The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-03-03
A FINE ADDRESS.

The large audience which listened
to John Temple Graves Saturday
evenin. enjoyed a real treat. While
not possessed of as fine quality OF
voice as some great speakers, ne is
natural orator. The Reign Of the
Demagogue" furnished the subject Of
polished and scholarly grafton, re-
plete with high thoughts. He treat
ed the demagogue, wherever found,
and especially in politics, without
gloves, and traced his sinuous path
from the ward politician to the high
est positions in government. The
demagogue's methods were exposed
and his shallow, intriguing character
analysed The speaker declared that
this barnacle exists everywhere and
is sapping the nations strength to an
alarming extent. One Of the choic-
est comparisons made was that with
the English sparrow, which, busy
noisy, dirt begrimed, seeking its liv-
ing in the dirtof the public highways,
'a scion of English ornOthocracy, +"
has driven every respectable, desir-
able song bird into the depths of the
forest.
Office, said the speaker, does not
enoble the man. but the man may
enoble or debase an office, according
to his character. The demagOgue
rides into office upon the passions of
the day, but when he has power then
it is that the public suffers. Offices
with them are plumber, and the high
est positions go to the highest bidder,
as batch Of Roman s0ldieTy, red
with the blood Of Pertenax, offered
the sovereignty Of Rome to the high
est bidder.
Every country has had its trials
with this class of men, and after the
most venal periods there have come
times when in the reaction the pur-
est governments have existed. So the
speaker predicted that it would be
with this country, when once more a
Ciucinnatus would be called from the
pillow to direct the government. Mr..
Graves paid beautiful tributes TO
Washington, Clay. Lincoln and Lee.
He also spoke in high terms of Gov
Mckinley and the noble conduct that
ne has displayed since financial mis-
fortunes have overtaken him. Cleve-
land was also honored. During ref
erence to the latter ne lamented the
fact that Cleveland had been obliged
to flee to the solitudes Of old ocean to
escape the hungry hordes of Office
seekers that besieged him. He had
heard an uncertain rumor that
in Minnesota there would be no
office seekers under the present adj
ministration, and supposed no Demo-
crat in Mankato would seek to become
postmaster.
The speaker took occasion to ar
raIgn the low moral sentiment which
made it profitable and instigated
women who had become notorious
through scandal to display themselves
upon the stage. He urged teachers,
the press, the pulpit, and business
men to educate the masses
to higher moral standard,
and condemned the news
papers that barter their influence for
gold or office, and lawyers who 10y
guile or sharp practice disgrace their
profession, and legislators who are
bribed He advised the young men
to enter other and more useful and
HAPPIER fields than Office seeking.
The address was not long one and
gave general satisfaction. 1t was
probably better than the lecture by
Rev. Mr.. Gunsalus, first announced.
Thus far the Star course of entertain
ments has been great success.