Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-10-02
The Joint Debate at Larned.

The result of the joint debate at this
place last Monday night between j. r.
Hallowen and Mr.. Jerry Simpson was
very much of a surprise to all who list
ened to it. Colonel Hallowell's reputa-
tion as an orator, a public speaker, and
a political debater had encouraged the
people to expect something above the
ordinary. With the prestige of the
republican nomination for congress, he
came into community where the
prejudices of the people were greatly in
his favor. knowing that he enjoyed
the advantages of a college education,
and the address, polish aud self-posses-
sion that can only be acquired by long
years of public speaking. it was thought
that Mr.. Simpson would fall a prey to
hissswit and wisdom, his scarcasm, and
his mighty oratorical exhibition of un-
disputable facts and figures. Even Mr..
Simpsons friends, calling to mind the
wonderful boasts of the prince. trem-
bled for the result, but with the cour-
age of Abraham of old, determined to
offer up the sacrifice, even as the lamb
upon the alter. No one even dared to
hope that the common farmer, reared
without the opportunities for securing
more than limited common school edu-
cation, Injured to toll, compelled to earn
his bread by the sweat of his brow,
unused to public debate, unskilled in
political warfare, branded as an igno-
ramus, could stand for a moment
unscathed before the fiery, impetuous
cloquence of the full armoured, well
equipped prince. 1t was like David
going out from the tents of the Israel
ties to meet Goliath, the giant of the
Philistines, and the result proved just
about as disastrous to the modern brag.
CART.
Before the debate had proceeded
very far it became plainly evident that
Prince Hal had made another mistake
that he had greatly under estimated his
opponent. The audience began te
wake up to the realization that there
was going to be skinning of 1.-THE
other fellow" They had come out tt
see Hal strip off the epidermis of tn,
hayseed clodhopper, but they were pre-
pared to enjoy the sport just as mucl
when the hayseed clodhopper proceeded
to scrape the hair off the spine of th,
gentlemanly prince. In fact, judgin;
from the demonstrations in the audi
ence, the unexpected turn of affair
seemed to meet their unbounded appro
val, and Jerry had plenty of encourage
ment to proceed with the carving unit
it was hard to distinguishe his antag
onist from the bloody shirt he attempte'
to wave. Well, it was a Wateloo, sur
enough; and Prince Hal went dow
before the common. everyday, haysee,
farmer amid the flame and smoke @
battle, the shouts of the victOrs, an,
the smothered imprecations of the van
quished, with all the bristles scraped OF
his back. and his false position on put
lie questions, his political dogmas an
heresies punctured as full of holes as
ish-net
Some of the friends of Hal explai
the disaster by saying that the pvinc
WASH in condition to do himself jus
tice, that he was sick. and in confirms
ton of this statement cite the fact ths
he had to be braced up with ''thre
fingers" before he could appear at til
breakfast table the next morning. FC
our part We are willing to accept an
publish this explanation, feeling col
!, fdent that Hal won't give Jerry
chance to prove the contrary.-Larne
; Eagle-Optic.