Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-10-16
JOHN TEMPLE GRAVES.
HE ELooUENTLY DIsCoURsEs ON
THE REIGN OF THE DEMAGoGUE.

statcsmanshIp Before Demagoguery-Pa
Appeal to Our Young Men by Young
Man.
Editor Of The Mississippi Leader
John Temple Graves, in whom, it is
said, Henry Grady is surpassed, and in
whom. certainly is presented to the
young manhood of the South, as near
as possible the ideal statesman-th
patriot-heart- for an hour and more,
on the evening of Oct. 18th in the Hall
of Representatives, by the magic and
eloquence of his words, held entranced
large and intelligent audience.
In the treatment of his subject, THE
Reign of the Demagogue," by the puri-
ty OF his motive and the appealing
truth of his words in holding up to the
scorn of thinking people. that bane-
full hiGdrance to the progress and pur
ification of our American institutions,
the predominating demagogue,I have no
doubt, he thrilled and set in motion in
the minds of the many representatives
of Southern young manhood present
that night a train of thought that
must carry them beyond the bounds of
prejudice and partisanship in their
search for purer political parties, and
land them-where
Where, arhere is the political party
demanding, by virtue of the purity of
its practices and the wisdom and right
fulness of its principles, the suffrage
and approval of the young manhood
of our land?
The ideal statesman may be found.
and is. in the parsonage of Georgia's
eloquent son. This was evidenced by
his address that night, which was both
characteristic of the man. and very
suggestive, in view of the recent bitter
political strife in his native State.
Characteristic, because he spoke in the
laundering tones of an enlightened
and outraged citizen. against the reign
of the INSCRIPTIONS politician and
demagogue; suggestive, because such
expressions from so enlightened man,
so true philosopher of government
and so Jealous a patriot, and that, too,
coming at time when the country is
being tossed and driven upon the bill
lowy sea of political faction and strife,
but emphasize the fact that the people
are beginning to look beyond the pale
of partisanshpi, are becoming sick, sick
of political corruption, and that soon
the people will rise in their God-g given
might, and to an ignominious death,
will doom the already trembling
statesman craft" which has become
narrowed by the predominating spirit
of selfishness, and made brutal by com
parative ignorance of, or lack of atten-
ton to, the great underlying principles
of true and good government.
am glad am happy-that there
are many such examples of ideal states
manship. / am glad that the ideal
may come to us as something tangible
something real-that it HUeS, and it's
deeds are not done in fiction; but that
it moves among our people; feels the
pulse Of the Nation; plays gently. but
deeply, upon the harp of progressed
national prosperity with a criti
cal mind searching for great truths,
discovers here and there the discord-
ant notes; and then, in laundering
tones, born only of a fearless, duty
recognizing soul, warns the people of
the impending evils; and, in the face
of threatened political retirement.
dares to hurl, in words that will echo
and rebound in every heart pulsating
with the love of country or devotion
to principle, his terrible arraignment
of the political rings and party prac-
tees predominating today in Ameri-
can politics.
But ideals of craftsmanship do not
serve to quench the thirst of the intel
ligent youth. They must have field
in which to bring in play the aspira
lions formed from the association of
StlCU luodIo, dLi III WliiCH Uiicy may tA-
ercise conscientiously the noble pre-
negatives of citizenship.
Must they, then, ally themselves
with either of the political parties be-
fore the people of to-day That is the
question that is now presenting itself
to thousands of young men just enter
ing upon the walk of manhood, and
whose patriotism demand of them a
jealous interest in the affairs of state.
Which, then, is the party demanding,
and justly, the suffrage of the youth
just entering active life, with lips still
warm and pure from the impress of
christian mothers lips, and with
head still bowed beneath the blessings
of the godly man, whose private walk
in life was benediction to the son
Tell me, We professed disciples of
Jefferson, and guardians of absolute
liberty(?) who for the past score
years and ten have been casting your
anchors to grapple with the rocks
washed by the waters upon the ITO
plan shore, but who ne'er yet have set
foot on that tabled land-does the
Democratic party deserve the suffrage
of this youth? Tell me, We who boast
in the purity of the origin of your
party, and who, even now more gener-
Gus than your old rival, will stay the
tumult of your quadrennial bacchana-
liam feast, long enough to draft a
plank expressing sympathy" with all
movements put forward "to secure
temperance and sobriety among our
people us the G. o. p. the party to
foster in this youth the principles