Why,
Washington was charged by the papers of his day, with being a murderer,
a traitor, and a tyrant. And Lincoln was vilified to an extent which
seems impossible now. The greater the man, the greater the abuse."
"Why do the papers call you 'Pete'?" asked Leonore, anxiously. "I rather
like Peter, but Pete is dreadful!"
"To prove that I am unfit to be governor."
"Are you serious?" asked Miss Biddle.
"Yes. From their point of view, the dropping of the 'r' ought to
convince voters that I am nothing but a tough and heeler."
"But it won't!" declared Leonore, speaking from vast experience.
"I don't think it will. Though if they keep at it, and really convince
the voters who can be convinced by such arguments, that I am what they
call me, they'll elect me."
"How?" asked Mrs. D'Alloi.
"Because intelligent people are not led astray but outraged by such
arguments, and ignorant people, who can be made to believe all that is
said of me, by such means, will think I am just the man for whom they
want to vote.
Pages:
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673