The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-17
FROE OTHER PENS

ORATORY AT THE CONVENTIONS.
Denver loses by the fate of Bourke
Cochran. For if Mr.. Cochran is no
longer a Democrat-and that Is the
decision Of the leader OF Tammany
Hall-he is not eligible for delegate to
the Democratic national convention.
His oratory is we'll suited to large as
semblies. His voice is strong. His ac-
ton is incessant. His vocabulary is
copious. His frame is big. He fills
both eye and ear. On numerous occa-
sions, state and national. he has en-
speakers present. His speech at Chi
cago In 1892 in opposition to Mr.. Cleve-
land was, while ineffective, a memoir
able exhibition of his powers. But he
is not for Denver this year.
Chicago loses by the fate Of Mr.. For
aker. Ohio has chosen her delegates,
and he is not on the list. He, too. is
an orator who shines in a swarm of
men. His style differs from that of
Mr.. Cochran, but is notable for its
Mind The state has probably not
produced his equal as a stumper since
the days Of Tom Corwin. Not one Of
Ohio's big four this year is an orator,
and the name of the man who is to place
Judge Taft in nomination at Chicago
has not yet been announced.
Who are to set Off the fireworks at
the conventions? The texts at both
Chicago and Denver will be inspiring.
There is not a candidate on the Re-
publican list whose name and achieve
ments should not carry fine panegy-
rio. Taft, Fairbanks. Cannon. Hughes,
Knox, are somebody. and have done
things; and as for Mr.. Bryan. he calls
for the best nominating speech his
party has in the shop. What Ingersoll
did for Mr.. Blaine 80 years ago some
body ought to do for Mr.. Bryan now.
The peerless leader Is entitled to the
peerless nominator-Washing Star.
ON KNOWING THYSELF.
In one of the French traits describ-
ed by Mr.. w. c. Brownell in his de-
Iightful volume the Frenchman has a
distinct advantage over many TYPICAL
ly intellectual Americans. The French
man of good sense rarely. II ever, at
tempts to do that for which he is not
fitted. People do not do things mere
ly from the love of them. without
regard to their capacity for doing
them" Mr.. Brownell asserts. EVERY
lover of literature does not make
verses. Every lover of the drama
does not write a play. 1t is not in
France distinction for person Of
particularly literary tastes not to have
attempted a novel;"
While the differences In the illustra-
lions given are exaggerated-as that
every cultured American does essay
a novel or write verses-it Is still ap-
d
that fortunate capacity for seeing
ourselves as others see US. Perhaps
one of our cherished traditions has
weight in this detected purpose where
politics becomes involved. Many a
youth who has fine incipient abilities
for business or mechanics learns early
that he may become president. and,
obsessed by this idea, enters the law
or politics. A potentially good banker
or bricklayer becomes thus a poor
lawyer or a scaly politician. Indubi-
tably the admirable individualism and
self-reliance fostered in our laws and
institutions does carry some such pen
atty with 1t. We are, as people,
quite slavish in our devotion to such
things as 'the dollars OF our daddies"
and our ancestral political customs:
but the occupations, or vocations, and
the fashions and temperamental GUS
toms Of our forbears engender spirit
OF revolt-Kansas City Star.