The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-08-19
Popular Orators,

The commencement exercises of the
University of the South were held last
Thursday at Sewanee, Tennessee. An
address was delivered to the graduating
class on the Defects of Public Speakers
and the characteristics OF Popular Ora
tors..nS .bv the Hon. T. L. Cingman
This address contained many interesting
"reminiscences of the great orators of this
country, with descriptions of their styles
of speaking, aud personal anecdotes con-
cerning them. A large portion OF the
address is given below.
xYl WEBSTER AND CHoATE.
Let us. however, now consider the pc
euliarities and characteristics of some OF
the most distinguished orators of the
country. T will in the first place call
your attention to two prominent senators
of the same. State, Daniel Webster and
Rufus Choate of Massachusetts. Among
orators deservedly eminent, l can recall
no more striking contrast than they pre-
scented. When I first heard Mr.. Web
;ster, his voice, though not in any, sense
melodious, was strong, clear, and very
masculine. At times it reminded me
pleasantly somewhat of the ringing tone
of q, ravens note heard at great distance
through the air. During his latter years
itlost much ofits strength and volume,
but was always distinct and pleasant. In
1913 he made an elaborate speech on the
subject. of the proposed acquisition OF
territory from Mexico. He differed with
his colleague, Mr.. Davis, had much feel
ing on the subject, and only spoke after
thorough preparation. That speech may
be remembered as the one in which he
said, politicians are not. suntoWers
they do not turn on their god when he
sets the same Iook they turned when. ne
rose.:'. On this occasion. he spoke with
unusual earnestness, and was very inn
pressiYe.s There were several OF the new
members of the House present, listening
to MI. Webster for the first time. To-
ward the close of his speech a member
from one of the Northwestern States said
to me, "What is the matter with the old
fellow? what makes him. so dullY'
ssWhy," / answered, che is to-day speak
ing with very unusual animation"
"Heavens!" he exclaimed, "if he were to
speak to one of our Western crowds in
that manner and they did not know who
he was, they would go off and leave him"
It was then the custom OF certain Yves
tern speakers in the House to declalm
with great vehemence of manner, clinch-
ing their fists and marching forward and
backward with formidable aspect, and
when; they, reached the most eloquent
part of their speeches the cravat was
pulled off with sudden jerk and the
vest was funbuttoned and thrown open,
partly to diminish heat and perspiration,
and doubtless also to impress the audi
ence with the greatness of the effort then
being made. To persons accustomed to
such speaking it seemed very strange
that Mi. Webster should sometimes speak
for several minutes without making a
gesture. In spite, however, of his usual
want of action, he kept the attention OF
his auditors, and his speeches had that
remarkable quality that when one looked
backto them from week to week they
seemed to stand out more prominently
and loomed in the distance.
REMARKABLE SPEECH BY MR.. cHoATE.
Early. in 1874, in the Senate, he spoke
on heiOregon question. Several Demo
cratic Senators, following in the debate,
assailed his speech with remarkable ve-
hemence. It was evident that they in
tended to make party capital by attacking
Great Britain. Conspicuous among them
were Messrs. Benton, Silas Wright and
Buchanan. Though denouncing the pre-
tensions, the injustice, the arrogance and
the insoience Of Great Britain, they dis
claimed any purpose to 60 to war with
her. While these speeches were being
made, one evening at social party, on
meeting Mr.. Choate, I said: "Why has
not your Oregon speech been published p
He replied: Il have notyet made a speech
on the Oregon question, but l mean to
make one" Soon after he delivered
probably the finest effort of his Senatorial
career. After discussing for perhaps a
couple of hours the merits OF the ques,,
ton with an earnestness, a beauty and
an eloouence seldom equalled, he turned
his attention to the Senators who had
assailed him. Quoting in succession the
wo-ds of each one, denouncing the op-
preston, the insolence and the arrogance
Of Great Britain, he exclaimed: 'But
the Senator wishes for no war with her"
Then, with, consummate skill, he repeat
ed Mark Antony's Grafton over Cesar,s
body, drawing parallel between each
Senator and one of the conspirators.
"Great Britain" said he, 'has always
been our enemy; she was arrogant,
domineering, and inselent, but the Sena-
tor wishes for no war with her." Pur-
suing the parallel, he exclaimed, ''there
the ,well-beloved Brutus stabbed, but
Brutus is an honorable man." Then
quoting another Senator the cried out,
6See what rent the envious Casca made
but he, too, is an honorable man." So
admirably had Mr. Choate, prepared the
minds of, the auditors that it is difficult
to give an idea of the effect of these quo
tations. As-one locked over the Senate,
it seemed ready, to burst into laughter,
but in fact every one restrained his feel
irlps lest he might lose some of the speak
eTsr words. The effect on the Senators
arraigned was not less striking. While
M. Benton strove to throw it OF, with a
poorly assumed air between indifference
and defiance, Mr.. Buchanan hung his
head with the sheepish look OF one who
has been detected in q shallow stratagem'
After getting through with his adversa-
ries, Mr. Choate drew himself up, to ms
full height, with an air of great dignity,
and said: "But, Mr.. President, there Is
one great and striking difference between