The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-08-21
BRANDON, Thursday, August 81, 1916.

more should we, who live in an age and
in country where the principles of ra-
tional human liberty are understood
where mans true dignity is acknowledged,
and the power of moving mind is look ed
upon as priceless treasure-how much
more should we strive for perfection in
this Godike art. But need make no
further attempt TO urge its importance on
the notice of the reader; the past history
of our country, and each days experience
amount to a practical demonstration Of the
Sentiment that the power 10 govern the
thoughts and control the passions Of 9th
ers is of more true value than rank or
fortune. This power the man of superb
or intelligence in some degree possesses.
The orator may be in possession of all
external accomplishments, but these alone
will not secure success. They only ena>
bic him 10 gain the attention of an audi
ence, and please their fancy but in order
TO obtain permanent influence over their
minds. and secure their assent to the
principles he procaims. he must address
them as Intellectual beings. While he
may endeavor to excite emotions of taste
by pleasing manner, he must labor, if
he hopes to secure the only adequate OBJ
ject OF public speaking, to convince the
understanding by apt illustrations and
forcible arguments.
Extent and command of knowledge be-
comes necessary in order to discuss even
the most simple subject. A thorough
analysis of any subject necessarily in
wolves an acquaintance with many others.
In order satisfactorily to account for any
particular result, we must understand the
causes which produced it. Ga the other
hand, if we wish to calculate the effect of
certain causes with accuracy, we must be
acquainted with The laws which govern
cause and effect in other instances and if
we cannot fix on parallel case, we may
frequently arrive at correct conclusions,
by insl;u;ing comparison between those
more remotely related. We may have
knowledge of q particular fact, and yet
without being familiar with many others,
apparently not connected with it, we may
be unable 10 account for lis existence.---
Eclpses of the sun were as familiar to the
ancienls as to us, and yet their most learn
ed astronomers, after striving 10 account
for them on the most wild and absurd
principles, lived and died in entire ignor-
ance other true cause. But a knowl
edge of the revolution of The planets
around the sun has served as Key to the
mysteries of many of the heavenly phe>
nOmena, and has made the school>boy of
the nineteenth century wiser, in this res
pect, than the sages Of antiquity. In like
manner the solution of any one of the
mysteries of nature requires knowledge
Of many of her laws; and these serve to
explain and simplify each other. The
same principle proves true in the intel.
lectual worl1. A knowledge of Rhetoric
requires degree Of familiarity with the
principles OF Grammar. Mental Philos-
ophy and Logic-a knowledge of Natur-
al Philosophy and acquaintance with
Mathematics and 10 general the power
to illustrate any one principle requires
thorough knowledge Of multitude of
others, many OF which are but remotely
connected with it.
In order to be intelligent and respecta.
bic members ofsociety we must have
thorough knowledge
/. OF Men.
2. OF Facts.
The first must be obtained partly BY
observa'ion-by studying their characters
as exhibited in their actions and carefully
noting The influences which operate most
powerfully on their minds; and partly by
making ourselves familiar with the records
of their deeds.
The second must be obtained almost ex.
clusively from books. The comparative
ly limited number OF facts which come
within the range of our personal observ,
alton would do bu! little toward storing our
minds with the amount OF Information ne.
cessary 10 thorough knowledge of the
different parts and bearings of the various