Daily Republican., 1882-10-04
Y" Largest circulation of
any paper in Delaware. We
court an investigation from
the public. .=@
WTDNEsDAY. OCTOBER 4 80.
EIoauonce and the Press

In olden times public opinion was
mostly manufactured and influenced
by the powers of eloquence, but since
education has become more general,
every man has become more his own
orator and the oracle for the formula
tion of his own thoughts. Previously
it was customary for orators to sway
the minds of great audiences by their
sloquence and the success or failure OF
q mo Vement depended upon the ability
of it's advocates to deliver convincing
speeches. This plan has been proved
by the experience of ages to be good
one and from the time, when, with
Caesars dead body before them, Mark
Anthony stirred the people Of Rome up
to mutiny by his appeal TO their pas
sions, down to the "Tippecanoe and
Tyler too" campaign, which is not
wholly forgotten, always formed part,
and log cabins, coons and hard cider
were important adjuncts. Eloquence
had been the lever with which to ac'
eOmplish every thing. 1t is yet appre-
eiated and holds powerful sway in
courts and in the pulpit, but as educa-
ton is on the increase and intelligence
becomes more widely diffused, it is los
ing its influence. A new influence is
Beginning to be felt, which has grown
in power until it is mightier than the
silver tongue Of orators.
This is q newspaper age and the press
has proved itself more powerful than
Grafton, When newspapers began to
to be numerous, and cheap postage pro-
vided the means for their distribution,
il was found that there was more eff
9ectual way to convince men than by
depending upon their being won over
by any eloquent address. When men
are assembled and listen to fiery words
which touch their hearts and stir their
1,assions. they are apt to be wrought up
to q pitch Of excitement, which makes
them ready converts to the doctrine
preached, but when the crowd is els
persed there is an inclination toward q
relapse ana conversation and reflection
destroy the effect at first produced.
But when these same men sit by their
Rresides with the printed page before
them, they cannot fail to be influenced
by the arguments they read and the et-
feet is lasting.
Shrewd politicians have found this
out and the most absolute working
politician, Mr.. Tilden, used it with tell.
ing effect il 1876, when he organized
his literary bureau, which flooded the
rountry with circulars and documents.
Ever since that time there has been a
greater appreciation of the printing
press and of printed matter. Every
business now, as we'll as every political
party, and every "ism" taught and
preached has it's newspaper which il
its advocate and voice. If regular
journals are not published, vast guam
titles of pamphlets and circulars are is
sued and mailed to every address. 1r
this way the arguments and facts bear
ing on all questions are laid before
them in a permanent and ettectua
shape. 1t is no wonder that eloquenot
is at a discount. Manufacturing and
railroad companies are protected by
Lhe press, which has become the watch
man upon the walls to forewarn then
of approaching danger. The progress
of the times is distancing the subtle in
huences Of fiery denunciation and elo
quence and.is grandly ushering in al
era Of reading and general intelligence