The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-08-20
The kindergartners Abroad.

1t will be seen by the communication in
another column that the Kindergartners
have been heard from, and the report is
just what was to be expected. 1t was all
very well for these young men to practice
upon each other in the comparative seclu-
sion of a debating club, or before their
mirrors at home; but when they under
take to invade the country and to direct
the free born and intelligent citizens of
Waldo county how to vote, it is quite
another matter. Their campaign is found
ed upon misconception and error. They
assume that the country people are igno-
rant and that the mouldy chestnuts with
which they are equipped by their in
structor will be accepted By their hearers
as sound and wholesome This is woe
full mistake. 1t is entirely safe to say that
the Kindergartners will not address an au-
the average intelligence will not be greater
than their own, and the stock of informa-
ton much greater. The country people
read, and digest what they read. Few
households but what have, in addition to
the local paper, city dailies or weeklies
and one of the leading religious weeklies,
such as the Congregationalist or Zion S
Herald-papers edited with great ability
and with corresponding influence. Thus
it would be more seemly and more profit
able, to the Kindergartners, were they to
reverse the order of their meetings and
allow one or more of the representative
men in the audience to instruct them.
They might thus be made to see the error
of their ways, and in time become wiser
and more useful citizens. They would
certainly know more, and thus increase
the average. of information. AS to the
particular meeting of which our CORE
spondent writes we are surprised to find
that one of the speakers was but recently
from the country himself, an instructor
of youth and q tiller of the soil. Since
he became resident of the city, and a
moulder of public opinion, he may have
grown prettier; but, to reverse the story
of the boy who was kicked by the mule,
we doubt if he knows more In fact. we
are sure he does not, as witness his remark
about demonetizing silver in 1873, and the
further fact that he is advocating cause
which is not only dishonest but would be
ruinous to the country generally. We do
not doubt that with his agricultural ex-
perience he would be more successful in
discriminating the potato bugs than in
waging war upon gold bugs. Of his as
sociate our correspondent says little, and
we shall follow his example. Lawyers are
generally considered a necessary evil, and
it is their business to advocate any cause,
however evil-for retainer.
The foregoing was written before the
report of the Browns corner meeting
reached US. That was a Waterloo for the
Elndergartners. In the person of Mr..
w. B. Ferguson, formerly of Dixmont,
now of Connecticut, they encountered
facts and logic before which they went
down like grain before the reaper. Fear
ing like fate at Lincolnville they took
their mentor with them, and since Satur-
day night that town has suffered from the
ear ache. Reports from other towns show
SHINY attended meetings, no conversions,
and the ludicrous predominating. Repub-
licans, who feel that the Kindergartners
are doing good work for their side, are
apprehensive that they may grow weary
and drop out before the campaign is over.