Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-11-22
Decline in 0ratory

Decline in Orstory
II lisa notable fact that decline in
oraiory is no where seen in such palpH.
lie forms as during political canvass
IN Philadelphia, and in fact in all the
American states. Time was when in $
prnding political canvass the oraIory OF
contpnding parties rose TO the very
highest pitch in cloquence, force Of de
amarion and polish OF elocuuon. There
IL now an utter lack Of forensic display
IN political action everywhere. The
,tump h.s decsyed and the ro-trum il
@eakened and are forces nov seldom
used in political rivairies In their
stead we have a more cunning element
consisting OF tests of intrigue, ieats ia
fraud, rs shameless as they are degrad.
nc 10 free and int, llrent / eoplc *
.tclsing the right OF eli-government
But it is not only in political contest.
that We notice this dryncss and lean.
meas in oratory. In other walks nf lt~
shere intellectual culture is supposrd
u he a daily practice, there are no ora
tors, at least none like Efulus waz, whu
dtfacted marked attention. holding
uuliitudes enhanced. Under the old
l., ceum system IN existence forty years
go, orators were cultivated to high.t
uerfecl,ou than they are now train, d..
rhe stump Speaking Of the west and
-ourhwrst ard the Ltceum system Of the
north and northeast were the aourcr hy
shich the oratoricsl powers Of the coun-
try were once developed. Time wss
Shen men nominated for Office were
forced to meet each other on the stump
pr platform and discuss issues mpdc hy
the parties they represented. The pol
ical leaders Of thirty or forty years ag"
headed their respective parties IN the
isld and discussed before tho people
principles embodied in the platform on
Which they stood. Il WAS in this way
hat Clay and Benton mpt--lhe Grrt
Prentiss, of Mississippi; the ponderous
Crirtenden. OF Kentucky; the poetic
>oullie, Of Louisiana; the profound
Calhoun, Of South Carolina, and the
powerful HanniRan, Of Indiana. There
Fere others Of equal ability throughout
the south and southwest who filled ~
political canvass with flashes and dash,s
Of oratory, who led great mullirudes by
the force OF argument and made orator,
= power in politics. such a. elevated IL
'sr above the low intrigue and petty
malice which enter too largely into the
political action Of the present.
Nor did the south or 4nuthwest pos
.ess Al the orators OF the I,-sI. The
north aud northeast abouudrd in men
ut genius in this line, the recollection
nI whose displays is srill cherished by
the living and the record Of whose
-pokpn wisdom continues To fiow as y
fountain OF rich water, wher- men oi
genius are refreshed. The Immortal
Webster George Evans, of dslne /;
Eiward Everett, of Ma-sschusrlIs Silas
Wright. of New York Tom Corwln, of
ONO; John ". Clayton. OF Delaware.
snd Rrverdy johnson. Of MArN land.
Pennsalyania had her orators Ms rilliant
as any now on the records. Who IL
there now who can recall Morton Mc
hichael. that will not be elevated hy =
thought Of his brilliant oraiury. Who
among the living, hut will recall, with
true admiration George w. Barton. John
SugeHnt, Ovid T. J"hnsnn, Cnsrlp- Oslp.
Dylh Paul Brown james NJ. Cmper,
Resh Frazer, John G Cuuklp and cores
OF Others in all parties and in all parts
of the state, who during poluicsl can.
vass. made the hill aud valleys of Penn.
sylyania echo with the en,hu-Iastn oi
assembled thousands electrified by their
eloquence. Nor did these gifted aud
cultivated orztors cubfiue themselves to
the stump and the rustium. Their ora.
tory WAS poured in splendor on all pub.
lie occasions 10 dignity popular deIit'eta.
tinn and strengthen and educate public
opinion on the right. NOw there Is
either an absence or n decay in these
gils. There 10 either = decline In ora
tory oF nm indifference tn the voice oi
eloquence hirh has forced u tn silence.
Which 1--Aa1isbpgg fndepeHdsHt.