The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-08-24
THE FIRE-EATING INSURGENT

THE FIRE-EATING NSURGENT.
A chautauqua incident of the past
week in Norfolk brought out condi-
ton of the public state of mind which
is not a complimentary commentary
upon this country at the present time.
1t was announced from the platform
from day to day, after it became known
that Senator Cummins was not to be
here, that Senator Clapp would come
to town and that he was one of the
most radical of all the fire.eating
insurgents. This brazen announce
ment was made, apparently, with the
idea that the more radical this insur-
gent could be painted, the bigger
woul:! be the gate receipts.
1t is indeed peculiar state of affairs
when the very fact that . man is
advertised as an insurgent against his
own party and his own government,
proves a drawing card on the lecture
platform. 1t is strange that the mere
fact that a man is out preaching dis
content, shouting denunciation against
things as they are, instilling lack of
confidence among the people in the
head of their government, and ranting
around in general against all condi.
tons that come to mind, should make
that man attractive to the populace.
And the fact that q chautauqua
organization should make capital Of
such creature of disconteat, is not
worthy reflection either upon the
public or upon the political conditions
Of the times.
1t might prove profitable to present
the most notorious outlaw of Mexico,
or the brother Of Jesse James, or the
Jefiries-Johnson prize fight films, as
chautauqua attractions, but their
drawing powers would he poor exam
pies of the public taste and their
uplifting influence might we'll be
doubted.
As former Governor Buchtel of
Colorado, in his letter to the News,
remarked, the preaching Of discomfort
in a country like ours is almost a
crime. The preaching Of discomfort
insurgency against Gaynor-through
Hearst's papers resulted week ago in
the shooting of the mayor of the big
gest city in the country. The same
sort of preaching against the head Of
the government a few years before,
resulted in the dastardly assassination
of Mckinley.
The preaching Of discomfort insur
gency against the government-in
the early Cos led to the most disas,
trous internal strife that this or any
other country has ever known-in
those days it was not called by tl!.
gentle name of insurgency" but Wa
BADLY labelled rebellion"
And the same sort Of preaching
now, against President Taft and his
administration, by demagogUes who
have no thought Of the country's good
in mind but who are merely self:
seekers of the most vicious type. eau
only result in a turmoil in the public
mind which must have serious effect
upon the wellbeing of the nation both
10 business way and social way.
1t is time that the professional dem.
agogues who 60 about tearing down
and throwing mud at the government,
he relocated to the rear. 1t IL time
that the selfseeking knocker liz
allowed by the public to talk to empty
chairs.
1t has been too frequently shown
by the brainless fool who shouts
"Fire" in a crowd, how quickly the
public can he thrown into a panic by
alarming suggestions. And the same
result must come to the nation ii the
fire eating insurgents and the vicious
yellow magazines such as Collier and
Harper's papers, continue yelling
about everything in existence and
trying to excite the public mind into n
state of panic.-NOrfolk News.