Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-02-26
WEAvERvILE. CALIFORNIA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 1859
Eloaacncc OF the west.

fN'N'NNN-'N
gold, should be remarked for extensive possession
OF eloquence or poetry. Our people seem too
busy to listen too intent on one major pursuit to
read except what relates to interest, dividends or
discovery. But one so concluding has reasoned
from probabilities not from experience; he has
not observed that long residence in valley of
diamonds will enable the familiar inhabtant to
lie down, indiaerently, to sleep, while ten thou
sand gems are sparkling around him. Residents
of other countries will not easily understand
how people living among gold mines free and
accessible to all, can be content in any ovocation
other than The actual search for trcasure-sill
less would they suppose that the miner ever stops
his exciting pursuit to admire the splendid figures
of oratory or to study the beauties of written
eloquence. IL may seem wonderful to them that
We in o comparatively unremuncrativc pursuit,
and with the requisite physical strength, do not
stop at the next PERIOD and so out to dig in the
grounds where GoLD is revealed to industry.
"IIow can q man be content to waste his time in
the study of letters, when the bricks and mortar
Of his house may contain PARTICLES Of gold ~
The answer Of experience is easy The attendants
of monarch look upon his beieweled crown
with Infinitely less amazement than the trembling
provincial who beholds the august presence of
the mud-god for the first timc--we arc used to
the presence Of King Gold; like the slothfu
sleeper in the diamond valley, we can lie down
to indoent rest, though aware that tho omnpo-
tent master of sovereigns is lurking in the hills
all about us, or is, perhaps jostcd from his
ancient bed by the turbulent brooks that have
gathered unwonted courage and audacty from
rctreatins winter.
We of California, whom charitable eastcrns
delight TO class with Cataline's army" pronigato
mobiles, needy plebeans, discontonted allies and
restless veterans''- our schools, colleges
churches, enlightened printing-presses, men Of
letters and orators. or the last only, we may
speak now. No other commonwealth of proper.
tionatc number, can produce so many good spen-
kers; fluent speakers are found in every court.
room, political meeting, legislative assembly;
they are everywhere, in the professions, trades
and mines But there is prodgous difference
between good speaker and an orator; we
know many who would be magnificent orators,
if they knew what to say; they arc like deranged
musical clocks, evolving miscellaneous harmony
and striking thirteen, sonorously, at midnight
they never strike the propitious hour when human
passions may be moved in lcgions; they are as
destitute of eloquence as a chimney smoke jack,
though their gestures bc even more energetic
and Industrious; their fancy flights, despite deal
of hutter and screaming, are less heaven. explo-
ring than the progress of pcthoric barn yard
fowl that mounts with numbering difficulty to
roost-thcre are scores Of this kind Of orators,
whom it would be cruel to name. There arc
others, sky scraping fellows, who, at the least
disturbance, fly heavenward direct, but, like q
XII te, they are hauled down by the check-striug
Of common sense, to be torn all to pieces by out
ragged rhetoric. Some recite combination of
sonorous aud beautiful words, without capacity
to move the passsns-they are word painters,
not orators.
Eloquence is the expression of strong emo
tion, in manner adapted to excite correspondent
emotions in Others" We have not many speakers
whose accomplishment is described by that def
nition-the majority fail in communicating their
emotions to the crowd. We have heard but one
the eculiarity-BAKER, who is indisputably,
one of the most eloquent men of the nation.
Evidence of his amazing power over the minds
of others is apparent in his political speeches,
obnoxious in principle to a great majority Of his
auditory, yet, in spite OF their votiOn, people |
applaud what would be scarcely endured from |
another speaker. lie binds the resisting under |
standing, and, going in to the dolcnceess citadel |
of the soul, masters the garrison. IF the same
tremendous power we're exercised in the preach |
er's vocation, Baker would be remembered as the |
most eloquent Of his time.
OF the clergy, NJ. g. Briggs and Bishop Kip
are the most eloquent Of all whom we have heard !
the former is the better orator. Mr.. Briggs il !
less persuasive than nvincng overpowering
coercive; he Is physically and intellectually pow
erful he is more Of the imperative Boanerges
than the persuasive Paul; nevertheless, his elabo-
rate sermons are distinguished by great beauty
and elegance. Bishop Kips productions arc
smoothe, classic, admirable and unmoying; he IL
complete master Of the intelligent hearers admi-
ration, and delights him with opuienee OF Ian
guage-but docs not move him from accus-
toned path.
Dr. Scott cannot be Justly pronounced eoquent
he is learned, historical and imaginative; but |
scholasticsm and afeotation destroy the effect OF
his laborous periods--we know OF no noted divine |
who could preach long time and less effect the |
Internal emigration. II required to intercept
and alarm company Of hell-ward travellers, he /
WOuld Hfab give phttoSOphic account OF the !
nature and origin Of fire, then add few histori-
cal facts in which fire acted prominent part
then show how fire is applied to post mortem
torment and conclude with brilliant apostrophe
to the element-leaving the sinner to personal
experiment DR.. Scott is an excellent story teller,
but, certainly, not an eloquent preacher
But, we may not pursue this subject further
now, though mountains and plains ocean and air
are full of eloquenee, from the cry Of the young
bird hungering among the Willows, to the hoarsc
tempests that rave and roar and drive their icy
wheels among eternal snow. The OratoriO Of
creation is sounding with eloquent tongues
"Of things inanimate, my dial,
Consulted. And it made me this reply
'Time Is the warp Of life. O, tell u
pho vounf fhe fair to Wpaxe il tvcli if'ff I