The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-02
IS DEAD?

m((tALk q
press. We call special attention to the
significant words enclosed in brackets.
The speaker went on to say:
There Is a man who has Just como across
the sen and landed upon the Pacific coast
whom the whole nation rises to honor. ALI
political creeds are obiiterated, all nationals
ties are forgotten, TO pay tribute TO the man
who headed the army which conquered the
rebellion Tremendous cheeringl. l can ~
derstand why cannon should roar q greeting
10 Gen. Grant. Renewed applausoL. etc.
The point the LEADER wishes to
make first Is that the sentences Of the
orator were not more soul stirring In
themselves than thousands of sentences
and paragraphs that emanate daily
from the press; yet whoever heard Of 9
man or men given tremendous APP
plause" upon reading a newspaper edi-
torial? Be the idea never SO fine, and
the language never SO forcible and in
spring, you will not hear of a reader
giving applause" after reading the
sentence. 1t may be that IL the same
words wore delivered from the lips OF
an orator at a public meeting, the self
same reader. would prove to be the most
vociferous in his appreciation of the
eloQuence and endorsement Of the SEN
timent. And yet there are men who
will say that "oratory is dead;" it be-
longed to the non-reading ages and has
passed away with them.
But Is 1t so7 Undoubtedly not. The
above extract proves that 1t has not.
Oratory yields a power al d IN influence
to-day that is exceeded only by the
power of the press. Oratory can sway
multitudes by elevating the mind and
patriotism through the power of
speech to a pitch that produces enthu-
siasm, and the judgment seems for the
tune SO plastic that 1t yields readily to
the skillful moulding Of the accomplish
ed orator. Men of noted calmness and
elaboration have often In their lifetime
found their voices growing hoarse with
shouting at public meetings, especially
those held for political purposes. The
delivery Of a sentence of pith and beau
ty will inspire hat waving In the calm
er OF them all. There is that mag
netism Of voice and infection, that ex-
halation of Thoughts that breathe and
words that burn" In oratory, that is
nowhere else to be found. The speaker
feels the spell of his ideas and words.
His blood mounts high and he becomes
animated. His whole being thrills with
''the spirit Of the occasion and he suits
the action to the word, the word to the
action" There is life In his speech. His
sentences seem to roll out as living
things, warm and active. They reach
and join in sympathetic union the I'M
expressed opinions Of the auditors. All
the passions are given their proper
voice; pathos has its touching tone that
vibrates on the chords of the finer feel
ings; vengeance mouth, deep in angry,
harsh notes that arouse the animal In
stincts; patriotism wells out inspiringly
and ~quickens the blood to a pitch of
enthusiasm. The spirit of the speaker
seems to merge into and become part of
each liseDer.
But with a newspaper, how great the
CONTRAST There are the ideas and the
language, but they are in q mass of
black on a backing of white. 1t is,
physically, a question of color. Edu-
cation is necessary to read understand
ingly. 1t is a mental process to fathom
the meaning of the writer. The intel
ligence of the reader must give the in
fections and emphases; and many read
ers are prone to accent incorrectly.
Hence writings suffer from being mis-
Interpreted and misunderstood. Edi-
torials appeal rather to the judgment
than the passions. The process of con-
viction may be slow but it is certainly
sure. Day after day they fall like the
water in the cascades, steadily and al
ways carrying on she work of erosion.
Prejudices must be worn off. Error is
undermined and rolls down to be car
ried away in the tide. In time the
bed rock Of truth is reached and no
prejudices or errors are allowed to
gather thereon again. The work of
the newspaper, though silent, is con-
slant. The orator, though he WELD
more power for the moment, is only
occasional. Hence the superior power
of the former.
1t cannot be said that sentences, or
paragraphs, or entire articles, if you
in newspapers, lack the grace
and power of rhetoric. All who read
and understand know it to be true.
There have been editorials printed in
newspapers which evoked no apparent
appreciation, but which, when deliver
ed as a speech brought forth the heart
lest applause. We speak from exper-
fence when we affirm the truth of this
statement. Doubtless there are hun
dreds of others who can bear similar
testimony. We call to mind an editor
lal that appeared in the New York
Tribune of a recent date on the subject
Of Gen. Grants return. that for learn
ing, skill Of diction, and beauty and
strength OF rhetoric, o~utshone the above
as the sun outshines the moon.
Yet no audible manifestation Of appre-
citation was given by any one who read
the same.
Oratory has its place and 1t will keep
It SO long as the ear delights in the har-
mony Of sound and word. Critics who
cannot speak themselves. NAV carp.