Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-01
A Theme for Orators an the Fourth.
fFrorn the Nesr Vork Post


Let US suggest to " the orators Of the
day" who may be engaged to make
speeches on the next national anniversary,
that the best service which they can render
to the government and the people is to
give full and clear exposition of the ma
tional resources, ss o means of aiding the
national credit This is in q great meas
ure nsT iRemei Wnno it 1Sl-~----=s- eupAI
importance and interest If only handled
in g suitable manner. Touching the tirst
dispute with Great Britain, We think We
have heard more than one sllusiOn in by
gone yesFs; besides, the reading Of the
DeSlaTation will revive past reoollectioRs
TO all extent that may he required in pres
ent exigeneies. The ability Of Uncle Sam
to whip ell creation is topic that does
very well when all creation is on the beet
ferms with him, but is rather cut Of place
lust now. Turgid eloquenoe, new and
striking rhetorical figures, are scarcely
the article IA demand at an hour when
armed hosts are struggling with terrible
esruestusHs snd tenaoity TO decide the
question Of national unity or disintegrs.
ton and ruin
But II the men Of eloquence address
themselves heartily to studying and eX-
pounding the natural resources Of THE
country, the extent OF its territorial area,
the diversity Of its soils and climates, The
number, magnitude and richness Of it's
minerals, the public works executed or in
proeress-sbovs al, the character and
habits Of its people, with the determine.
ton which they have already evinced to
uphold the government Of their choice
what grandsr themes for discussion can
be 70 oind7 How much additional light
upon them can be cast by the history Of
this lamentable rebellion How much
faith in themselves can be kindled among
tbs people, faith which shall at once
take On the practical form Of generous
subscriptions 10 its losnsl And how much
good can be accomplished indirectly to the
citizens, in giving the lie to the thousand
idle fears about repudiatiOn excited con-
stantly by gold speculators-ss if nation
which has oFered up the lives Of its sons
By the hundred thousand, and its wealth
BY the hundred million, could be brought
to the depth Of financial dishonori
Does this topic seem too common place,
too msterialistio, too p osy, for most Of our
orators We answer, it is the province
Of true genins 10 take hold Of topics which
ere prOsy, msteTislistie, even TepulsiVe,
and work them up until they shall not
be iRtsiiigibis but made to thrill with in
terest Zee what chapter Victor Hugo
has created out Of ths sewers of Paris-a
theme which TO ordinary minds vas GER
tsinly not very attractive before the read,
ere Of Len Miss-sIl---H1U Deen conducted
Ehrough those underground recesses. 1t
has been said Of Michael Angelo that the
marble became plastic in his hands; 60
does every sab eot imaginable when taken
hold Of in earnest by ability Of the highest
order. 30 msy our national resources,
our national wealth, our national ohsrao.
ter, our pationsl credit and the duties we
owe as eitizens in relation thereto, pro.
vided only that genius and industry met
self-coneeit, indelsnoe snd mediocrity)
take hold OF these subjects.