New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-07-01
The Orators Of France
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race have but little changed. The modern Frank
has retained enough Of the antique Gallo blood TO
render him both brave and loqusclous.
The very characteristics Of their speech have
been handed down from ancient time. In public
assemblies they now, az they were then iormi'
dsble takers, highly ornate and fgurstiye IN their
speeches, and afectedy cultural in their tones
Gsul. conquered by Rome, gave the Romans
laws; Gallo eloquence became a fashions power
10 make or alter DEGREES. The Roman youth re-
ceived ss their masters in eoquence Gallo rheto
ricisp.-Greece avenged herself upon Rome by
debsocbing the morals Of its people; Gaul by
corrupting its eloquence
The genius Of Gaul was more versatile than pro
found il was more rhetorical than logical more
brilliant than correct. And so is that Of modern
Gaul or France. OF the long list OF orators who
have illustrated its annals from its conquestby Clio
Wis down 10 the present moment, we do not reoo-
lect one whose published works are not dshgured
by extrsvsgsnt byperboie, by puere concerts, or
unchsstened imagery. There is more true elo-
ouence in Burke. than in all the orators whose
names have been preserved in French history,
while the deep philosophy Of his thoughts would
have been 10 tnfm an thtShh ''N virus wv"
which il is clothed onntellgible characters. Even
Bourdalone, Bossuet and Fenelon-the only names
now within our recollection worthy the title Of ora
tors-bave made little impression upon posterity.
To these observations the work before Us proves
no exception. Notwithstanding the reputation
generally far from envable,-of many OF the per
sons described therein. aud notwithstanding the
elaborate parade with which their names are now
brought forward we have found bat little in the
brochure 10 interest us-and that little in the mar
rative of the author and not in the productions at
tributed 10 his subjects
We are introduced 10 the work with all the formal
ity with which one would approach Royal Pres
ence In the outer chamber stands one usher IN the
character Of Editor, he receives us with all the
gravity his responsible station imposes upon him.
and passes US TO the next chamber, where we are
encountered in a still more sOlems manner by
still more solemn parsonage in the proper guise OF
n " Translator" who, holding as longer in suspense
as his position is greater in importance, condo
scends at his own good time to introduce rs into
the Ante. Chamber, not without fear and trembling
on our part Here we are detained atleast double
the time we were with the other personages, and
a more concentrated effort is made 10 impress upon
our minds the responsibility we are mourning in
venturing into the Presence Chamber itself And
certainly the transition vas startling, to part with
Headley and encounter MIRABEAU
We must confess our Republican simplicity was
scandazed at these forms they were tedious
withal and we could hardly help exclaining with
the man in the play Leave off your damnable
Prcfaees, and begin
Ofthe three prologues we prefer the Editors
1t as tho shortest.
The Essayist expects his contribution TO be
read or he would not have written it TO be cril
csed, or he would not have elaborated it so amb
tousy.
Onehalf of his hope. go far MS we are concerned
has been realized-we haze read his essay. Those
who have not been so fortunate may envy us
those who have. may not. He begins with mis-
take in principle and ends with mistake in fact.
He thinks there is no eloquence independent Of
climate, OF education and manner. " lie who
could chain a Boston audience says he" by
the depth and originality Of his philosophy, might
be esteemed a dreamer in the Far West" In
other words. Webster would be considered
dreamer in the Far West, and, rice reySo, Corwin
be unintegible at Boston the untutored native,
in all the majestic simplicity of his eloquence'
would be. a la Headicy, bore. an enigma, a mad
man everywhere. And in parenthess, let us ask
Mr.. Headey whence, save from his own produc-
tons. has " the stern, unadorned old Saxon III
which the Bible is written been banishedl
True eloquence is understood the world through
Quit is as universal as the heart of man, and is
acclimated everywhere. On the banks OF the
Ganges or Amazon. the Nile or the Mississippi in
the remotest isles of the sea or the frozen shores
Of the North. the language of Shakespeare, of Chat
ham of Burke and of Webster is mother tongue.
The Saxon intellect has conquered more even than
It's arms.
So much for his enunciation of principle, and
now Tor his error in fac,
lit is useless to speak Of the present Parliament
of France. says he. Like the American Congress
or the British Parliament, it is governed by the
spirit of the politician rather than the elevated
views Of the statesman or the devotion of the pat
riot" The Essayist, we think, must be afflicted
with precocous old age-for all his writings ind
cate that he belongs to that school OF remarkable
sages who find nothing in the Present but dete
rora,ion Of the Past. when was a boy" has
evidently become the poetry of Mr.. Hs existence.
In the meantime, Notwithstanding his experience
TO the contrary. there is much integrity and pat
rotsm IN public life at any former period IN
the worlds history. He must be as ignorant of the
Past as he is Respondent of the Future who thinks
otherwise.
Does the Essayist find in the Mountain party
of the Revolutionary Assembly that purity OF mo
tive, disinterestedness in conduct and expanded
patriotism which be denies to the present Paris
ment Of France Does he look for private and
public honor in the Parliament of Henry With 4,
of Charles Id of William of Orange. and the
Georges. rather than in the present Parliament OF
Englandi Have the seventy years of experience
sce have undergone IN National Legislation con.
WINGED as that Representative bodies necessarily
tend 70 oorruption-that patriotism is nothing bat
purchase ofplace, nor ambition sught but self AZ.
grandizernentf The Essayist is welcome To the
thought If il give him pleasure. but he Will find
few proselytes
But lest We subject ourselves To the same
charge Of unnecessary delay that we have prefer
red against the three literary ushers, we pass to a
, brief consideration of the orators OF France"
IT. al. n l.. n.