Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-11-15
ELOQUENCE.
BIZ PROF. t. c. EsTEE.

oI EhO1s H "
Plato taught that everything in the
universe was music. Aristides Quinti-
lianus taught the art of the beautiful, in
- bodies and movements, was music
Coleridge, amid the grandeur and beau
ty of ancient architecture, called it fro
zen music.
Eloquence and music we believe To
be very nearly allied, conjoined; CO,
workers in enlarging the heart, beautI
flying and Strengthening the ideal, ex-
panding the soul, and ennobling ..the
whole man. Can we not safely claim
for eloquence the sphere of influence
given to music by Plato? 1t is certain
ly more nearly universal in its influence.
We essay to point to it in its influence,
as it awakes and delights the soul,
through the orator, the pen, sweet
sounds, the canvass, marble, nature.
Oratorical eloguence is but a very
small portion of what 'swells the noisy
throats' of polititian, pedagogue or
priest. We look in vain for eloquencc
to the popular, modern orator; he is a
stranger to the alphabet of eloquence;
he stoops to tickle the ears of his audi
ence with feather. their ribs with a
strow, instead of causing the former to
tingle and ring with the startling, thrill
ling expression of impassioned, noble
feeling, the latter to remain motionless,
as you forget to breathe, the heart to
beat, because Of the unbounded maste
ry you feel and acknowledge, found in
the glowing, sparkling scintilations OF
awakened genius, and the vehement yet
liquid, melting flow of noble, highborn
thought. He harangues the mass from
the election stump, or addresses a slee-
py court, and you might almost think
him ready with the supposed brilliancy
of his talents to eclipse the sun. drag
down the moon, blot out the stars and
light the world with-0ds.
True oritorical eloquence breathes
deep, sends thrill through the heart
of an awakened, eager, eye-wide en-
chanted, yet chained audience; fixed as
statues. silent as death; while the thought
heave words, the noble daring senti-
ments sweep on in tide, broad, deep
and powerful. The characteristics ot
this eloquence are sound judgment, cool
calculating philosophy, vivid imagina-
ton, far-reaching conception, tender
and touching pathOs, indisputable data
and irresistible conclusions.
OF all oratorical eloquence, that oI
the pulpit should be, in its effects, the
most stirring, effectual and lasting
They of the pulpit have three aOorlds to
range for figure; to attract attention, in
spire love, awaken fear, establish faith
and animate action. Too many, unfor-
tnnately, employ too much of the start
ling power from the loper instead of pre-
senting the attractions of the upper.-
They undertake to drive people ap tc
heaven by holding burning brimstont
zsmder them, rather than lead to happl
ness by presenting the glories of the
s.better land" No objects can present
themselves better calculated to occupy
the most wide reaching conception, th'
strongest intellect: to inspire with anC
4 give scope to the most soul enrichins
eloquence.
- Grecian eloquenee was called into be
ing BY the struggle between the youn!
. republic of Greece and the Persian des
potism. II burst forth with astonishin,
splendor, awakening the genius of th
age and giving berth to Grecian art
Sculpture awoke, and Lysippus aston
r ished Europe with statuary; painting
- revived, and although they used bu
four colors-black, white, red and vel
low, and painted upon wood, yet tn
names of Polyguitus, Zeuxis, Aristide'
= are prominent in the history of the art
music and poetry revived; history an
philosophy advanced. all Simultaneous
with the awakening eloquence of Greco,
At no period in the worlds histor
has the spirit and power Of oratoric,
eloquence been so brilliantly portraye
: as when Cicero shook the Roman Senat
chamber, and Demosthenes bestirre
the world with his clarion voice.
The spirit and power Of eloquence