The Oskaloosa herald., 1892-09-22
MAN-AFRAID- -TO-TALK,
CONGRESSMAN WHITE AVOIDS TEMPTA-
TIoN TO "sUBvERT THE TRUTH" BY
DECLINING TO TALK WITH CITIZEN
LACEY.
HIS LETTER TO HIS CHAIRMAN.

LIS 1h1 ZEN " hl0 ShAIhMANs
WEBSTER, Iowa. Sept 6. 1892.
Mr.. D. W. Hamilton, Chairman Dem.
Ocratic Congressional Committee:
DEAR SIR:-YOur letter advising me
that the Hon. John f. Lacey. The can.
didate of the Republican party for con-
gress in this district, has invited me to
Jointly discuss with him the political
issues during the impending campaign,
is received. In reply will say that Lne
in VitatiOn Is respectfully declined for
the following reasons: l have never
been much of an admirer Of joint dis.
cussiOns where the participants are
candidates for important political Off
ces. AS q rule these discussions are
not conducted in a manner calculated
to promote the diffusion Of political
knowledge among the people. The re-
spective candidates are generally more
concerned in Obscuring than in elucida-
ting the public questions that divide
the parties. Discussions of this sort
too often degenerate into recital of
"cheap billingsgate" and the reprehen-
sible desire on the part Of each candi-
date to gain 3 temporary personal vic.
tory over the other by repeating num-
6kOub luhuY bsOAlOb anu ahCCuOtE6s
Instead of instructing the people the
them, and it Is deplorable fact that
even now, in the latter part Of the nine.
teenth century, some people would
rather be amused than instructed.
Joint discussions are always attended
with more or less excitement and even
the exhibition of bad blood. Many i'm.
nNVloNuA nAhaEnnfa NJ noAh ko
gather for the avowed purpose OF max.
called for uproar. Applause, whether
throughout the discussion and the
the meeting each vigorously declaring
The real questions are more frequently
cunningly avoided than candidiy pre-
sented, and the time thus consumed is
raised and bad blood generated at these
meetings Is to be avoided and not en-.
couraged. Why men will become ex.
cited and angry at these meetings 1t Ia
not necessary here TO discuss. Every
one knows that these deplorable exhib.
itiOns Of temper too often diefigure and
disgrace these kind Of gatherings. Men
cannot be improved mentally, that is,
they cannot be educated when excited.
Their reason and judgment can be
reached only while perfectly calm. In
an excited state mems feelings and
prejudices only can be successfully ap-
pealed TO. Therefore, In campaign
OF education the conditions which pro-
mote excitement and intensity preiu-
dice should be excluded from the con-
templated program OF each party and
such course pursued as will maintain
among all men good neighborly feeling
and &C the same time serve to promote
the general diffusion OF political know
ledge among the people.
Joint discussions OF questions where
in the participants have no direct per-
sonal interest are even not always con-
duciye TO the establishment OF the
truth. When personal interest reaches
the point involved In q congressional
canvas the temptation to aubYert the
truth Is often stronger than the, desire
20 honestly present It. have wit
messed this performance so often that
am thoroughly convinced, no real
good, as rule, can be accomplished by
discussions OF this character. Gen.
Weaver and Maj. Lacey held q series
OF joint discussions four years sg0
while rival candidates for congress. |
attended the meeting ct SlgOuTney. All
viii remember who were there that the
excitement and bitter partisan feeling
there developed were In no sense OF
ia any degree e0mmendable but reached
point very little. IL any. short OF be-.
Ing diagrace1ul. ahall certainly not
voluntarily become party 60 s pro-
gram calculated % xepaat such per.
| fcrmauca. Xoaga traly, i g. WHTxK.