The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-26
The Speeches OF Gen. scott.


Demostbenes. We need hardly add that We allude
to the electioneering addresses Of General Scott.
Our object in collecting and publishing them is, to
raise the tone of American eioquence, by dissent
mating throughout the country such excellent mo-
dels; if we shall succeed in encouraging the cult
walton OF oratory by the example Of the WING can.
didate, we shall be completely satisfied. The
Messrs. Harper and Mr. Putnam will doubtless
regard US with evil eye for having deprived
them of the profits they would have made on the
sale of the "Scott Speeches." or the beauties Of
Scott J" but regard for the public advantage is
still imperative than the interest we take in
these enterprsiDg publishing houses. 1t is unfair
to withhold such treasure from youthful aspi-
rants to fame, until these gentlemen find it
venient to issue the duodecimo octave they have
in press and though We can i'll afford over nine
columns at the present time, when advertisements
are crowding our space in an unexamped manner,
we have resolved to disregard all objections, and be
the FIRST to present to the world complete coec.
tion of The Scott Speeches.
We need hardly observe that they are destined to
produce revolution in the science of oratory The old
system which Quntillian, Blair and Cormerin fanced
was to last forever is shattered at blow These old
fashioned professors had notion that modesty was
an indispensable requisite in public speaker they
argued oddly enough, that self praise is not only
unbecoming, but absolutely fatal to him who uses
it and the later critics rate Cicero soundly be-
cause he once ventured to observe that he did give
himself credit for cultivated mind. We are now,
thank Heaven and Gen. Scott, convinced Of the
fllacy of all this: not likely to forget that
the real secret of eloquence is the art of talking
constantly Of ones self, and urging ones services
and deserts on the public attention. The rule may
now be laid down that every member Of a sentence
ought to contain the personal pronoun ] at least
twice; if it can be introduced eftener, it will be
proof of the talent and ingenuity Of the speaker
but account ought it to fall short of the above
minimum In speaking of themselves, future ora
tors will learn from Gen. Scot. that they ought
rather to exaggerate what they have done than
omit anything. If, for instance, they have earned
their pay conscientiously soldiers during ca n
paign they will aude to their hard fought fields
to the toll, hunger and thirst they have suffered for
their country and if they have ever signahzed
themselves in any way in the field or the cabinet,
they will gently remind their hearers that IL is out
Of the power of the people to repay their services by
any ordinary reward. Compliment s, however, must
not be confined to themselves they mus. be thickly
splattered over their audience. To use figure for
which We apologize in advance. the only requi-
site for an orator henceforth will be a praise
pot and a stout brush. With the latter
the modern Demosthenes will begin by giving
his hearers rough coat-some general allusion to
their valor, talents, wealth, or good looks, will
answer the purpose-then, turning to his own person,
he will carefully bepraise himself from head to foot
laying on the paint where he is most vulnerable;
al 1a q. A.
again flourish the brush over his audience. Oa this
occasion he will not spare the paint. He will daub
their faces and their Characteristic brawny shout
ders of the men, and the bright eyes Of the ladies'
the courage Of their militiamen, and the eloquence
of their stump speakers the fertility of their FARMS
and the fairness Of their cattle and if he notices
anything among them that is particularly ridieu-
lous or unusual for instance, the peculiar accent
by which potatoes are converted into prat,es, and
thunder into duadthr, or stray muddy little ur-
chin who has been making dirt pies all the morning,
forlorn Of st. Patrick with sad hole in his
breecheshe will not fail to give it an extra coat Of
praise.
This is all. The patent Of excellence as speaker:
the Alpha and Omega Of successful oratory The
old recipe may now be laid on the sbelf-earnest-
ness, depth Of thought, brillancy of diction fash
ing w.t. originality of expression, presence mind,
delivery, and all the other requisites which the old
masters insisted on, may be discarded as obsolete.
Neither love Of truth nor burning glow Of pat
rotsm viii be of the slightest service henceforward
These things all very well in days of old, when
the science Of oratory was 10 its cradle we can see
through them now, and estimate them at their pro-
per value. Quntillians whole budget was not worth
enc dip into the praise pot
Anticipating, as we do, that every citizen in the
country win be anxious to possess q COPY Of the
complete collection of " The Scott Speeches." we
shall order a few extra thousands Of this davis
HERALD to be struck off, in order to meet the de-
mand. In few days the speeches may be expected
in different shape-in all probability, handsome
duodecimo, with gilt edges, and handsome fronts-
piece.