The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-28
WEBSTER, THE ORATOR.
ONE OF HIS GREATEST EFFORTS
NEVER B5FOaE IN PRINT.

Tow a Southern Gentleman Learned
to Admire the Yankee Orator-NeW
and Interesting Stories About the
Most Popular Man of lis Day.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Daniel Webster. whether speaking, walk
ing or in repose, impressed one as no otner
man ever did. His presence on all occasions
was very striking. When he spoke he left
On the mind of the listener the idea Oh
power in reserve capable Of responding TO
any demand. Even when putting forth
what has gone into history as among MS
greatest efforts, the listener felt that ne
possessed resources for greater things; that
be was drawing on them only for just SO
much as the occasion required, and that IL
was impossible to estimate their actual ex-
tent.
The last time l heard Mr.. Webster in
really great effort was in Albany, when he
paused in that city while prosecuting what
might be described as a campaign for the
presidential nomination prior to the cleo
ton In 1852. The speech was IN response 70
an invitation by number of citizens IL
was to be on any theme that he might
choose He chose what an American
President Should Be-" The great orator had
been banqueted the night before by a select
party of admirers, among whom were Jonn
G. Spencer D. D. Barnard, Sam stevens
and many more like them from dliterenU
parts of the state, to whom he spoke, as
they thought. as he never did before. There
was other speaking by great orators the
wine was excellent and plentiful Mr. w eo-
SER, and, as for that, the whole company,
were in the best of spirits, and the canquet
lasted until the morning hours. Ihe next
day at o. m MIR. Webster was to speak In
the open air from stand in front OF Con-
gress hall. When the people began TO as
semble in great number 1t was reared Dy
MIR. Webster's friends that on account
of the shortness of the time between the
banquet and the popular meeting he might
not be in his best condition. But such
fears were dispelled when the great orator
with prompt exactness. appeared throuSn
an open window in the rear of the stand.
No one who beheld him that moment, 1t is
probable ever after forgot how he looked.
He was scrupulously attired-butf vest,
white necktie, expansive collar, blue coat and
trousers. But his eyes, deep set-indeed
almost cavernous, possibly from the ban
quoting of the previous night-ln connection
with his other features and general appear
ance-riveted my attention and almosI
awed me- Indeed, if man standing before
one in complete attire, with powers all alert
and evldenclng by every motion eAIraorul
nary consciousness of his own Importance
the deep interest of the occasion and the
overwhelming character of bis theme, can
ever be said to be awful, that could be SAID
of Mr.. Webster at that moment.
Advancing so that he was in full view OF
the multitude, by whom he was greeted II
manner that told him that he stood In the
presence of more than friends, Mr.. web
ster then, if ever, as it seemed to me, de
served the title Of "godlike." Pausing fol
an instant, as though he were himself realiz
ing anew the character of the occasion anc
the question on which he was to speak, hi
first words were: "What an American
President Should Be; that's the theme.
Pausing again an instant, as II sef-com
muning, he repeated: "What an American
President should be"
MIR. Webster spoke for an hour. Int
speech was one of his greatest. As he wen
on it was evident that the theme actually
possessed him; that he fully realized rs full
magnitude. He seemed to say, as he DE
scribed what an American President should
be, "suoh a President | would be" and M
listener, it is probable, was disposed TO dis
pnte him.
This speech of Mr. Webster, although !
deserved to rank among his very best, be-