The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-08-28

f quick Scnsibility, lofty sentiment, DOW,
iul reason, were the foundation of his ol
tory, as they are Of all true elouncn,
[ IasslOn, feeling, reason, wit, poured for
from ms lips in II torrent 50 strong and
eXhauStiblc, aS to Whrl away hlS hcnrc
Tor the time in despite of their opinion
, Nor should It be forgotten, slight and Il
important as physical qualities may appc
IN our estimate of the mighty dead, tl
ms were eminently fitted for the orato
tall, slender, erect person. changing II
der The excitement of speech its loose fla
cidity Of muscle into the most vigOrol
ana nerNed energy; an eye small indcc
but deep and benily set, and flaming vii
expression and last and most importal
OF all, voice deep, powerful, mellow IN
rich, beyond expression, ,--rich is II fccb
phrase to express its round, articulatc illl
ness, rolling up with the sublime swell
the organ, all these together formed wOl
derful aids to elOQucnce. And his gre;
and numerous triumphs attest their powe
lie hhu The true meSmeric stroke of til
orator,--the power to inftlse his feeling
into his hearers to make them think 4
he thought, and feel as he felt. No one c.l
form any adequate conception of the pow
en- of his eloquence, who has not heard Nj
Clay when his blood was up. and the It'd
| OF inspiration rolling full upon him. Iii
words indeed might be written down: bll
the flame of mind which sent them fort
red hot and blazing from its mint, cou
not be conveyed by letters. As well at
tempt to paint the lightning. The crook
ed, angular line may be traced; but tn
| glare, and the flame and the roar and tn
terror, and the electric flash, are gone
stormy, vehement and tcmpestuOus II
were his passions and his Oratory, thcr
was still underneath them all, 4 coo
| stream OF reason, running through TIN
| bottom of his brain, which always pointet
him TO his object, and held him to hi
course. No orator. so passionate, cvcl
committed fewer imprudcncies. No pas
sions so stormy ever left their possessor sC
Walhful of his objects. Reason held The
helm while passion blew the gale.
AS Il dcbater, it would not be lust to sa,
that Mr.. Clay held the same rank; at least
it may be said with justice, that in all the
walks of debate he was not equally emi.
ncnt. He was able everywhere: and it is
but gentle criticism TO say, that in some
trains of thought he did not shine forth
with the power and luatre which marked
his cloqucnce. 1t appears to me, after Il
critical study of his speeches, that he dis
cllsssed facts with rs much power as any
of his great rivals. 1t appears to me also,
that he fell beneath some of them in the
discussion of principles. One of the great
est of his cOmpecrs tauntcd him once in the
Senate with an inability to anaIyze alb
strusc subjects. The taunt was made
stronger, probably, by anger, than truth or
candor would warrant; yet il seems to me
TO have been partially Just. No one who
studies Mr.. CIay's arguments upon points
of political economy, can avoid purcriNi inw
how rarely he analyses the principle in
YOlvcd. We see Il vast array of facts, many
keen and thoughtful remarks about the re-
suits of the measure, but an analysis Of
its principle is scarcely ever attempted.
lie doubtless understood the protective
tariff system better than he did any other
subject in the range of political ccOnomy
and no one can read his speeches upon that
question without being struck with this
feature. 1t is still more marked whenever
he discusses the subject of finance. 4
discussion of Il principle. indie
pendent of the practical condition Of things,
is never to be found in his speeches; and
in this presented a most pointed contrast to
III lis @E2Rt Wy r Eiyai who so short time prece.
and the barely hasty study which II busy,
stirring life enabled him to bcst0w upon
abstruSe subjects; but the better opinion
seems TO be that he was eminently prac-
teal man, and the bent Of his genius called
him away from the metaphysics Of politics.
Mr.. Clay was undoubtedly far greaterman,
than the Scotch economist, Adam Smith
yet it is not probable that any extent Of
or any amount OF labor. or amy
length of study, would have enabled him
to write Adam Smiths book. Yet he was
4 very great debater, also. None of his
,OmpeerS arrayed facts more skilltully.-
none urged them with so much power. lie
had not the compact, clean cut, sententiOuS
Drevity which marked some of those the
public ranked as his equals on the contra
~. without being. ditl'use, he abounded in
episode; he introduced much matter bear |
ne upon his point, certainly, but bearing |
upon it indirectly,-nOt untrequCntly, also, |
matter which did not much |
lelp on the question in hand. lie abound
ID in the argumcntIm ad hOmlnum, i'll per-
sonal appeal, in sarcasm, with much of per-
,OnaI allusiOn and circumstantial eXplana-
lion, often carving him away from his |
subject for some time, to which however, |
he always returned at precisely the point
where he had left it,
1t is difficult, among the great masters Of
lratOry and debate, to select one whom he
loosely resembled. 1t is not probable that |
ne had ever studied any of them closely |
md even had he done so, the originality of
lis genius and the intense pride of his
naughty temper would have prevented him
rom STOPPING to select a model. If he re-
emblcd any of them, he did not know 1t,
md he would have cared as little to abolish
he points of resemblance as to make them.
70 DcmosthencS, to whom he has been
,ften compared. he bore Il likeness in his
passion, his intensity, and in mis- occasional
want of logic but he was utterly unlike
i'm in other respects. lie had none of his
erseneSs. his nakedncSS and the straight
onward, unhalting dircctncSs with which
le dashed on to his end. To Cicero he bore
10 resemblance whatever. Among the emf
Ient English speakers il would be almost
Is.Ns. = 1, Ia, ll.1 IN, |
NY considerable degree exact or close.
rhe profound philosophy of Burke, with
lis gorgeous. lurid and golden language,
Oling on with the pOmp and power of an
rmy blazing with banners, he in no degree
pproached, Sherdan'S bright and pun
cnt style, glittcring with antithesis and
Oint, was equally unlike him. | am IN
lined to think that of all the speak |
ave read though with less of logic and
yit, and more Of passion, he most rcsem-
led Charles Fox. The same rigid adhcr-
nee actually to his point, even when SEEM
ng to be away from it; the same album
ance and eNuberance of matter: the same
ladiatOrial struggle to strike down his Op-
oncnt, though the victory might slightly
fleet the question involved; the same fell
itOus blending of passion and logic, win
parkles of sarcasm and personally spang-
ng the whole.-a produced strong points
ther orator.
TO all these eminent merits as speaker,
ras united Il profound knowledge of men,
t their motives and of their weaknesses.
'hOugh il may be that in the early part of
is life. he had learned but little from
ooks. vet amid the frank, bold and reck-
,ss pioneers which formed kcntucky's
arly population. where the man stood
Drth in all the originality and nakcdnesS
f his nature, and amid the stormy scenes
f the hustings in which he was early
lunged, he had gained that quick insight
nto the human heart, which in practical
fe goes farther TO attain success than
cams of reading. lie knew men thorough
T aud not only knew how, but possessed
he magnetic power TO bend them TO MS
urpOses.
There is probably no position in life
rhich requires such combination of rare
nd high qualities a that of great popular
,ader. lie must be bold and prudent,
rompt and patient, stern and conciliating,
aptiVating, commanding, farseeing. aud
boye all, brave TO perfection. The tirst
ran in the nation. the first IN power, I'M
whatever may be his place, l.
be leader of the administration. be lac in
congress or the Cabinet, President or pri-
ate. The leader Of the opposition can
ardly be called the second man in rank
r power. but il his party be strong
nd struggling, his position j. one Of great
irpueth. and enables him; though cut Of
he government, to strongly affect it IN the
irectIOn Of the Affairs Of the nation. one