Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-09
PUBLIC LEDGER.
LARGEST CITY CIRCULATION.
PUBLIC LECTURES.


country, are, next to the newspaper press
the most efficient agents in the promo
ton of popular opinion. In no country
has the art of public speaking been
more persistently cultivated than in our
own, and certainly with no greater sue
cess Every State, county, and nearly
every neighborhood, has its orator, who
is at once the oracle and the leader Of
public sentiment. The pulpit has been
the pioneer of new and wild region.
AS the hardy borderers swept on to the
west and south, conquering the savages
and the forests that sheltered them, the
itinerant preacher, armed with his Bible
and hymn book, followed closely on their
trail No settlement, however remote,
could escape him. There, in the midst Of
unexplored wilds, the song, the prayer,
and sermon were heard. Where there
was no organized government, and men
were RENTED to absolute self control,
the precepts of the Bible, the basis Of all
just government, were announced to
them, and became their law. The poll
tician was little more tardy; but new
settlements, when they grew to the pro-
portions Of State or county, and thought
of civil government, produced the stump
orator, who assumed to instruct and lead
the people by means Of argument aud
defamation.
Public speakers possess one advantage
denied to writer's. They face their au-
diences, and, if they possess argument
or eloquence, can transmit to them Q
mesmeric influence which is unknown to
types and presses, pen and paper. A
charm of voice, majesty of person,
flash of wit, a broad stroke Of humor,
fight of eloquence, may carry point
when the most exhaustive written essay
would fail. A speaker assails not only
the fortress of reason--he storms the cit
adel of the passions The uncultivated
masses read little, and derive their
opinions from the public speaker. In
this country, we are nearly all theologi-
ans, politicians, without having read,
perhaps, sermon, or political essay.
We have known men who could neither
read nor write, exhibit aptness in Scrip
ture quotation, and some progress in
political science. They had been taught
by the tongue of the orator, and unlike
impressions derived from books by the
habitual reader, their opinions we're
rounded, clear and permanent A sys-
tenn of public lectures has not long been
prominent in this country. 1t origina-
ted in cultivated society, but has been
extended among the people, and become
an instrument of incalculable good.
And right glad are we to perceive that
community so commercial as our own,
has been induced to adoptand.supportit
We have long thought that we have
among US great amounto Of uudeveloped
talent that found no means of develop
ment. Every man of Intelligence eau
net 20 to the bar, into the pulpit, or upon
the stump But every man who pos
sesses the requisite qualification, may
speak in the lecture room, aud become
useful, and even leader of popular
opinion. Besides the advantage which
system of lectures in our city would
prove to the public generally, there is
an object to be accomplished which
should not only redeem it from all OBJ
lection, but commend it to the special
support of our people Our brothers are
MANNED, wounded and turned adrift upon
the world They have no government
to care for them, no treasury from which
to draw annual pensions, and, for the
present, they have no country they can
call their own. Those Of US who have
escaped the misfortunes that darken
their days, should not forget them.
In their Affections they should
be doubly dear to US We ask,
then, that warm aud enthusi
astic material support be given to the
series Of lectures now in progress for
their benefit There are many gentle
men Of character and cultivation who
will gladly assume the task Of the lee
turer We have lawyers. doctors, minis
tiers, editors and private citizens who
stand ready to offer their names and In
fuence. The people should call them
out at once. We might write columns
in discussion Of he benefit these lee
lures viii prove to our community, bat
can do no more nov than call attention
a tta ruTfert