Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-08-25
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1918.


because while we consider il as likely 10
mislead their plastic minds into avery oau
taste, we were aware that it possessed
fascination of a most irresistible KIND,
which nothing but the exposure of It's de-
fects and some ridicule, could possibly en-
counter with the slightest hope OF success
II is with the most unfeigned pleasure that
we find ourselves now enabled to come for
ward in that gentleman sunqualihed praise'
and to quote from himself piece OF e'o'
,ouence which we have no hesitation TO Oh
fer US model of that pure, unaffected, per-
suasive, simple and powerful kind, when
| will ever be able to bid defiance TO cr'tl-
cism, and to silence the sneers and animao-
versions of the most fastidious caVIliers.-
We allude to that beautiful effusion, as no.
norabIe to his heart as to bis genius, win
which he hushed The uproar and fury OF the
Dublin mob, in their late uugrateiul ana
outrageous attack upon Mr.. Grattan.
If this short specimen Of eloquence be
carefully compared with the speeches OF
Mr.. Phillips, sometime published, it will
he found to differ from them in almost every
essential, except in the value ofthe object
for in those, as in this we now allude 10, bis
objects were generally deserving OF appro-
batiop-and we cannot conceive a more
| admirable lesson for young students, who
have their taste yet to form, than may be
deduced from such comparison.-Drawn
forth by an unexpected emergency, which
was calculated to rouse all the feelings OF
a generous susceptible soul, and all the in.
dignation OF just and lofty mind, the ia
culties OF the man were too entirely occu-
pied with the substantial part OF the sub
iect before him, to admit Of any idle devia-
tons from il into the wild paths Of fancy,
in search OF flowers for its ornament; and
the man, not the orator, was uppermost.-
His cause, not vain display Of rhetorical
talents, held possession OF him, and the
consequence was, that his simple unadorn.
ed detail OF truth, at once flashed convic-
ton on the hearts OF his rugged auditors.
A stronger proof Of the power of genuine
simple eloquence over the stubbornest OF
human souls cannot be produced, than the
effect Of this speech upon tue Dublin mob.
1t is indeed sample of unadulterated elo-
euence, to which Quintilian would have
been proud to give page in his common
place book.
Nor is il as lesson in eloquence that this
specimen may be useful. Coupled with
the transaction that gave rise TO it, and its
instant effects upon the auditors, it presents
a valuable admonition to certain class,
and, we fear, that the most numerous OF
our ambitious young statesmen, who set
ont in the trade of politics. as multitudes
Of our new store-keepers do, on false ca.
pifal-their whole stock being the art OF
popularity hunting, and the Old tale--too
stale and putrid one might naturally sup
pose to be used with success as bait,
and too false to be believed by themselves
---of the sovereign judgment OF the rabbie--
"the fool multitude who choose ny show"
Let our sticklers for the duty Of represen-
tatives to be instructed by their consiitu-
ents, now condescend to be instructed by
this lesson of undeniabe fact, and conclude
what the effect and character Of their con-
duct as Legislators must be, If governed by
the capricious decisions Of Multitude
The Dublin mob, the mere slaves their
blind, infufiate passions, are this moment
resolutely bent upon assassinating man
(that man their best benefactor toc) nay,
wound him with stone in the forehead,
and in FIVE minutes after (blown about by
the wind of few wor,is) they give him
the homage Of their applause, and are all
at once so entirely enamored with him,
without any one motive, Of which they
were not in the outset in possession, that
the orator who defends him is fain to inter-
fere and BY representation ofhis unftness
for enduring it, 10 procure him an amnesty
| from their further caresses.- Shake
speare's Coriolanus contains nothing to sur
pass tins lively exempli6cation Of popular
fckleness. When Coriolanus, who had
latter lie of services 20 Rome) been ba-
nished by the people on the arlful insinu-
atoms of their demagogues, returns with
an army to dragoon them, the quick fuc-
tuation Of the popular voice is exquisitely
pictured in the speeches OF the~citizens--