The Portland daily press., 1865-01-23
o1lture Of EIoouence.

The mower of correct and Impressive public
speaking, always important, is daily becoming
more so In our own country. The platform
has become the great arena for the exercise of
rhetorical skill rnd battling against the en-
emies of Truth, Liberty and Justice. Other
things being equal, the man most gifted in or
atory will always occupy prominent place in
all public movements. His influence will al
ways be sought in all enterprises OF public
nature, and his opposition always feared. -
There is no country in the world at the pres
emit time, where true eloquence is more poten-
tial than in this country. r,r..,..
81 We say true eloQuence, because the Amer.
can people are generally so well educated and
intelligent, and there are SO many good
speakers among those who have not received
the honors of any literary institution, that
public speaking must be far above mediocrity
otherwise it will exercise but little, if any, in
6uence over the public mind. Our people
have become very exacting, and demand eff
forts of high order from the Pulpit, the Bar /,
the Rostrum and the Halls of Legislation, but
when such efforts are madethey never fail to
make impression and leave their mark.
The above remarks have been suggested by
reading a volume recently issued, entitled
Resolutions OF William Wilberforce by, John
S. Hartford" Mr.. Wilberlorce was a remark
able man, noble patriot and great philanthro-
pist The following extract will be read with
interest and profit by all who have aspirations
for a higher life:
"The conversation happening on one Of the
days OF his stay with US TO turn upon pubic
speaking, Mr.. Wiiberforce made some Iorcible
remarks upon the influence which q man Of
ability and judgment may acquire by cultivat-
ing this talent. Thence he proceededto di-
late upon speaking In Parliament and the best
mode of preparation for it. Were he giving
counsel, he said, to a young Member, he
would particularly caution him against court
ing applause at the outset of his career, by
ambitiously aiming to make what is called
doe speech. Should the attempt prove succtss
tul such an undne estimate might probably be
formed OF the speakers abilities as would rem
der his subsequent and less studied efforts
failures. Or. should he unfortunately break
down-a case by no means uncommon under
such NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and disappoint-
ment might possibly seal his lips forever
rheree was no better preparation, he added
Ior the style of speaking most adapted to the
house than diligent attendance on commit
lees, and a careful attention to the details OF
business and evidence which, come before
hem. A great fund ofuseful practical knowl-
edge on various important topics might thus
De acquired, which would qualify o man,
whenever the reports OF such committees be-
came the subject of debate, to supply the
House with what is especially, valned-accu
rate and useful ihformation. The discussions
| carried on in committees frequently resembled
in every particular, excepting the excitement
of great popular assembly, the debates OF the
house itself. BY frequently taking apart il
hese, a. man of any ability for speaking would
soon hcqhife the habit of reaso1ing and Iex;
pressing himself correctly and vi III Parlia.
1 nentay tact. He had known many gentle.
men who, though labosing at fast under
much embarrassment and difficulty, had thus
uccessfully made their way, aud risen al
7ength into consequence and consideration
TO aim at alogical arrangement OF the ideas
and to cultivate the habit of elegant and cor.
rect wiring, were also essential to success.-
These were poinst to which Mr.. Pitt used to
~tirect the attention of young speakers, whom
ne also recommended to commit to memory q
lew striking 0thoughts withlreference to any
iebate in which they proposed to take part
n order 10 have something ready to retreat
| upon, In case OF difficulty or nervous embat
rassment. He had himself, he added, found il
| useful practice In his younger days to en-
gage friend to. read aloud to HIM suitable
passages out Of any distinguished author, ant
then to repeat them as nearly as possible il
| the same words. "a 80
Or Mr. Put he said that he came into Par
lament SO accomplished an orator that in tn
arrangement Of his matter, the force OF hi
reasoning, and in all the graces of finished Ell
i ocution, his first speeches were almost equa
to his last. Mr.. Windham's speeches, he said
4 were known to have been prepared with as
\ siduous care, and, though interspersed witt
anecdotes which seemed spontaneous, to havV
been written down before delivery !; and Sher
idan's were SO Edilgentlyelaberated that b
bad often been known, before the occurrenc
of great debate, to shut himself in his room
day after day, where he was heard declaimint
es Of the ancients he gave the preference Il
Tully's De Oratorc, which well deserved to b
carefully studied, as an admirable epitome o
the science of speaking alo4f ii mi
| This little essay deserves to be written il
letters Of gold. The lesson i teaches ,canno
be priced too highly. II was thus thatth
celebrated Irish orator, Curran, cultivated hi
oratorial powers, and it is said that our Amer
lean orator. Henry Clay, thus prepared him
self in the field, reading books and haranguini
IS he rode on horseback or travelled on foot
| Daniel Webster once told SECRETARY Fessendel
many years ago when journeying with hin
to the west, that he must trim the Jniidnigh
lamp if he ever expected to reach high pc
sition. The Great Expounder remarked tina
many Of his finest figures and illustrations
were studied and then used as occasion nigh
demand. Great as Webster was he did not de
| pend upon the inspiration. of the moment 70
his most eloquent figures of speech. Lik
every thing else, eloquence mustebe culfvs
ledto be powerful. a PIG eaaozedt isofs 2 2