New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-14
JOURNALISM AND ELOQUENCE.
LORD COLERIDGE on BOTH AND FUErHER
EXAMPLES OF THE LATTER FROM
Mr.. GLADSTONE.

Mr.. GLADSTONE.
London, Nov. I.
Inasmuch," said Lord Coleridgc, as dienifcd
and scholarly language will always have Its cnect
upon the masses of mankind. will address few
remarks TO you on public speaking ht hfss
sight this reads as II Lord Coleridse meant that
his audience were the masses and the dignlned
and scholarly language his own. Of course, no
did not mean that, and the only reason Tor point-
ing out that such q meaning might lie imputed
to him is a critical reason In other words, while
it is well to be dignifed and scholarly it is hardly
less important TO lie clear Lord Coleridge y
himself SO good q speaker that whatever he has 70
say on eloquence is well worth listening TO. On
this occasion no had little 10 say. lie was adj
dressing the Lolesworth Club ] am afraid most
of us do not know what the Lolesworth Club 10.
All the information at present accessible Is to the
effect that it is in the East Of London and that
at the opening of its winter session the chair was
taken by Mr. Kittle.
Perhaps you will remember that Lord Coleridgs
had something to say, some months since, on
journalism and journalists. The subject still
occupies him 50 much 50 that he cannot discourse
on eloquence-surely matter with which the
journalist has nothing to do but report 1t or
discuss it--without hit at the profession and its
the Lord Chief Justice. that you cannot order
real eloquence as, if may be forgiven for say
ing SO, you can order leading articles Certainly
be shall be forgiven for saying 30. since of for.
giveness he feels himself in need. Each one Of
US Oh his own account will forgive him. Only II
makes one wonder whether this distinguished man
ever himself tried his hand at leading articles.
since he thinks it SO easy to make them % order.
leading article is thing by itself. and il Lord
Coleridge cared TO ask a journalists opinion he
might he told that the making Of a good one il
hardly less difficult than the making Of good
speech.
But will offer him witness whose evidence
he will rank higher; orator of the first rank,
the late Wendell Phillips. In days long gone by
Phillips used to talk to me about journalism and
the writing Of what I suppose are still called
in America editorials; the leading articles Of the
Englishman. lie said
1T seems simple thing to sit down and put
on paper what you want to say to your public. But
if you will read the best editorials critically, you
will soon see that they are written on system;
that they are the result Of much practice; that
the number of the really good ones is not very
large and that in the best there is, as rule but
single point 1t is the business Of the writer
to bring that point home TO his reader by argu-
ment illustration, all his resources, but not TO
make two points instead of one. The average
reader can master point at a time. He cannos
master two
And Phillips used to remark: 50 man may
have it in him to write all epic poem, but not an
editorial
He did not mean that the editorial required
higher order Of genius. lie certainly did mean
that the kind Of ability required for the best
and C
efficient without training. And, without pressing
the point further, / imagine it will DE clear to
Lord Coleridge that Wendell Phillips did not
think that leading articles could he ordered as
you order pair of boots or beefsteak, and with
equal certainty of getting good article.
What is interesting in Lord Colcridge's dis
course is his estimate of different orators. lie
belongs to generation which is passing from the
stage. He will be seventy years in another
tyelyemonth-not an old man as age is couLtcd
in this country and climate, but quite old eh"Igh
to belong to the praisers OF past times, were ms
temperament such as to make him look back
rather than forward. There are plenty OF younger
men who will tell you that the great days OF elo-
auence or Of anything else, are gone. Net SO
the Lord Chief Justice. IL he sees n gap, II Is,
naturally enough at the Bar. lie seems disposeo
to think though he does not say so expressly
that tie giants were his own contemporaries. IN
repelling the reproach of decay, he names Sir
Alexander Cockbum, Bethel lord Wes'pufyl
Lord Cairns, and, greatest OF all the advocates
who in his time had adorned the profession, ana
was supreme in the art Of forensic speaking, sir
William Erie" Every one Of them Is dead, ana
of the living Lord Colcridge names not one. There
is one who might have been named, Sir Charles
Russell.
Living men in Parliament and in the puipl'
are named Mr.. Gladstone OF course, ana some
of the others seem to have departed out yeser-
day: Bright, and even Lord Beaconsfeld. who 10
my mind was never q great orator. but Deyoha
hisuute one of the greatest masters Of Parliament
tary debate who ever lived. 80 OF inc puipi@
Two of the ornaments of the pulpit in England
are but Just gone-Cardinal Newman and Dr
I,ddon. OF the living, Lord Coeridge mentions
the Bishop of Peterborough, and none other IL
is interesting, it is even curious. to learn that
the devout churcbman who presides over tho
Rench OF England had never heard DIR. Lddon,
and has never heard the Bishop of Peterborough.
Newman he had heard. Il have in past years.
Sunday after Sunday, hung upon the almoso
inspred lips of the great Cardinal whom All
England the other day followed to his tomb
Lord Coleridge's alusion 10 Mr.. Gladstone Is
sufficient for his purpose, but slght; nor oiu ne
explain which of the various Gladstones VINO VIII
figure in history he had in mind The Gladstone
of the two great Midlothian campaigns OF 1879
and 1884 is one the Gladstone who spoke lass
week and this In Edinburgh is another ana
very different other. say it without any Xlhd
Of reference to politics, but entirely with REFER.
ence to his oratory. Let any of his admirers ana
of admirers he seems to have millions in America
take down the columns containing the earle!
orations, and compare them with the speeches OF
to-day. There is, perhaps almost or quite a.
much evidence Of intellectual vigor In tile iat~
as in the earlier In most other points the change
| is SO great as to be startling.
In 1879 Mr. Gladstone went TO Midlothian 70
| pull down a Government, as now. lie was on tns
war path. He struck and spared not. Theirs
| was plenty Of deuunciation and invective, ana
men were attacked as well as policy and measures.