New-York tribune., 1868-10-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
JOHN RRlGHTS SPEECHES.

TO hear Nh. Bright in England, few Americans have
an accurate or complete notion of his powers as an
orator. They know him by reputation and by imper-
feet reports of of his speeches printed in fine
type in the New-YOrk journals. Naturally Also most
of the speeches repubshed in tins country have
been those on American topics, or on Reform, sub
ject of scarcely less interest here than in England
1t is possible to get better notion of the scope
of Mr.. Brghts genius. The two handsome and
clearly printed volumes published in London by Mr.
Macmillan include speeches nearly every import
ant topic which during the last quarter of century
has enlisted the attention of England. The selection
vsd editing of them assigned to Prof ThOrOld
Rogers, lately Professor of Political Economy at
Oxford, now elected from his chair because of his
liberalism His task demanded good knowledge
of politics exact culture, and not little common
sense Ii has been well done. Mr.. Bright himself
has revised the text and, the whole the book
offers us such a record of Mr. Bright's career and
such monument of his elOquence as few orators
ancient modern have been able TO give to the
world.
Mr.. Rogers has wisely arranged these speeches III
groups. A chronological order might have been con-
venient to the professional student of oratory' Ou'
the general reader and the student who cohSul's
them as \ repertOry of political information ana III
structon will he thankful to find the speeches under
ther proper heads There are five speeches on llu'
three OF Canada, on America, nine OH lre'"nu'
four on Russia and thirteen on Reform Inc emu
meaton of these leading topics enough TO snow the
great range which the OratlOns take There are, III
addition fifteen single speeches on fifteen other sub
ieets including Free Trade Land, Peace, Foreign and
Financial Policy. the Punishment of Death, Educa-
tion and matters of the like highest social and po-
htical Importance The earliest speeches given were
made in 1885, much the greatest number belong TO
the last fifteen years many of the greatest Orauons
10 the last three years.
Like Worlsworths Prelude these volumes the
history of the growth of mans mind Few men
are born orators, few first speeches succeed. Mr.
Bright is no exception to the rule. Nothing IN his
speeches is more instructive TO the student than the
contrast between his earlier and later manner; be-
tween for instance. two speeches which are placed
together by accident in the first volume Both re-
hate to Ireland. Cne was delivered in 1S49 the other
In 1896 One is the work of an artist whose genius
struggles with an imperfect command OF his fools;
ue other is the perfect utterance of mature mind,
still kndlng with the inspiration of youth, and en-
riched with all the of difficult art that
has been thoroughly mastered. We believe there is
no tradition that Mr. Bright needed 10 use pebbles
ike Demosthenes, to improve his articulation
That WAS the smallest part Of the labOrs which
ths Greek orator endured 1t needs only
to read these speeches critically to see
that prodigious toll has been spent attaining
the excellence which they now display The dicton
is such as came never any by inspiration; it
is the fruit of incessant practice. Rochdale has
churchyard overlooking the town. chiefly famous a.
" being the burial place of Tim Bobbin," quaint
Lancashire poet of much local fame. There are men
living who remember Mr. Bright. then very young
man taking his stand by Tim BObbn's grave making
speeches to a public meeting assembled IN the
churchyard protest against the compulsory collec
tion of church rates 1t his first lesson and they
say the speech was poor enough read from the man
uscrp into the bargain Some years later. when the
agitation against the Corn Laws began, Mr.. Bright
resolved to make experiment as lecturer. He
was then on a VISIT TO his friend, Mr. TbOmassOn
OF Bolton The experiment tried before a
Mechanics Institute, and like Mr.. Dsraeh. upon his
first essay in the House. Mr. Bright broke down. and
his friend Mr.. PauSOn, finished the lecture for him.
He not the man to be disheartened and before
many years he speaking night after night by
the side of Mr.. Golden 10 the immense audiences
which in those days crowded COyent Garden The
ater in London, and the largest halls Of the
prOvi cal towns. He was a popular speaker; an
orator he had not become. We have turned over the
volumes of Tie League, The newspaper published by
the Corn Law agltatOTs, IN which numbers OF his |
early speeches reported at length. There Is not
much promise IN them. Some qualities which 90 10 |
the making of good speeches are there-bOldness |
exact knowledge, passion, profound conviction |
There is lnvectlye enough but IT is commonplace |
vehement, but not fOrcbe. Ills style ditfuse il
Mad neither richness of dictiOn nor imaginative |
power. Those who heard him, say that his voice !
was then his best OratOrcal endowment. II was |
and "A very noble instrument, OF great compass and |
easily under command. Its volume compelled GER |
tain deliOeTatOn of utterance which was an advant-
age to young speaker He had time TO choose his |
words and IN time his vocabulary grew cOpiOus In |
lS43 speaking in Covent Garden and bent saying
bis worst If the Lords he could only describe them
AS miserable aristocraey." Nobody much |
hurt by that; Twenty-Five years later, in Blrning
ham Town Hall. he pictured the foreign policy and |
wars OF England based on the balance Of power
theory, a gigantic system of outdoor relief foT |
the arstOcTacy Of Great Britain" System and aTl<
tOcTacy together shook under such a satire. There
is no finer example OF his best manner.
1t was Pit, If we remember rightly, who was SAID
TO be familiar with no English poet but Spenser, 10
which il was replied that he who knew Spenscr well
had good hold upon the English tongue Dryden
was the fayOrite OF Fox, and his remark well
known that he wOuld word not to De found IN
that author. Mr. Bright has made Milton his study.
Probably the only Lngshman who knew Milton
equally we'll was Macauay, who declared that II
every copy OF Paradise Lost were destroyed he be
leved he could reproduce the poem from his memory.
Mr.. Bright SAID b. his friends TO have all the /
poems OF nearly al. by hear. We imagine that hc
has also wrought deeply IN mine too ttle explored
by most studcnts-tls prose works OF the same au-
thor. There are many passages III these Oratlons |
~mch nave the grandeur OF M1itohs manner III |
whom the classical and scrlptural Influences were |
sngUlary blended. There Is daring Imagery, pas |
BOnate force, sustained magnihcence OF dIctOn IN |
many of the pelOratIOns To some criticism OH his |
want Of acquaintance with the classical languages
of antiquity, IL well replied that he knows En-
glish as DemOsthenes knew tireek.
Mr. Bright always speaks from notes. The ques- |
don OF what Is called eXtemDOre speaking need |
never be raised respect To any great orator There
never orator who spoke without preparation |
The preparation IS sometimes for particular speech
sometimes the study and practice OF of years
blossom out III what is called an impTOmptu grafton;
but no great speech imDTOmptu. Mr. |
Brights orations all smell Of the lamp His popular |
addresses are made nom notes slips of paper In