The Irish standard., 1900-07-28
yERlTABLE RANTER AND CRARLtl1;N
Socja
Uses Billingsgate for Argument
Against Democrats.
CRITICISM OF HIS ST. PAUL SPEECH
Strenuous Hero Of San Juan is a
Master of Demagogy.

If Democrats were we'll versed in the
vocabulary of invective which Theo-
dore Roosevelt habitually employs they
might say OF that noisy parsonage, with
perfect justice, that he is ranter, a
quibbler, charlatan, demagogue and
liar, says Willis ]. Abbot in Hearst's
Chicago American.
Unhappily, the Democratic party does
not furnish an exact parallel to Talka-
tive Teddy. Religion has his mate in
the Rev. Sam Jones. Journalism boast
ed true Roosevelt in the late lamented
Brann of the Iconoclast.
Among the middle-of-the-road Pop
ulists there's fellow named 10 Parker
who has really Rooseveltian way Of
calling all who disagree with him
thieves, rogues and traitors. Incidental
ly it may be noted that the last-named
person is protege of Mark Hanna
further point of resemblance to Roose-
velt
Democracy, however, does not fur
nish his match. Even its most radical
leaders-Altgeld, Tillman and the others
whom in 1896 Governor Roosevelt said
should be set up against wall and
shot dead-fall so far short of the Roo
seveltian standard as to habitually pre-
fer argument to invective.
This inability to answer the Rough
Rider in his own vernacular is unfor-
tunate When man calls whole party
some 100000 perpetrators, re-
pudiators, copperheads and towards
mere argument is unsatisfactory. The
sober sense of the people must be relied
upon to discern that man so prodigal
of hard words for his fellows must be
exceedingly anxious to divert attention
from his own character and record.
1t is perhaps Roosevelt's plan to shift
the issue from himself, his egomania,
his surrender to boss rule, his charla-
tanry and his innate brutality to dis
cussion of the purposes and beliefs of
his adversaries. Acting upon Nelson's
maxim, "The best defense against an
enemy's fire is vigorous use of your
own guns" he has opened the engage
ment with broadside of billingsgate.
Nothing quite so repugnant to refined
senses has been shown since with prog
ress in the art OF war the Chinese
abandoned the use of stink pots.
Is he charlatan? Read the accounts
in his own Chicago organ of the way
he uses battered hat as sort of the
atrical property. Every five minutes he
is tossing his old campaign hat in a
corner" hunting for his old campaign
hat" waving his old campaign hat"
or in some other way making capital
out of relic of cheap and boastful
"heroism." AS yet he has not bran
dished the pistol with which he killed
two Spaniards-bragging Justify about
it afterward in book as no real SOL
dier nor true gentleman ever could
Is he liar? What of man who
opens speech by declaring himself one
who "has come not as Republican to
speak to Republicans, but as an Ameri-
can to speak to Americans" and there
upon talks nearly two hours in bitter
attack upon all Democrats and impas
Stoned eulogy of all Republican politi-
clans?
What of man who can say of the
one organized body which is striving
for worldwide peace, charity and
amity, "Our opponents represent all the
forces of discomfort, malice and envy,
formed and formless, vague and con-
crete?"
Is he a demagogue? Read his
speech and see if ever man put out a
more arrant piece of demagogy. 1t is
shameful demagogy to say that against
Mckinley are arrayed "the forces Of
chaotic evil" to describe honorable op-
ponents as "pandering to the worst and
most degraded elements in our national
life," as willing to purchase party
success at no matter what cost of ruin
to the nation"
Is it short of demagogy to try to ex-
cite the passions rather than arouse
the reason of your audience? Was
there single appeal to reason in the
o. Il L.