The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-04-25

e. D
no how rarely he analyses the principle s
involved. We see a vast array o. facts, !
many keen and thoughtful remarks
about the result Of the measure, but an
analysis of its principle Is scarcely ever
ATTEMPTED. He doubtless understood
the protective tariff system better than
he did any other subject in the range Of
economy; and no one can read
his speeches upon that question without
being struck with this feature. 1t Is
still more marked whenever he discus
ses the subject Of finance. 4 philo-
sophie discussion Of principle, indie
pendent Of the practical condition OF
thing-, is never to be found in his
speeches; and in this presented a most
pointed contrast to his great rival, who
50 short a time preceded him to the
grave. 1t may be said that this was the
result of imperfect education, and the
barely hasty study which busy, stir
ring life enabled him to bestow upon
abstrusc subjects; but the better opinion
seems to be that he was eminentIy a
practical man, and the bent of his &C.
MUS called him away from the meta
physics of politics. Mr.. Clay was un-
doubleday q far greater man, than the
Scotch economist, Adam Smith; yet it
is not probable that any extent OF edu-
cation, or any amount of labor, or any
length of study, would have enabled
him to write Adam Smiths book. Yet
he was very great debater also. None
of his compcers arraycd facts more skill
fully. None urged them with 50 much
power lie had not the compact, clean
cut contentious brevity which marked
some Of those the public ranked as his
equals; ON the contrary, without beng
diittlsc, he ahounded in episode; he ~
troduccd much matter bearing upon Ills
point certainly, but bearing upon it in
directly,-not unfrequent!y, also, intro
ducing matter which did not much help
on the question in hand. He abounded
in the argumentum ad hOminum, in per
sonal appeal, in sarcasm, with much OF
personal allusion and circumstantial eX-
PLANTATION, often carrying 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 oratory and debate, to select one
whom he closely resembled. 1t is not
probable that he had ever studied any of
them closely; and even had he done so,
the originality of his genius and the in.
tense pride Of his naughty temper would
have prevented him from STOPPING to Sc
Iect model. If he resemblcd any Of
them, he did not know it, and he would
have cared as little to abolish the points
E of resemblance us to make them. It
Demosthencs, to whom he has been Otter
compared, he bore likeness in his pas
5 sion, his intensity, and in his occasional
want Of logic; but he was utterly I'm
= like him in other respects. He had non
: of his tcrsencss, his nakcdness and tn
l straight forward, unhalting diroctnes
: with which he dashed on to his end. 7
Cicero he bore no resemblance whatever
Among the eminent English speakers
c would be almost as difficult to trace wit
> him parallel, in any considerable d.
; gree exact or close. The profound phi
! osophy Of Burke, with his gorgeou
/; lurid and golden language, rolling o
= with the pomp and power of an arm
=" blazing with banners, he in no degrt
: approached. Sherdan's bright and pul
u gent style, glittering with antthesis an
: point, was equally unlike him. am il
Il cincd to think that of all the speakers
y have read, though with less of logic an
wit, and more Of passion, he most reseI
rs bled Charles Fox. The same rigid a
: heronco actually to his point, even wht
u seeming to be away from it.; the san
" abundance and cxuberance Of matte
the same gladiatorial struggle to striI
!. down his opponent, though the Veto
~ might slightly affect the question invt
> we'd; the same felicitoUs blending of p;
= sion and logic, with sparkles of sarcas
- and personality spangling the whole;
!, produced strong points of resemblant
- not TO be traced with any other orat,
N To all these eminent merits as q spea
iv cr, was united profound knowledge
ID men, Of their motives and of their wcg
q nesses. Though it may be that in t
ID early part of his life, he had learned i
to little from books, yet amid the fran
n bold and reckless pioneers which form
", Kentucky's early population, where
n. man stood forth in ali the originality a
at nakedness of his nature, and amid
,ir stormy scenes of the hustings in VIII
ric he was early plunged, he had gained Il
,se quick insight into the human hes
Ike which in practical life goes farther
he attain success than reams of readi
lte He knew men thoroughly and not OF
&c. knew how, but possessed the magnc
his power to bend them to his purposes.
ON There is probably no position in
ed which requires such a combination
of rare and high qualities as that of a or
nd popular leader. He must be bold {
On prudent, prompt and patient, St
lpt and conciliating, captivating, comma
an ing, farseeing, and above all, brave
re, perfection. The first man in the natl
err the first in power, undoubtedly, wi
ne ever, may be his place, is the leader
as the administration, be he in Congress
ere the Cabinet, President or private.
COL leader of the opposition can hardly
the called the second man in rank or pov
Mt but if his party be strong and str
his Cling, his position is one of 81
YER strength, and enables him, though
Jas of the government, to strongly affect
sor the direction of the affairs of the matt