White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-07-26
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE UNION.
Hon. William G. Preston.

Mr.. Preston was born in Philadelphia,
Dec. 81, 1874. while his father was at
tending Congress at that place as mem.
Der from Virginia. 49, $3.50, )
His maternal grandmother was sister
of Patrick Henry. He was educated at
the University of South Carolina. and
was one of the first scholars in College,
graduating in 1912 with honor.
The same year he returned to Virginia,
and studied law in the Office of William
Writ at Richmond.
In 1916 he visited Europe, travelling
through France, Switzerland and Great
Britain. He took up his residence in Ed
inburgh for season. in order to attend the
celebrated lectures of Hope, Playfair and
Brown. a .-a ...
In 1919 he returned to the United States,
and was admitted to the Bar in 1921,
beginning his practice in the Courts of
Virginia. l
In 1922 he went to South Carolina,
and practiced his profession at his home
in Columbia and elsewhere, with great
distinction and success.
In 1882. in the very midst Of the null
LITIGATION strife. he was elected to the Sem
ate of the United States, John C.. CAL
houn being his colleague, and at once as
sumed position among the first class of
orators and debaters.
After remaining in the Senate for ten
years, he resigned his seat in 1912, and
returned to the practice of the law in
South Carolina.
In 1915 he was elected President of
the Institution where lie was educated,
which office he held until compelled to
resign on account CT i'll health.
For the last few years he has passed his
time in South Carolina and Virginia in
retirement.
Mr.. Preston began his Congressional
career in 1928, when the brilliancy
Of his eloquence electrified the Senate
He came there with a South Carolina
reputation but in wit. and words, and
in his mode and manner Of utterance, he
had not an equal-not even in Henry
Clay. The great man of Kentucky
eclipsed him in thought, and in states
manship, and in weight Of metal-but
in the power Of electrifying a crowd, Mr..
Preston was unmatched.
The spectators almost leaped over the
galleries of the Senate Chamber, under
the inspiration of his passion. His themes
were the wrongs of South Carolina I'M
der the Tariff Act Of 1898, and under
the persecution" of General Jackson,
and he made the most of them, in such
a way as to create profound sympathy
even for his little multiplying, rebellious
State. 1t was on eloqunce, however, that
did not last long, for it was the eloquence
of words, not of ideas-of wind, not of
weight-Of sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals," and not of great gans and
hence, as the audience became habituated
to the sound, they thought less of the
souRder.
In private life, Mr. Preston was as be-
witching as he was charming in public.
He fascinated more or less all who ap-
preached him, and but few men were
more liked in Congress, even by those
VINO were most opposed to MN. One
amusing incident occurred in his public
life. Once, when he was in all the throes
and spasms of an oratorical enthusiasm,
he shook off, before galleries filled to
overAowing. his big red wig, and the
extraordinary spectacle drought down
the house." as the theatre-goers say. 1t
spoilt his period, but it filed the Senate
Chamber with fun.
Mr.. Preston was probably the best
specimen we have ever had in this coun-
try of the educated orator. He brought
the rhetorical lessons of the ars celdye ar
tenn to the highest perfection He ever
seemed perfectly natural. while be was
illustrating in the best and the most high
ly cultivated schools of rhetoric. Les
sons from him on oratory must have been
worth their weight in gold. He had
scarcely fault in manner, and he seem
ed nature itself, when 6rst introduced to
the public. ...--r o..