The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-11
THE GREEK ORATORS.
Rey. Or. Dalton's Fifth Wednesday
Lecture.

Considering the severity of the storm and Slip
perry walking, gooa-szed audience was present,
as there has never failed to be at these lectures
during the seven years they have continued.
OF the three forms of government which we find
in civilized communities, said the lecturer, the
monarchical, oligarchical and the democratic, on
ly the last is favorable to political or popular ora
tory. Orators have appeared indeed under the
first two but not often, or of the highest rank.
The reason is obvious. Kings and aristocracies
govern by displays of physical force by armies
and armed police. Democracies depend
upon the people, being government of
the people. by the people. The decision
of the people is final. Hence the neces-
sity of addressing them and the use of eloquence
as means Of persuasion. Accordingly we are
not surprised to discover the greatest orators of
antiquity in Athens, in the ages of her greatest
freedom. Neither in ancient nor in modern
times, has there been another city in which ora
tory, or public speaking, played so conspicuous
part. Private claims and public policy were de-
termined by the whole people, or their represent
atives, in response to pleas made by the ora
tors who appeared before them. Hence the sue
cess of the Sophists, whose business it was to
teach young men how they might become success
full popular speakers. Elocution and the art of
rhetoric were the prominent points on which they
gave instruction and proclaimed their ability to
make their pupils proficient in. They sprinkled
over all few high-sounding phrases of Sophistic
philosophy to tickle the ear while they really
perverted the understanding and often corrupted
the heart
In a high sense, Homer is orator, as well as
poet. for the Iliad aboundS in speeches equal or
superior to those of Millions devils in the first
two books of Paradise Lost.
In like manner, we may call the Greek histori-
ans orators for they composed acknowledgements
es and aScribed thea to their chief characters on
great occasions. In this high art, ,Thucyddes sur
al hes @oub Hs o mSt S Pec E % @
possible to say how much of them really proceed
ed from Pericles and what part was invented by
the historian. Probably the celebrated Funeral
Grafton ascribed to Perlcles, and which has serv-
ed as model for all subsequent addresses of this
kind, was spoken by Pericles pretty much as CIV
Orations as such, belonged to one of three class
es viz; political forensic, and occasional or cpl
deictic as the Greeks callea them. Political ad-
dresses were intended to influence public opinion.
Forensic appeals were made to the courts of law,
and occasional addresses were usually eulogistic
of some man. event, or occasion. Of these $50
crates is allowed to have written the best, while
as speakers, the admiration of the public was di-
vided about equally between ISBuS and LysiaS.
ISsRuS was the moro artificial and rhetorical, as
that phrase is popularly understood, Lysias the
more easy, artless and persuasive. This was the
art that conceals art. But both these were eclps-
ed by Eschines and Demo sthenes, who were
rivals till the popular verdict was given in favor
of Demosthenes, a verdict which time has fully
sustained. FOR as homer Is tne poet OF the WOrlu,
and Plato the philosopher so to this day Demosthe
nes is the orator Of all time, without peer and
without rival.
1t is interesting to know that the occasion of
this verdict was a mean attempt of Eschlnes to
ruin his great rival. After long and faithful
service to his native city and the cause of liberty
be awarded Demosthenes as a token of the city's
appreciation OF his public service and personal
lin,tegrty Escllnes = moved by envy opposed
ingenious, but most malicious attack upon
Demosthcnes' public career and personal prObity.
Eschines' Grafton was exceedingly adroit, an
scrupulous and able of its kind He surpasses
Junius as master of the ignoble art of insinua-
ton, abuse and vituperation. 1t was concei,e in
ton, and it was spoken in solemn tones, and with
an air of injured innocence. The orator paraded
his own piety and his patriotism, aired them both
with many protestations, and shed copious tears
over the fallen fortunes of his country, which he
attributed to the pernicious counsels and arrant
oowardiee of Demosthenes. To all this Demos
themes replied in the accents of truth and with
the air of an honest man. He met Hschnes' per-
sonal accusations by quiet appeal to the impair
Eschines and he had lived from the first, and who
were perfectly familiar with the general tenor Of
tn their lives; From TINS, ne proceeded 70 compare
ing and setting down naught in malice, but giving
an ample and unvarnished account of all ques-
pursued opposite courses. Then he made his
final appeal to the people to Judge between them
according to the law and the evidence.
sion, decided in favor of Demosthenes, and drove
Eschines as false and malicious accuser,
into exile for life. From that day to this
Demosthenes' Grafton de Corona (0n the Crown
has been universally regarded and admired as
the greatest speech ever spoken.
Demosthenes has been often. compared with
Cicero, but their style Of speaking had but few
points of resemblance save perspicuity and an
effective arrangement of topics Cicero was diff
fuse and ornate; DemoStheneS simple Senten-
tious and direct, disdaining all ornament and al
ways keeping his main point steadily in view.
Of course all great orators like great poets,
have much in common, and all orators have made
a careful study of DemOStheneS ChrySostOm
certainly did, and so probably did Savonarola,
B0Ssuet and B0urdal0ue Mrabeau had much
popularity Patrick Henry, Webster and Clay
were the wonder of their day, but we should have
to combine the three to make one DemOSthenes.
That is to say, the characteristic qualities of the
three, met in the orator of Athens. In brief. the
genius of the Greeks for oratory eliminated in
ophy in Plato, painting in Raphael, and sculpture
in Phidias and Michael Angelo.
History Is impressive and fnll of instruction,
philosophy Is profound and far-reaching, poetry is
sublime and beautiful, and oratory has contests
equally stirring to the blood, and triumphS but
little inferior.
Such is a brief and imperfect account of the
most famous OF the Greek orators
''Those ancients, whose resistless eloquence
Welded at will that fierce democracy,
Shook the arsenal, and thundercd over Greece,
To Macedon and ArtaXerxeS' throne"
In the course of his address, DIR. Dalton re-
minded the audience that the first critical edition
of Demosthenes' dc Corona with notes, was edit
ed by the late Dr. Champlin, while professor OF
Greek at Waterville. The edition was for a gen
Grafton used at Harvard and other leading col
leges