The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-07
The Centennial Orator.

MI JOHN MILNE OF Paterson writes
10 us proposing Mr.. WENDELL PHILLIPS
for Centennial orator. He contends
that Mr.. PHILLIPS "is the man of
largest oratorical powers of any living
American. and the one who will most fitly
represent American oratory." He regards
SIR. PHILLIPS and CASTELAR, OF Spain US the
two great orators OF the world.
This 10 a rash statement, but we do not
propose to combat it here Mr.. PHILLIPS
10 beyond doubt a finished and effect
i've speaker. Indeed. as an orator pure
and simple he has now no equal In this
country. But he is a man of an unsafe
Judgment, with views which are frequent
ly almost Quixotic, and with a record
which units him to be the spokesman OF
the whole country at the Centennial feast
of good will. No, Mr.. PHILLIPS will not
do for the Centennial orator. We must
look in other directions than toward Bos-
ton for the DEMosTHENEs of the great occa-
sion. And in looking let us not seek among
the ranks of the men of the past, the
men whose fame a departed generation
built up, but let us pick out our DEMOS
THEMES from among the heroes OF to-day.
We begin with the Centennial year Il new
depar ,ure. Why load down the chariot
of our progress with the representatives
of a dead erai 1t is better TO hitch TO il
the fresh steeds of n new national ambi-
ton, and put the oratorlcal reins into the
hands of a man who embodies the spirit of
the hour.
The first name that occurs 10 us IL that
of Deacon RICHARD Smith of Cincinnati.
He may lack the oratorical finish of an
EVERETT or q PHILLIPS but he more than
counterbalances that defect by the true
goodness OF his moral nature. He has fire.
quently been heard before the Young
Mems Christian Associations, and always
with profit and appreciation. He repre-
sents the struggle OF the republic to over
come the enemies which prey upon it's
right purposes, and strive to lead 1t astray
among the fogs of wicked practices. True
goodness is the magnet which draws the
affections Of his countrymen about Deacon
RICHARD SMITH. II he were the orator at
Philadelphia, the people would come up to
catch the spell of his voice from the ever
glades of Florida, the woods of Maine, the
pralres of Illinois, the rice swamps of
Georgia, the hillsides OF New Hampshire,
and the gold fields of California. No one
will deny the claims OF Deacon RIoHA RID
SMITH to be the Centennial orator. But
he does not stand alone. There are others.
G. WASHINGTON CHILDe, A. M, stands
forth in the front rank when we call the
roll Of Centennial orators AS the great ele-
giac bard, he Is believed with the sympa-
thetic tears of mouruful country. He is
the friend and chosen companion or the
Duchess Of BUCKINGHAM, and the British
nobility generally. A mausoleum awaits
his occupancy in Westminster Abbey, and
| his name shines there on the memorial
| windows of HERBERT and CowPER, two
other poets. He has won the gratitude
of his countrymen by the universal bene-
| fits OF his carbolio corn salve. His fame
extends wherever the rays of THE SUN
pene rate, and as far us his autobiography
has circulated, nj his own expense, IN three
| languages. But he is poet. not an orator,
| objects the oarping critic, forgetting that
the soul which has received the genu-
me alliatus nay express its pensive emo
| tons in prose as well as In verse, IL not SO
| effectively, at least with a moUrnful ca
dence denied 10 less favored men, q.
WAsHiNdToN CHILDs A. NJ, is one of our
candidates for Centennial orator, subject
to further consideration.
| TUPPER HOLLAND also looms up as n At
ting man, by reason OF his eminence as q
moral bard, al unexceptonable novelist, a
| ddactic essayist, and a safe writer OF the
| plattudinous and commonplace. He is an
experienced orator. and has always vt hand