Thornton. They've picked
out an able young speaker!"
In spite of his resentful opinion of Linton, an opinion into which he
would not admit to himself that jealousy entered, Harlan, as he
listened, had to acknowledge the ability of the young lawyer.
First he caught the attention of his auditors, then he skilfully
suggested that he was preparing a surprise. With appealing frankness
that won the interest and sympathy of the Spinney adherents, he agreed
with them that the times demanded changes and reforms. He urged that
these should be undertaken within the party, and then, earnestly but
delicately, he hinted that the reformers had not picked the right
leader. As delicately he suggested, next, that an extreme partisan,
bound far in advance of nomination by factional pledges and trades that
he must carry out, was not the right man to extricate the party, either.
Lastly, he came to the crux of his speech, plunging into the theme with
passionate eloquence that brought moisture to the eyes of Harlan. That
young man was not thinking of the orator, then.
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