The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-07-22
q PUBLIC SPEAKING.

SboSVo SOaoko oPS0S W.
ence in the grove between the Court house
and the spring. Quite q number OF oencnes
were put on the ground for the aocommoda.
ton OF the auditors, all OF which were occu-
pied. A number Of men stood around the
edges, and all gave respectful attention 10
every speaker.
Mr. Rhett. Mr. Johnstone, Mr.. Evans snd
Mr.. Smith were regarded by the people as
being the foremost candidates In the race.
Messrs. Grace, Lumpkin, and Martin were
regarded az not likely 10 be elected on the
first ballot.
: As Tar as this editor Is informed, the speech
Of MI. Rhett was considered the best. We
heard Of no speech that was more favorably
received by any one.
Mr.. Johnstone was regarded al the ablest
man In the race, and many enjoyed his
speech, especially when he was speaking Of
ths"Bottery." But he threw away q good
opportunity TO make q good speech. 1t Is all
very we'll to arouse the people occasionally,
and q little aneodote now and then IL not
am iss but ear~nestness and sincerity OF speech
are more effective. While the crowd may
laugh and some may gufaw at . speakers
disbursement Of another, yet ridicule Ia like
a boomerang. 1t often returns to The hurt OF
the sender. Only In this way can we account
for the defeat in popular elections OF q man
possessing Mr.. Johnstone's ability n nls
personality. SO to speak. standing head and
shoulders In ability above the average SPEAK
or, why should he try to rend another whom
he presumes to have less ability? Instead OF
entertaining and ipstruotipg bis audience, IN
the court or upon the stump, 1t seems 10 ID
that he would, under all circumstances as
sumo the roll of gladiator that he might for
the amusement OF spectators eat little folk
bodily, boots and all Who ever heard OF Mr..
tombstone making a speech in which he did
not use sarcasm, vindlotiveness or ridicule'
Why should q man OF Mr.. Johnstone's ability
be en- tious or jealous ofany mans Then why
should he seek TO destroy any manf As we
understand. gladiators in the olden time,
fought their equals. II this is 80, why shoul
Mr.. j., astone, standing like a giant before
the assembled multitude, whether In the
amphitheatre or in the grove OF q shaded
wood, seek TO eat up q pygmy for the amuse-
ment OF the crowd?
We can we'll understand why q poor little
creature should be jealous Of the ability and
the standing of q man like Mr.. Rhett. We
can we'll understand why o little creature
should seek to bring down those whom he
knows to stand before the people better than
he does. We can understand the envy and
the jealousy OF those who know that they
stand far below the objects OF their spite.
But why q man OF Mr.. Johnstone's ability
should be jealous of anybody Is what we DO
not understand. INC why q man possessing
bis bowers of oratory should use the same
tactics OF Irony on all occasions for the last
ten years Is beyond our ability to under
stand.
Except for his invective and for his ever
present disposition TO dIsparage others. We
know of no power on earth that could keep
George tombstone out OF the Senate.
Mr.. Evsns's speech won admirers, and he
will receive votes here In the primary, He
had given his speech some thought.
Mr.. SMITH speech, we believe, was disap-
pointing. Besides having little matter Of
1t was interlarded with the irrev-
erent use OF the name Of the Almighty, and
have been scsrcrly less acceptable to
his pious hearers than is the discourse Of the
average evangelist, or the preacher who does
study his sermon. and must therefore use
1t to fill out his time.
AS q whole, the speeches seemed to make
most ludicrous performance that we
have ever witnessed in Abbeville. The Idea
OF those speeches being delivered In the
United States Senate would be enough TO
make a horse laugh.
Except Mr.. Rhett, none OF the speakers
seemed to have labored 10 prepare a speech.
Very few facts were stated by any OF them,
and while we had not the proof. We think
that the United States consumes more than
Of the cotton crop.
When a man says that he Is opposed to the
tariff, what does he mean? Does he mean
that he would remov the tariff on cotton
goods, 30 az to ruin every cotton mill In the
State n therefore throw thousands OF hon.
est toilers out OF q job2 Or, ia he 10 ignorant
Of what he is speaking, not to know that the
cotton mills are protected?
The idiotic talk against trusts and corpora
has had It's day. Any man with tho
Intelligence and the least regard for
ruth, knows that trusts and corporations
lone much for the development OF the
country. ! !
The man who would array the poor against
he rich Is not 1T for public Office. Do not the
lob, the Trusts and the corporations give bet