The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-11
We Review the American Orators.

A correspondent propounds an interesting
question which H. in TRUTH easier TO ask than
to answer Who is the greatest orator now
living in America? That depends good deal
on your understanding Of what constitutes
great oratory. Great In brains, or in lungs,
or in practical accomplishments Great In the
power to bride the fancy with the flowers Of
eloquence, or in power to conquer the judg-
mcnt by reasonable appeals to reason2 An
orator may charm everybody who hears
him, and go spouting through life without
converting single wise man or single fool
to his own notions. Another may talk TO
caucuses or legislatures or juries in such an
everyday, matter-of-fact manner that 1t
does not seem oratory at oil, and yet so per-
suasively that people will wonder, as they
did in regard to Sir JAMES ScARLETT, how he
always manages to be on the right side of
tho question. Is our correspondent sure he
has distinct idea what 1t is he is afterp
There is such an astounding variety Of ora
tors, and there ore 80 many different meas
ures Of greatness.
Let some Of the orators OF the day step
forth, however, in order that we may judge
OF their abilities.
IL our young friend admires the graceful
utterance Of poignant phrases, we advise
him to lose no opportunity Of hearing WEN
DELL PHrLhrPs. Mr.. PHILLIPss speech is
like silver-plated STEEL He is one OF the sur
viving veterans of war in which his words
counted for as much as tho bullets OF ten
years after. Three generations have listened
to the eloqucnce proceeding from the re-
markable larynx OF this old man, but we are
not aware that he has ever provoked yawn.
III the only test OF the great orator was the
ability to soy given thing in the most
graceful way possible, perhaps we should be
inclined to look no further than WENDELL
PHILLIPS; for words come to his lips with
the promptness and easy carriage OF invited
guests. But it is not only necessary to say O
thing In the right way the thing thus said
must also be the right thing to say. 1t is
proper to record the fact that Mr.. WENDELL
PHILLIPS has not unfrequently lent his
voice to propositions that will no more hold
water than q eolander.
1t is long distance from Boston to Peoria
Col. Bob NGERsoLL, as he Is affectionately
known to our esteemed contemporaries of
the religious press, acquired somewhat sud-
den fame half dozen years ago by ford
but effective speech at political convention
speaker in the land Whatever he talks
about, people like to hear him. Who else
could fill the Academy Of Music to overflow
ing on Sunday night, and hold the big audi
ence in state OF noisy delight for three
hours while he explained his not edifying
views in matters OF theological doctrine and
exegesis 1t is mistake to assume that
Col. INGERsoLL draws crowds because he at
tacks the Christian religion. The secret of
his power Is not different from that Of the
eminent revivalists and preachers of the
past. Folks go to hear INGERsoLL because
OF his hearty, humane way, because he
amuses them and stirs their sensibilities In
judicious alienation, and especially because
he does not try to shoot his intellect over
their beads. Let our correspondent go to
hear Bob INGERsoLL by all means, II he gets
the chance. This terrible fellow Is bland
grandfatherly gentleman OF fifty or more;
and when he hoists his spectacles above
his rosy round face, and with his hands
in his coat tail pockets begins to tell
good story-few can tell better
he does not look ut all like q man
who Is hungry to make a meal Of the
saints and the prophets. Col INGERsoLL's
characteristics are vigorous vitality that
permits tremendous physical cxertions upon
the platform, jolly and not overnce humor
that accompanies him to the threshold OF the
most awful themes, an unboundcd admira-
ton for Mr.. BLAINE and SHAKEsPEARE, and
q very unfavorable opinion of COP.
Mr.. BLAINE himself is pleasing and not
self-conscous speaker; Mr.. CoNKLINa is
effective and dignited, IL self-conscious; SEN
ator FRYE Of Maine can when there is occa-
sion, put STENToR to the blush, aud Col
Ton OcHILTREE's peculiar information is well
known throughout the far Southwest. It
must be said that in Congress the days Of
luscious oratory seem to be over. There has
been since the war a growing disposition,
due partly to the increasing pressure OF bus
mess and partly, perhaps, TO the evolution
OF common sense. to go about legslating in
amorc businessike way. The stump is now
the place to hear old-fashloned oratory 1t
crops out occasionally in Congress- oftcnest
from the mouths of Southern and Western
members, and on days devoted to the nom
scnsical practice of eulogizing those who
are beyond the reach OF praise or blame. But
neither branch Of Congress at present af-
fords an orator whom we can conscientiousy
commend to our correspondent US model
for him to form his style by. Senator ZRB
VANCE of North Carolina is fair example
OF the old Southern school of rhetoric, but
in his style our friend we think, will find less
to copy than TO avoid. Among the Northern
Senator's, not many are SO ready as Mr..
GEORGE FRIsBIE HoAR to begin set Grafton,
with all the Ciccronian accessories and all
the 5choo-book tiourishes. And when Mr..
FREsBIE HoAR's oratory is at red heat when
the flush Of carncstncss has assembled to his
brow, when one arm is slightly extended
while the other hand rests on the pit OF his
stomach, and he gazes impressively at the
Senate through his gold-bowed glasses, then
we get fine idea of how Mr.. PICNwIcK
may have looked when he rose to on mpor-
tant point Of order.
Mr.. HENRY WARD BEEcHER is an able ora
tor-one of the ablest now living in Amcri-
ga. There was q time when his uttcranccs
carried the weight of unqucstioned sincerity,
and moved men as did the words Of few