek origin have been reproduced
with sprit and animation. We have missed
only one Of the regulation classic comparisons
the cleansing Of the Augean stables, winch mas
been great favOrite in all the Democratic
reform campaigns since the War. why 1t was
omitted in speeches Astounding IN memorials
of Latin and Greek scholarship we are unable
TO explain, unless, possibly, 1t was thou9ht 10
SAVIOR too strongly of horse talk, which was
seriously oyerdone by Mckenzie, the prancIng
Pegasus of the Blue Grass region. MIR. CleVe-
land, however, was portrayed as the reScuer
Of the American Promethens chained to the
rock Of Protection and devOured by monopoliSt
vultures and kites; and he was also represented
in the euise of Horatus fighting at the bridge,
presumably with the foes Of good government
and not with the fine old Roman band OF
office-seekers whom he has admitted to the
strongholds of power. Classic models were
evidently preferred to Scriptural figures, the
only marked appropriation from Hebrew lit
erature being Judge Twiggs's reference to
Mr. Cleyeland's name as a pillar of cloud by
day and pillar Of fire by night to the Dem
ocratic host In any event, HOratius Will pass
muster with the noble old Roman Of the red
bandanna.
1t was reserved for the eloquent Mckenzie,
however. to invent few special metaphors for
the use of the convention. Fresh from the
bracing atmosphere of the Kentucky turf and
from the betting and pool-selliDg OF the 1t.
Louis racing track, he spoke Of the President
as a thoroughbred, "game as Lexington and
speedy as Ten Brock" who had won the
Mayoralty stake hands down, the New-fork
handicap and the National Derby by neck,
against the Florentine Mosaic" and who
would be certain to carry off the sweepstakes
against field of "icicles, m0sacs and dark
horsesn These were figures that captivated
the fancy of the Democratic delegates who had
been betting on the wrong horses in the st.
Louis races and felt sorely in need Of what
is known elsewhere than in Kentucky as ga
straight tip" The orators originality, how
ever was not confined to horse talk. He
electrified the convention by describing the
Presidents tariff message as having " about it
the directness and force Of Kentucky rifle
and the executive ability Of a dynamite cart
ridgen These fresh and expressive metaphors
were greeted with rounds of applause as alto
gether superior to the miscellaneous collection
Of classical antiquities with which the cOnven-
ton had been favored. The orators rhetoric
deserved this tribute of appreciation from its
| appositeness. The message which hit the free
trade target in the centre was appropriately
compared to Kentucky rifle in the hands Of
an expert sharpshoo.er. AS for the " executive
ability of a dynamite cartridge" it consists
wholly in its destructive energy and power;
and here, too, the smile is apt. The Presi
dents policy involves the destruction of Amer
lean industries and National prosperity. 1t is
in very truth a dynamite cartridge.