Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-29
PICTURESQUE IN CAMPAIGNS.

st. Louis lobe-Democrat.-In the
way of professions, torchlights and
public display the present presidential
contest has been one of the quiet sort.
Much has been said OF apathy, but that
may be term misapplied to set
purpose arrived at early in the cam
paign. The candidates were not a sur
prise and the issues present no over
shadowing novelty. A decision to let
we'll enough alone is not apt to be pic
torlal or sensational. Exciting cam
paigns come in their own time and
way, and develop original features in
spontaneous fashion. They cannot
be made to order. In the early de-
cades of the government the business
of selecting president was a dele.
gated function, as it is in France to-
day. But gradually the people took
hold of 1t by means of distinct par
ties and conventions, and the electoral
college is now but "a formal record of
the popular will. The first full spec
tacular campaign was the marching
and singing furore of 1S40 a tidal
wave that carried into the White
House military hero of the pioneer
type, who was to live but month aft
er the inauguration. Such mad frol-
ic, as the party displayed called 1t,
was not as much a matter OF levity as
might be imagined. In reality, the
change appealed to the sober judg-
ment Of the people. or the log cabin
pageantry would have been of no
avail
Not much bubbling public enthusi-
asm could be created by the darl,
horse compaigns of Polk and Pierce,
who were comparative obscurities,
though successful. But as the civil
war approached new and powerful
currents Of feeling were set in motion.
A new party. destined to be dominant
many years, was born. Then the
marching clubs, organized to an ex.
tent unknown before, were prophecy
of the tramp Of millions and the great
est armed struggle of modern times
IT was in the air, and political cam
paigns were sinterfused with feeling
but slightly expressed in words
Grants presidential campaigns were
too one sided to arouse popular ardor
to the full degree. Hayes and Tilden
were leaders of the judicial and philo-
sophie pattern. Garfield and Hancock
presented many points of personal re-
semblance. Blaine was a man to
arouse enthusiasm, but also hostilities.
The man who overcame him by an ex-
tremely small margin was a sturdy
politician who cared little for tll-
multi of applause. and finally went
counter to it in his own party. Yet.
he was the only president elected by
the party in forty years of campaign
tons, as If to emphasize its infirmity
of Judgment In finally repudiating him
| No campaign Of recent years has
been as stirring as that of 1896 In
that contest the country fairly buzzed
with fervid interest. One of the par
ties to st. Louis got up a procession so
big that some of it never had chance.
to start. The same night the other
party. without any Encouragement,
turned out with torchlights in huge
column that filled the streets for
hours. Everybody talked. argued,
marched, wore emblems; both sides
| were confident; it was in many re-
spects a new test of popular govern.
ment. Some one has said that an an
gel of good fortune presides over the
progress Of the United States The
idea will not be disproved as long rs
the people are governed by conscience
and intelligence. In the campaign of
1908 the drum and fife are seldom
heard; the boom of the evening can
non is infrequent: parades with torch
lights and transparencies have been
few In any part of the country. Yet
100000 voters are awake to the
duty Of the hour. 1t remains to be
proved that they are apathetic. For
the most part it is evident that they
made up their minds long ago, or rath.
er that no material change was felt to
be desirable.