The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-07

| beginning Of his speech. aI have seid
= that came as pilgrim, and have been
/ admitted as such, but now that am in,
snail claim far more. / shall claim iny
place on this floor as a son of Massachu-
sets, Tor first drew the breath of life
uneer the wings Of the authority aud in
sttutlons of the old Bay State, Maine,
now almost a match for her foster
mother, was then a part of this ancient
commonwealth. But / claim the seat on
yet higher grounds: | claim it as a fel-
iow-cItizen of this broad Union, and as
such to render the puplic tribute of my
gratitude to every ilIustrious, patriotic
son OF the republic. Though / count the
distance OF my home from this hallowed
spot by thousands of long aud weary
miles, yet my heart beats in sympathy
with all the hearts around me. Nv
state and your State rest on the same
broad platform of the Constitution. The
national banner bearing the glorious in,
sigma OF that immortal possession. wrap
ped alike In its sacred folds the State of
Mississippi and the State Of Massachu-
setts."
During this summer he made visit
to his early nome. He was the lion of
Portland, and in spite of his efforts to
escape adulation, it poured in on him
from every quarter. He declined to
speak in Portland, but on his way home
the New York Wbigs entrapped him.
His speech in New York was adapted to
the distinguished audience, and was the
calm argument of the statesman. and
made very remarkable impression. 1t
was argumentative, and in form and
manner very much like John e. Calhoun
This was the year the first steamship
crossed the Atlantic. The officers gave
a banquet, and Mr.. Prentiss was among
the speakers His speech was the event
even the stolid British sailors ap-
plauded, and when he was complimented |
"n his speech, he replied: "Pm great Oh
steam"
lt was after this speech that friend |
said, " Your style is more igurative than |
1t used TO be, and some say you do not |
reason as well as you declaim."
They are mistaken" he answered |
The natural bent of my mind is to dry |
pure ratlOcination, but finding early |
that mankind from a petit jury to the |
highest deiberative assembly, are more /
influenced by illustration than by argu
ment, | have cultivated my Imagination |
in aid of my understanding"
The question is often asked, could the |
men who were famous in the first half |
of this century, be as famous now. The
press has taken the place of the former
and oratory is not 50 highly esteemed
The more general diffusion of intelli
gence has made people critical, as well
as wideLed their thought. This is all
true, but the orator is still a power
Men leave store and shop, and study and
office to hear him, and if he has the di-
vine spark, he fires the hearts of his
hearers as ever. Webster, Clay and
l'rentiss would thrill all America to-day,
as once they thrilled men at Bunker
Hill, and on the banks of the Missis-
sippi.
What changes since that first day of
July, 1850, when Prentiss fell asleep
The great Whig party has passed away.
In latter years it was built only on men,
and had not a single definite idea. The
men have all gone, and we turn our
faces toward their day with sad regret
What orators the party had, and what a
blank there would be in the eloquepce
of America, if their speeches were taken
out of literature. re old story repeat
ed. Gone forever the glory of Rome,
and the beauty of Greece. But Cicero,
Perides aud Demosthenese live. The
speech of the orator is immortal.
JOSEPH E. MARTIN.
Grace Church, Canton, Miss.