Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-10-24
LECTURE BEFORE THE ST. PAUL LITERARY
ASSOCIATION.

ASSOCIATION.
| Delivered at the Court House, Monday, Oct. 18th.
BY WILBUR NJ. HAYWARD. -
Mr.. President and Gentlcmen Of the Associafion:-
You have laid the corner stone of an Or
ganization whose objects will command tho sup
port of all who take pride in the intellectual
standing and development of Minnesota. Fore
holdings and opposition have always attended
similar enterprises, wherever, or in whatever man
ner commenced. The success of many of them
is now commcmoratcd on Anniversary days by the
pomp of Eulogy, and rlaudts of the people,
| Many have gone down to death, by fundamental
errors in formation, mismanagement of affairs,
and want of public spirit in those who should up
hold them. Whether the measure of advantage
hereafter made manifest, shall gid with fruition
of light the pathway of this Association along
the shores of knowledge, or it shall be sncercd at
by an unappreciating crowd, whose cardinal arti-
Gle of belief is, that Young America "knows
nothing" rests for determination with those who
have met together this night, and those who shall
hereafter abide by the landmarks now laid down
by you.
| have deemed the Debating Association Il fit
subject for examination on this OCCASION. 1t COM
mcnds itself to your attention whether considered
in a philoSophic or poctical view. 1t has entered
into the formation of American character, and
been the fountain from which has pushed forth
innumcrablc streams, giving fertility and golden
harvests to the soil Of the human understanding.
1t is alphabetically national feature where hber-
| ty of speech and thought prevail. 1t is a maya
zine from which was drawn the thunderbOlts of
| Il, %. ol,,t;np
moulding influences to the Young Men of Europe,
and you burn up all evidences of feudal sway
and monuments of the tyranny of ages. While
it lives on this Continent the rights of the people
are safe. Disunion cannot rear its standard, or
anarchy carry its banners over the Republic.
The forum of Debate was frequentea in days
over which Antiquity has hung no beacon light,
save that of tradition. 1t was redeeming fea-
ture of, and gave lustrc to Roman sway. 1t had
power far more enduring than the monumental
grandeur of the Captoline Hills. Public dspu-
tation in Athens, gave Philosophy, Poetry and Or
atorv, whose fruits will be known and read of all
men, when the scholar shall ask for the AcropollS
in vain. They controlled in great degree public
sentiment of the ages wherein hourished Arts and
Sciences now forever lost, arms that went forth
but to conquer, legal maxms on which is founded
the jurisprudence of modern times, and eloquence
over which Youth and Manhood have fingered
with admiration in all lands and times, until it
has lit up, and flashes on the armament of thought
through all the realms Of civilization Without
the Debating Societies, Pitt, Fox, and Sheridan,
might have died, "their names unhonored and
their deeds unsung.o Curfan, Grattan and Burke,
owe more to them, than to the whole course of
their Academic career. Without them France
might never have heard those words Of prophecy,
ss it is but step from the Capitol to the Tarpean
Rock" Whose memory does not run back with
a pleasant recollection to the Village Debating
School? Clay was wont to so out into the corn
field alone, and lift up his voice before an august
asscmblage of pumpkins and ears of corn, throng
of listeners who sat in solemn judgment on, but
spoke not Of his efforts. He there gained conf
dence and fuency which was manifested thereafter
in a Debating Association. The people saw the
man, heard him, loved him, placed him in Con-
gress, and gave his name to ubiquity. If Webster
had not gone along the same rugged pathway of
application, this generation would not have heard
wherever the newspaper goes, his saying at Bunker
Hill Monument, g Let it rise, let it risc till it
meet the sun in his coming, till the earliest light
Of the morning gild it, and parting day lingcr
and plays on its summit; - or those other words
at the close of the majestic speech in reply to
IIaync: ssLiberty and Union now and forever,
one and inseparable."
The true orator is not made to order, warranted
adequate to the occasion, matter what his
natural abilities may be, without the labor of n
lifetime. He must commence early, and pcrse-
we're unto the end, never looking back in despon-
dency, or forward with other visions than those
of toll. The fires of Genius may burn in your
soul. Beware of their delusvc light. You might
as well expect the sun in this day, to stand still
over the valley of the Mississippi, so that the
Mail Boats could get safely over Pigs Eye Bar,
now that Joshua is in the ground, as to expect a
man to take respectable position public
speaker and legislator, without Il long course Of
application and practice. Sheridan had the mat
ter in him, but it took laborious efforts to bring
it out. At the impeachment Of Hastings he was
master of the occasion. Then rolled the thunder
of which Byron has said:
When the loud cry of trampcd Hindoostan
Arose to Heaven, in her appeal from man,
| Ills the thu,cr,-his the avenging rod,
The wrath, the delegated voice of God,
Which shook the nations through his lips and bazcd
| Till vanquished Senates trcmbcti as they praised.
! But it is not to individual examples alone that
We behold in the sublime in speech and action,
the result Of the Debating Association. 1t per-
vades with silent influence all ranks and condi-
tions of life, sets in motion scientific investigation
and rolls on the car of reform. 1t brings out
measures, makes men, and prepares them for
the battle of life. The Bar, Pulpit, and Forum,
owe their highest triumphs to it. 1t has crown
wherein no pillaged pearls set. Merctricous
glitter cannot be sure of success, or usurp the