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

lNa hl ONCE SHOE vi llA' a aat+~A g 80
rose to high rank at the bar In 1879
he was elected TO the Kentucky legisia-
ture 1906 to the L. S. Senate; in 1911
to the House Of Representatives; and
there began his national career. Since
that time. Mr.. Clay has filed a large
space in the public eye. His career has
| been checkered, stormy and tempestu-
Gus. Now the object Of universal
praise; now attacked with very general
ccngure; now eliminating upon the |
crest Of fortunes wave; then dashed |
upon the rocks and overwhelmed with |
roar and clamor. 1t was his fate at pc
RODS of his career to drain to the bot |
tom that measure of relentless hate with
which mean souls resent the imperial
pride of naughty genius. 1t was his
fate to feel that constant success is the
only shield which greatness and glory
can rear against the poison Of envy and
, SANDER ycnOmous sting
He who ascends to mountains tops, shall
find
The loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds and
snow.
lie who surpasscs or subducs mankind,
Must look down on the hate Of those be-
low,
Though high above the sun Of glory glow,
And far beneath are earth and ocean
spread,
Around him are icy rocks, and loudly blow
Contending tempest on his naked head,
) Thus to reward the tolls which TO those sum.
-. mits led.
That strong mind was tried by every
extremity Of fortune, and if sometimes
% inflated by success, yet borne by the all
dcathlcss thirst for rcnown, the grand
incentive to all great tolls or glorious
deeds, he was never depressed by defeat.
; He faced his enemies, he faced fortune,
i and he faced defeat, with the fdunt.ess
heart, and the same unquailing brow, in
youth and in age, regardless when or
how they came, or what the peril might
be. Yet when most OyCrbOTne with
calumny; when hatred ragged tierccst
against his person; and he was most
stained with SANDER even at that time
to enemies as to friends, he was an OBJ
r. ject of admiring respect. When dashed
into fury by disappointment, defeat anc
opposition and the stormy passions or hi.
tcmpestuous soul ragged like a whirlwind
his bitterest opponents would gaze cur
iousy upon him with strange mixture
Sc Of hatred fear and admiration,
There are many phases in which it Is
necessary to regard Mr. Clay to reach {
correct estimate of his character; and tC
accomplish their delincation without {
degree of jumbling confusion, is worl
of some difficulty. AS an orator, he wa
;ro brilliant and grand. None of his con
'l' temporaries could so stir mems blood
None approached him in his master,
us over the heart and the imagination
he of his hearers. OF all the gift
n, with which nature decks her favor
- ties, not the greatest or grandCst ccl
gun tainly, but the most brilliant, tn
ire most fascinating, and for the momen
,ty the most powerful, is exalted cloquenct
l,o Before its Hccting and brief glare, tn
''' steady light of wisdom, logic or philosc
en- ply palcs, as the strs fada before tn
Der meteor. With this choice and gloriou
he gift nature had endowed Mr.. Clay b'
ob yond all men of the age. Like all natl
raj orators, he was very unequal; som
al times sinking to commonplace mediocr
en- ty, then again, when the occasion rouse
IN his genius, he would soar aloft in toy
in ering majesty. He had little or none {
'ur the tinscl of Rhetoric, or the wordy fin
la ry which always lies within the reach {
of the RhetoriciaH's art Strong passion
I'll quick sensibility, lofty sentiment, poy
of crful reason, were the foundation Of h
Ms, oratory, as they are of all true eloqucnc
ri Passion, feeling, reason, wit, poured fort
from his lips ia torrent so strong an
Ity ineXhaustible, MS to whirl away his hea
all ers for the time in despite Of their Opt
ich ions, Nor should it be forgotten, sligl
nd andunimportanta physical qualities me-
W. appear in our estimate of the nigh
he dead, that his were eminently fitted f
ne. the orator A tall, slender, erect perso
S. changing under the excitement of spect
ne, its loose tlaccidity of muscle into Il
in most vigorous and nerved energy; ;
vns eye small, indeed but deep and boni
me set, and flaming with expression; al
be- last and most important of all, q voi
all deep, powerful. mellow and rich, beyol
the eXpression-rich is II feeble phrase
osc express its round, articulate fullne
I'D rolling up with sublime swell Of the
one CANAL these together formed wond
IL" full aids to cloQuence. And his gre
vas; and numerous triumphs attest tn
No power. He had the true mesmc
ally stroke of the orator--tho power to inf
and his feelings into his hearers; to ma
are them think MS he thought, and feel rs
! as felt. No one can form any adeqlr
rue, conception of the power of his eloquen
llity who has not heard Mr.. Clay when
haos blood was up, and the tide of inspirati
rolling full upon him. His words ndt
Y a might be written down; but the flame
'ter, mind which sent them forth red hot q
y of blazing from its mint, could not be C
his veyed by letters. As well attten
'ent, to paint the lightning. The crooked,
ring gular line may be traced but the glG
10Th, and the flame and the roar and the
and ror, and the electric flash, are &c
Is of Stormy, vehement and tempestuous
con were his passions and his oratory, tn
hese was still underneath them all, c
they stream of reason, running through
rent bottom of his brain, which always POI
ed him to his object, and held him to
with course. No orator, so passionate, G
Mr.. committed fewer imprudencies. MOI
ents sions so stormy ever left their posse,