The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-20
A GREAT SOUTHERN 0RAToR.
Mobile Register !


front of the Court house on Thursday eve
ming, was the most intellectual treat en-
joyed by the people of Mobile for years.
Never was there such an assemblage, not
even when Yancey came in 1e60 to appeal
to Mobile to send delegates in favor OF I'M
mediate and peremptory secession.
1t is impossible to aDalyze Bakers style
Of oratory. 1t does not admit OF analysis.
There are no patent minor and major pre-
misses. The rules of logic are all set at de-
fiance. The principles laid down by
Whately and Blair are utterly ignored. He
acknowledges but one rule of eloquence,
and that, the one laid down by Dsmosthe.
mes, action. His style can only be ikened
to the St. Lawrence river, which he 80
glowingly pictures as representing the con-
dition of Alabama when Houston took the
helm of the ship which navigates the
stream. AS he says of that river, it leads
from it's vast lake heads, pitches over pre-
cipices, rattles down rapids, spreads out
into shoals and eddies, skaters itself into
torrents, plunges over reefs, dashes its spray
against the sky, bursts into rsinbows, sub
sides into placid current, pitches forward
around, and does every thing that river
could possibly do. Such is Bakers elo
quence. In it's effects It accomplshes what
all the sedate and measured language of
Yancey, Pugh, a Morgan, and Sanford
could never accomplish. 1t reaches to the
heart of an audience and draws out cheer
upon cheer as the rich metaphors, tropes,
and Illustrations flow in polished language
from his lips. Every anecdote is an argn-
ment. The fables of Gsep have lived,
while the studied works of contemporary
authors have passed away aud been forgot
ten. The parallels of our Saviour conveyed
lessons which give the texts to the ages.
Baker is born orator. His imagery
is as gorgeous as the rainbow. Wit spark
les throughout his speech. There ls no.
thing gloomy or moody, to excite the an-
ger or cloud the brow of the nearer. Every
thing is bright before him. He intlames
our pride in a common country he stirs
our blood with pictures of a glorious past,
and a still more glorious future for the
Republic. No man, listening to him, what
ever his politics, can refrain from following
him, step by step, and joining in the en-
Defying as he does all the rules of rheto-
rio and all the balances Of logic, We Lang
upon his lips with the most pleasant and
ennobling emotions, as we see him rising
like the sun above the horizon, clear,
placid, dissi pating the lnists of envy and
partisan hatred, spreading his warm beams
and cheering every heart, rising and burst
ing into broader and brighter corruscations,
until the eye is dazzled and the whole uni
verse is aflame with the brilliant light OF
day.
Such an orator as Baker is an honor to
any state. such etoQuence ID God-Sift.
1t cannot be taught il the schools and
caunet be measured by the square and
compass of the books. The effect Of it here
in Mobile is plainly visible. Men who
we're spathetic, who hesitated and halted,
are now fr1n in the ranks. The praises of
the orator are now upon every lip. He may
return to his home upon the Chattahoochee
with the proud consciousness that Mobile
crowns him with her greenest lsorel.
Wouldn't it be good idea for CUR State
Central Committee to invite Gen. Baker to
stump tho State during the paign now
about to open9 Old friends Of his here
think that he would accept such an invita-
ton. and feel certain that the good effects
of his wonderful powers would be simply
incalcu!able, especially on our colored po
pulatiop.