Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-11-18
Blind Oklahoma Senator De-
lighted His Audience
MINGLED WIT AND WISDOM
Fair and Fearless-Stand With
"PrOgressives" and West.

Senator Gore was greeted with pro-
longed applause Saturday night when
he made his appearance on the stage
Of the local opera house. For over
two hours he kept his audience inter-
ested in his speech filled with wit and
humor and his fowery oratory was en-
tertaining. Gore is brilliant orator
and most remarkable man, especial
ly is this true when one considers that
he has been totally blind from the age
of sixteen.
The Senator was introduced in a
few well chosen remarks by President
Hattabaugh. After being presented
to the audience the speaker spoke in a
jocular vein of S. J. Foster, former
Oklahomian who had at one time in
troduced the notable speaker at poll
tical meeting with the remarks: Il
am not going to make you long and
tiresome speech but present to you
Thomas p. Gore, the speaker Of the
evening, who will"
Gore paid glowing tribute to the
northwest, stating that the east had to
look to the west for everything; that
the only thing produced in the east
were the sunrise, presidents and pam
les. He stated further that he was
very much in favor of further devel-
oping the great resources of the west
ern country; that he believed in an
open river from the ocean to Lewiston
which would give us the benefit of
water rate transportation. 1t could
be done, he said, with reasonable
outlay of time and money-principal-
ly time-as it appears to him.
The senator discussed in glittering gem
eralities the rise and preservation of
the American nation. We are a fu-
sion, he said, of the best blood of
Europe. The best elements had gath
cred in America and were formed into
the grandest nation on the earth.
America has always been an asylum
for the prosecuted and oppressed. The
elements from which our nation were
formed had resulted in race of val
oroLs men and virtuous women.
These virtues were also found in the
old world, but were fettered by the
forms of government there found.
The fundamental principle of our in
stitutions is the equality of man in
his natural rights, in the eye Of JUS
tice, and in the eye Of the King OF
Kings.
The speaker referred briefly to the
rise of our form of government, and
the struggles of our fathers who dared
to voice and fight for the principles OF
equality and a government by and for
the people; the downfall in this coun-
try of the aristocracy and rise of de
mocracy.
Much of the senator's time was
used in discussing the events which
transpired during the struggle to pre-
serve the Union. He took Abraham
Lincoln as the exponent of Union
and Jefferson Davis as the champion
of secession and the south. \ sketch
was given of the lives of the two men.
Here the speaker impressed the audi
ence with his infallible memory, Civ
ing names and dates without hesita-
tion.
1t was struggle, he said between
the two parts of our double govern
ment. Some thought the state was
sovereign and could do as it pleased
in its own affairs. Others argued that
the federal is the only truly sovereign
government. The question was final
ly submitted to the great court ofwar
and the Great Judge decided in favor
of unity. He showed how wonderful
" similar the lives Of Lincoln and
Davis were Their paths ran almost
parallel from the time the former
came into public life. Davis, how
ever, had the advantage of a wide eX
perience and the confidence of The
people who knew him. Incidents were
told which showed that Lincoln was {
politician as well as statesman.
Gore made strong appeal to th'
young men and asked them to TAX
courage and inspiration from the lif'
of Lincoln; that he must maintain ant
preserve the equal right and oppor
tunity to all. 81 want to see ever,
boy have the opportunity to becom
president of the United States, evel