Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-14

/ OF neuTlHS ulll itNthuJ NSh'NA -
dresses on two notable occasions, ana
l do not hesitate to say that / consid-
cred his gestures by far the best part
| of the speeches He does not conhne
his condemnation to my peculiar style
Of oratory. am, we are advised, ut
terly devoid Of truth whenever false
hood, however malicious or malevolent,
will serve my sinister purposes. HE
has" says Mr.. Beckham, deliberately
misrepresented facts in the hope Of
winning votes for himself. No ques-
ton of accuracy or truthfulness in his
statements ever restraints him in such
cases." He speaks of my customary
and marked deviations from the truth"
He accuses me of glaring and absolute
ly lneXcusable Misrepresentation OF
fact and calls my methods dishonest.
According to Mr.. Beckham, falsehood
and cowardice are my most marked
characteristics. Both false and timid,
l am, according to the same eminent
authority, a most arrant demagogue
parading around over the country with
"an ordinary book Of synonyms and
abundant vocabulary of defamatory
epithets, with boisterous declamations
and vehement gesticulations, ever will
ing to sacrifice facts to secure APP
plause." mo demagogue" says ne,
ever attempted a cheaper or more dis
creditable artifce with which to de-
ceive the people or to injure an oppo-
nent."
The people of Kentucky need not be
frightened however, at this terrible
description. because fortunately, 1 am
also, according to Mr.. Beckham, an ig-
noramus and fool and therefore not
especially dangerous. My demagogic
methods of campaigning are, he ad-
vises us, discredited and obsolete be-
cause of the more general dissemina-
ton of education and knowledge
among the people.
Imagine Mr.. Beckham upon the floor
Of the federal senate RECALLING his
staid and stately colleagues with a
similar performance Imagine him re-
| plying to some senator, who had criti-
cized bill which he had offered or a
vote which he had cast. by retOrting
that the senator was a coward. a liar,
fool and a demagogue, that his ges-
lures were awkward and that he
sweat too freely.
There are times when we can con-
done the most radical departure from
all the canOns of civilized warfare and
decent discussion. | am rather inclin-
ed to pity the folly than to condemn the
maIevolence of him who deliberately
poisons a blunt arrow, especially when
the aim is bad and the arm is feeble.
Throughout this entire address Mr..
Beckham appears to be utterly lacking
in that meager measure of discern
ment by which well bred and self re-
specting mediocrity usually distin-
cuisines between satire and SANDER
and irony and insult
caricature of Opponents.
Mr.. Beckham from his assumed
heights Of superior wisdom looks pity
ingly down not only upon my mani
fest ilHteracy; but, somewhat to my
surprise, he expressed a similar doubt
as to the intelligence of the average
voter He admonishes his auditors
that their lack of discernment may
lead them into fatal error. 1T is, Of
course" says he, true that it is diff
cult in a campaign for many voters
TO decide among the claims of rival
candidates and TO determine the one
deserving of their support" He makes
kind of kindergarten out of his au-
dience, forgetting that he is permitted
to appear before the most august trl-
bunal that ever assembled in America
the yeomanry of old Kentucky. In or
der that this infant class may clearly
catch his meaning he proceeds to hang
three pictures on the wall His deft-
ness indicates experience. Had he
served an apprenticeship peddling pho
tographs and enlarging portraits he
could not have done II better. An in
spection Of his handiwork will be
amusing II not instructive. Two are
caricatures; the third Is beatlfic In It's
loneliness. One Is an ugly old man
who has never had any positive con
yictons upon any debatable or disput
ed public question, who cautiously
avoids giving expression to his opln
ions upon such questions until after 4
Is apparent upon which side there q
a majority and who then loudly pro
claims himself TO have been always
on that side" That is McCreary.
The other caricature Is uglier and
more repulsive still. Wild and furious
his body dripping with perspiration
his arms ahmbO, false. noisy ans
timid-that is me.
Bsstifie Picture OF Himself
Now he invites you patiently and pa
tF!otioally" TO study the central figure
70 fairly aud calmly measure ia
claims and merits" 1T has" be ad
vises you. performed efficient service
% the country" The sketchlng OF hll
avn tawaaf huf rafhar immobila (Qa