The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-12-24
CASTELAR,, the Spanish Orator.
BY JOHN HAY.

On the extreme left of the chamber is a
young face that bears an unmistakable seal
of distinction. 1t reminds you instantly of
Chantrey's bust of the greatest of the sons
of men. The same pure oval outline, the
arched eyebrows, the piled-up dome of
forehead stretching outward from the eyes,
until the glossy black hair, seeing the hope
lessness of disputing the field, has retired
discouraged to the back of the head. This
is Emilio CASTELAR,, the inspired tribune of
Spain. This people is so given to exag-
gerated phases of compliment, that the
highest colored adjectives have lost their
power. They have exhausted their lexi-
cons in speaking Of CASTELAR,, but in this
instance 1 would be inclined to say that
exaggeration was well-nigh impossible. 1t
is true that his speech does not move with
the powerful convincing momentum of the
greatest English and American orators
1t is possible that its very brlliancy detracts
somewhat from it's effect upon legislative
body. When you see Toledo Blade all
damaskeened with frontage and flowers
and stories of the Gods, you are apt to
think it less deadly than one glittering in
naked blueness from hilt to point. Yet
the splendid sword is apt to be Of the finest
temper. Whatever may be said of his
enduring influence upon legislation, it
seems to me there can be no difference in
opinion in regard to his transcendent ora
torical gifts. There is something super
human in his delivery. He is the only
man l have ever seen who produces, in
very truth, those astounding effects which
l have always thought the inventions of
poets and the exaggerations of biography.
Robertson speaking of Pitts oratory, said,
eft was not the torrent of Demosthenes,
nor the splendid contiagration of Tully."
This ceases to be an unmeaning metaphor
when you have heard CASTELAR,. His speech
is like torrent in it's brilliancy of color
and terrible energy of passion. Never for
an instance is the wonderful current of
defamation checked by the pauses, the
hesitations, and deliberations that mark all
Anglo-Saxon debate. An entire Grafton
will be delivered with precisely the fluent
energy which a veteran actor exhibits in
HIS IuOSO pttSSlOlttlt oCtUcS, illu "IltI otl
consider that this is not conned beforehand,
but is struck off instantly in the very heat
and spasm of utterance, it seems little
short of inspiration. The most elaborate
filing of a fastidious rhetorician could not
produce phrases of more exquisite harmony,
antitheses more sharp and shining, meta
phors more neatly fitting, all uttered with
distinct rapidity that makes the despair
of stenographers. His memory is prodigi-
GUS and under perfect dicipline. He has
the worlds history at his tongues end.
No fact is too insignificant to be retained
nor too stale to do service.
His action is also most energetic and
impassioned. 1t would he considered
redundant in Teutonic country. If you
do not understand Spanish, there is some
thing almost insane in his gesticulations.
| remember French diplomat who come
to see him, on one of his happiest days.
and who, after looking intently at the
orator for a half-hour trying to sec what he
was saying, said at last in an in jured tone,
ssMais! c'est un polichinelle, celuila." 1t
had not occurred to me that he had made
gesture. The whole man was talking
from his head to his feet.
Finally, as we cannot stay event with
CASTELAR, all night, his greatest and highest
claim to our admiration and regard is that
his enormous talents have been consistently
devoted from boyhood to this hour to the
cause of political and spiritual freedom.
He is now only thirty-two years of age, but
he was an orator at sixteen. He harangued
the mobs of 1854 with dignity and power
that contrasted grotesquely with boyish
figure and rosy face. During all these
eventful years he has not for one moment
faltered in his devotion to liberal ideas.
In poverty, exile, and persecution, as well
as amid the Intoxicating fumes of fattery
and favor, he has kept his faith unsullied.
With his great gifts, he might command
anything from the government, as the ,
austere independence living solely upon his
literary labor and his modest salary as
Professor of History in the University.
From the atlantic Monthly for January.