The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1906-10-19
FRANCIS ". CUSHMAN
Spoke in Court House in COIfsx
Saturday Night.
Discusses the Political Issues of
the Day-Masterful Presen-
tattOn of Facts

the Day-MasterfuI Presen-
tation of Facts.
Congressman Francis w. Cushmar
spoke Saturday night in the superior
court room to large audience on tn,
political issues Of the day. MANY ladies
graced the occasion by their presence
The COIfax band furnished excellent
music, playing several familiar airs. ]
A. Perkins was called upon to preside
Mr.. Perkins INDUCED in few well chosen
remarks, somewhat of a reminiscent
nature, the gentleman being pioneer OF
whitman county. He noted the fact
that the first republican convention held
III this county assembled in his house, a
log structure, now standing. That was
80 years ago. Since then two slices
have been cut out Of Whitman county
ana made into new cOunties-Adams and
Franklln-and still Whitman is one of
the large and wealthy counties Of the
now state Oi Washington. Mr.. Perkins
spoke OF the growth and DEVELOPMENT of
| the northwest since the assembling of the
first republican convention in his house.
and also Of the wonderful achievements
Of the republican party during the same
period. He closed his well timed re
marks by introducing U l.. Ettinger.
| Mr, Ettinger spoke in a humorous vein
Tor few minutes, giving way to Con-
gresham Cushman, who was received
with cheers.
Francis w. Cushman.
Mr. Cushman is a fOrceful speaker.
His line Of argument is always clear cut,
leaving no lOOphOle for misunderstand-
| ing or doubt. At the same time he is
| cOmically tunny, being good story tell
er and having an originality all his own
This fact has made him a central figure
on the floor of the house of representa-
tives, and when "Cush" speaks to his
colleagues there is always sure to be a
full house and crowded galleries. He is
no less popular on the stump, and his
speech last Saturday night was full to
the brim with argument, pathos and
humor
MIR Cushman's speech last Saturday
night in part follows:
My friends, | appear before you to-
night as a republican, and confess that
| | feel a certain embarrassment in stand
ing before you in that attitude. [ have
| been making political speeches over this
state for the past - years, or, rather,
to be more nearly correct, | have been
making political speech over this state
for the past II years. | have not used
| the same language at all times, but |
| have presented the same ideas | have
not uttered the same words, but | have
| advocated the same principles. There
! lore my speeches have all been somewhat
alike, and therefore possibly little tire
some. have known men in my lifetime
I.Nva i Af
| two consecutive campaigns. Their talks
are always interesting, seldom instruc-
| tive. In order that | might be more in
teresting tonight, almost wish that
| belonged to a political party that not
only permitted, but absolutely required
| its members to make brand new, an
entirely different speech, in each succeed.
campaign. If | could only do that it
would add so much to the interest and
enthusiasm OF my various performances
| But in as much as am bound by certain
| moral limitations, and suffering the con-
| sequent embarrassment thereof, | will
| speak to you for a few moments upon
those same old topics OF american in
dustry and prosperity" "peace and pIen-
| ty," "sound money" national honor
at home and abroad general sanity
| and good sense, ''and other homely and
| old fashioned issues which in the last ten
| years have become both dear and famil-
lar to all our people
am here to speak for certain prnci-
| pies that believe in, and which are ad-
vOcated by the republican party, to
which | belong. | speak for principles
rather than for men. Men are born.
| they live their little span and they die.
But just principle or great truth is
an immortal thing 1t lives forever. In
| this campaign | am not speaking self
! ishly for my own interest, nor the indi-
vidual interest OF my political associates,
nor am | speaking individually against
the men whom the opposition party
| have nominated. As far as | know the
| three men who have been nominated for
congress by the democratic party in this
state are respectable, able, honest, moral
| gentlemen. | speak against them, not
individually, but politically, because
don't believe in the principles which they
| advocate. However, if they or any
member OF their party speak in this place
| during the present campaign | bespeak
for them the same respectful hearing
| which hope to receive myself.
After all, the greatest teacher of men
is not oratory but experience. Through
out all ages Of the world, what is it that
the human race have remembered for
Themselves and written down on the
pages OF history for their children? They
have not written down those things
which some man proclaimed was going
| to happen but which did not They
have written down those great events
which transpired. The hot air" prophet
fiOurishes today but be fades tomorrow.
His pOmpOus form and flow Of words
may obscure the landscape and fill the
ears OF men today, but on the page of
history he ism n't even shadow. half
century from now, when some historian
is gathering together the mighty events
of this period in which you and | have
lived and embalming them into American
history, there will be many bright para
graphs, shining pages and illuminous
chapters regarding William Mckinley
and Theodore Roosevelt, and to the
mighty policies with which their names
were connected and the mighty progress
which this people made under those pol
icies But brief, oh so brief, will be the
narapraOh Of history that mantiona NJ