Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-31
Mexico Audran County missouri Thursday March 81 1898

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six feet In his stockings, admirably pro-
large of frame. weighing
close to. 400 avoirdupois, without an
ounce of surplus flesh. with az fine q
head Of wavy chestnut hair AZ ever
crowned . man. with countenance
upcn which are written honesty, cour-
age, honor, capacity and unalterabie re-
solve, with an eye like Mars to threat
en- and command, !" In the flower of his
years, he ia such splendid figure that
any Democrat in the land looking upon
him would be proud to point him ont al
the Democratic leader. Witnessing the
masterful way In which he conducts
himself in debate. they would be proudea
still.
While Of great dignity, Bailey is NO,
stuck up. Probably not a dozen Of his
congressional acquaintances ever address
him as "Mr. Bailey" except on state
occasions. 1t is always Bailey" on
"Joe," = fact which grows out Of his
democratic manners and his charming
bonhomie.
His private life is above reproach. He
is fond husband, tender father. a
loyal friend.
An omniverous reader, an indefatiga-
BILE student, q profound thinker, he
spends his time in fitting himself for
his public duties instead of squandering
IL in the dissipations of "the finest cap
ital in the world" As evidences of his
fame as an orator he recently addressed
the legislature of Virginia by invita-
ton and has promised to deliver the an
nual address at Virginia university-an
honor reserved for only the chosen Of
the land-being conferred last year
upon William J. Bryan.
Any one is badly mistaken who thinks
that leading the minority in the house
is holiday performance. 1t is posi-
tion entailing ceaseless and arduous Ia
box-often thankless 1abor-labor on
the floor and of the floor. Democratic
leadership is especially onerous, owing
to the fact that lack of discipline among
Democrats has been for years their be.
setting sin. Bailey has discharged his
delicate and multiplied duties with ad-
mirable tact and unfaiiing patience.
What constitutes the quality Of lead
ership? I don't know. Nobody knows
It is a rarity under the sun, yet every
body recognizes it wherever 1t exists.
Learning does not constitute it, nor
eloquence, nor brilliant intellect, nor
handsome presence. A man may possess
all these and not be leader. He may
be q leader without possessing any of
these. The chief characteristic of a
leader is that he inspires conference.-the
can be relied on implicitly to do always
the best thing possible.
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton,
jackson, Clay, Calhoun, Benton. Lin.
coin, Douglas, Frank Blair and Blaine
were all leaders-variously endowed
but leaders all.
Thomas Bracket Reed is a leader.
Joseph Weldon Bailey is a leader des-
tined for high career.
An Orstorical Gem.
Solomon says. Words fitly spoken
are like apples Of gold in pictures of sill
ver" In the entire range of literature
there is no finer simile. It is as true to-
day as when made by David's royal son.
Notwithstanding the fact that every
once in awhile some one informs us
that "the day Of oratory is past" F" the
Gay hss not come and never will come
when eloQuence will not thrill the hu-
man soul like strains of martial music
OF all the patriotic words delivered in
the house on the memorable 9Th of
March none were more "fitly spoken"
than those of that brilliant young Vir-
ginia Democrat, James Hay, now serv-
ing his first term. Bis speech Of one
minute glitters like gem. Here 1t is:
'H there is any state in this Union
which knows and has suffered the loss
of war, 1t is Virginia. Her soil has been
enriched by the blood Of heroes for a
century. II there is any state which has
given to this great country Of ours lead.
ers Of men, it has been Virginia. There
has been no great war in this country
which has not had at the head of its
armies virginian. Washington, Scott,
Taylor and long line Of the greatest
heroic soldiers who have fought for this
government have been from Virginia,
and today virginian stands on guard
in Cuba. Fitz-Hngh Lee, one Of the most
distinguished men of Virginia, has SO
we'll done his duty that those who are
now making o menace against Us want
him removed. Virginia is proud of the
fact that the president Of the United
States has said that he shall not be taken
away frcm a post where he is SO nobly
doing his duty -
'sThe Black Eagle OF Texas"
Another young Democrat, serving his
first term, made his oratorical debut In
the house in most happy fashion. This
was r. @. De Graffenreid, popularity
called in the Lone Star State "The
Black Eagle of Texas" Il lisa fortunate
and fitting sobriquet, and the bearer
will prove worthy Of association with
Silver Dick Bland, "The Bald Eagle Of
the Ozarks, and will perhaps soar with
as strong o wing and to as lofty a
height.
never see De Graffenreid that I do
not think Of the Black Prince.
No finer figure has appeared in the
house in my day than was De Graffen-
IGlu stduu4uS ia tuc uiS n1sAo AinnAne
his maiden speech, his fine face afiame
with patriotism and shaking his black
name like the Numidian lion. He had
o theme congenial to Texan, for he
was advocating the $50, 000, 900 war ap.
preparation. Inter ALA he said:
"The great state Of Texas need send
no messenger to this house to say what
IL will do in the coming crisis. The
state whose gallant heroes blood still
stains the walls Of her Alamo; the state
whose noblest sons bones bleached upon
the massacrous field OF her Goliad; the
state whose valorous and intrepid mi
nority, led by an intrepid and valorous
leader, upon the red fought fields Of her
San Jacinto evoked light out Of dark
ness, order ont Of chaos and wrenched
victory from the hands OF apparent de-
feat; the state which furnished the
mothers that nodded the bullets with
which she achieved her liberty and sent
leaden death TO the tyranny that ones
overpowered her. say she needs nc
e. O. Kennen, of Laddonia, was q
business visitor here Thursday.
NNhar fha children are