The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-16

Mr.. President, and fellow members.
It is with distinct pleasure, l may
even say, with unbounded inter est,
that bring myself to,the defense of
q narrowed and prosecuted cause. A
cause undoubtedly just in its eternal
reason, noble in les immortal truth
1 am confident In great belief and
determined in greater enthusiasm
that this defense shall not have been
made in vain. 1t is with some admira-
tion for his extraordinarynmastery of
his native language, his depth and
resource of reasoning, his happy logic;
with some amazement at his persistent
Indulgence in gross: and chimerical
perversions of historic truths; with
much disgust at his egrand array of
coarse and malignant insinuations,
his gay festoons of choicest slang and
virulent invective; say it is with
these mingled emotions, but assuredly
with no fear, that have listened to
this able champion of hopeless con-
tention. No ulterior design, no motive
other than that OF utmost sincerity
prompts me to an expression of deep
regret for the gross misapplication of
unusual talent, the sad waste of pro-
found genius that you have just since
beheld.
am however f1attered by the con-
de sc ension of my opponent. 1t
rs an unusual occurrence which In
duces gentleman so extensively
Informed, so variedly experienced. to
bring to q contest of this. description
the wisdom, which that informa-
tion and that experience alone
can give. But the compliment is
obvious. thank the gentleman.
4 shall at ell times endeavor to OBJ
serve the respect and difference to
which his pre-emineuce, unqualifiedly
entitle him. But should any harsh
expression escape me, should ], at any
time, inadvertently admit of any dis
courtesy, trust that he will attribute
the breach to intensity of enthusiasm
or to the warmth of the controversy.
Should the issue of this contest be
unfavorable to my position, should the
belief which l defend, the principles
which espouse, go down to defeat to
be forever denied the sweet blessings
of victory-I repeat, should / know
the misery of subsection, here today,
L shall at least be consoled by the fact
that my cause and its defender were
not vanquished by an ignoble hand.
Briefly, now, and with some propri-
ETY. for an excuse, will attempt to do
that which the affirmative has failed
to do and which, l apprehend it
has utterly neglected to consider.
/ am. not surprised to find that one
possessed of such undefiled zeal, so
.g0rgeously impetuous should have en-
.tirely overlooked careful analysis of
the resolution at issue. am here to-
day, friends, for the single purpose
of raising in your minds and in the
minds of these respectable judges a
reasonable doubt AS to the absolute
truth of the propositions, which this
affirmative asserts to be infallible.
Igiveyou the resolution: Resolved
hesitate at the term-resolved; That
steamships, sailing vessels and water
crafts of every description have been
>Of more benefit to these United States
than railroads.
o Truth and Reasonl / call to all
the dead generations that have known
you. o Fathers have there ever be-
fore fallen from the lips of man such
words, SO gigantic in their preposter-
GUS absurdityP Water crafts of every
-descriptionl 1t was blind hand that
built that bulwark and garrulous
tongue that suggested it. The gentle.
sman makes no specific mention oi
patent washtubs, mop buckets and
sepulchrsl shadows of empty sardine
.sanctuaries. Il assure you that all OF
them IN their virgin state will doat
Does the opposition, in reaMtys desire