The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-05-17
M'KlNLEY'S EFFORTS
FROM REAR PLATFORM
OOmPARED WITH OTHER PRESIDENT
IAL ORATORS ION TIE RAIL"
Clevolnnds Ready Made TalISs-Hnrricon
Was Original, witty and Sensible.
johnson Discussed Leading Measures.
Now York Sun.

Tho fine texture Of Mr. McKinlcy's g
short address to the people along the
line Of his travels has boen observed
by most Americans. When q presi-
don't Of the United States speaks on
such occasions he speaks through tho
telegraphic lines and tho newspaper
press to all the millions in overy part
Of the land. There is q fierce light
upon every part Of evcry sentence he
utters, down to tho conjunctions and
the semicolons; and it s undoubtedly
true that his success or failure in
giving pleasure TO his hearers and
readers, in stimulating Thought cn
great questions without incurring TO
proach for partisan advocacy at m
improper time, and generally in
avoiding offence without resort to
platltudc, contributions vastly moro
to tho popular idea Of his individual
quality than all tho elaborate State
papers he writes from tho beginning
to the end of his term Of service.
Mr.. Kinley's mastery of the art of
saying the right thing from the rear
platform is not doubted now by any
person. 1t may be interesting to
compare his methods Of wayside
oratory with those Of some Of his
predecessors who have attempted the
Same difficult and delicate job.
1t is well known that "swinging
around tho circle" originated with
Andrew Johnson, who during nis
stormy term made several journeys
characterized by much rhetorical in
tercourse with his fellow citizens. 1t
may not be so we'll known that in it's
ori iglnal sonso the phrase did not
refer to the geographical progress
and route of Mr.. johnson, but was
employed by him in ono of his
speeches to describe his political
career; he remarked to his audience
that he had swung around the entire
circle Of offices, from alderman to
president.
The principal "swing" Of Andrew
johnson was in the late summer and
early autumn of 1866, when he won't
to Chicagoto attend the ceremonies
at the laying of the cornerstone Of a
monument to Stephen A. Douglas,
returning to Washington by way OF
Springfield, ILL.,, and St. Louis.
Everywhere that he spoke ho dis
cussed the leading measures of his
administration and the action of con-
gress, donouncing his Republican
opponents in the senate and the
house with freedom and bitterness
that were unexamplod. We present
as specimen Of MI. Johnson's itin-
Grant rhetoric part Of tho speech
which he delivered on August 80,
1866, at Albany.
"In being before you I do not ap-
pear in an official character. I ap.
pear-and thank God I can state it!
AS q fellow citizen ar | as a citizon
Of ono of the United States. In
standing before you tonight, 1 do 80
as an American citizon, claiming pro-
lection and respect as citizen Of the
United States. | know, follow citi-
zens, that cnlumny and slandar-tho
fowl whelps of sin-and q mcrccnary
and subsidized press have attempted
to poison the public mind in advance
Of those who are coming among you
and prepare the public mind for an
unfavorable reception. Fellow citi-
zens of tho United States, what is it
[ have done thus to expose mo!
What crimo have l committed?"
And 80 on. The specimen is suffi,
cient
For eight years under Grant, there
was silence on the rear platform, anG
on swinging around the circle. Mr.
Hayes had not been in Office 81,
months before he started off for Nov
England upon oratorical circuit
He made many speeches, dlstin
guished about equally by poverty O
thought and an affection of conde
scending familiarity toward his audi
tors. The series was very fiat. Per
haps as intellectual speech as an!
} Of them was that which Mr.. Haye
delivered at Woll river junction, o.
August 70, 1877.