The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-07
AN orAroRiCAL ASSOCIATION.

The Southern Interstate OIatOrical Associa-
ton was recently formed at Asheville, n. C.'
by delegates who were the duly accredited
representatives Of the Vanderbilt University
the University Of the South, Washington and
Lee, and the universities Of North Carolina
South Carolina. and Virginia, the leading
educational institutions in the Southern
States. The object of the association. ac-
cordng 10 the constitution which has been
framed by il, is to encourage and cultivate
oratory. 1t is not stated with clearness and
distinctness what style Of oratOry has the
preference Of the members Of the association
and therefore what style Is to be promoted
bv their organized efforts Upon the answer
10 this question depends the prospect of the
association accomplishing a useful purpose
in the undertaking which It has inauguated.
There can be little doubt that under the
influence Of the new material conditions now
prevailing In every part of this section Of the
Union, the standard as TO what constitutes
popular oratory has undergone and is still
undergoing very marked change. The
highest forms of oratory are recognized as
such in all countries and in all ages. The
Southern States in the past have been fertile
II producing the most exalted types Of ora
tors. men who would have been accepted in
that character in any assembly Of men who
spoke the same language, whether in the
South or in the North, OF in England, but our
section in the past has also fostered a school
of public speakers who have relied too much
upon imagination and inflated rhetoric, and
too little upon knowledge and reason to create
an impression upon their audiences.
The influence Of this school was on the
whole injurious and demorah1ing, and it is a
cause for congratulation that with the advent
of the present very practical and stirring age
this school has declined in importance to a
point where it receives only sufficient atten-
ton 10 excite condemnation. True eloquence
is knowledge and reason and feeling fused to-
gether. Mere inflated sentiment. mere beau
tful and sounding rhetoric. may still
to some extent tickle the ears Of the
groundlings. but unless supported by train
Of careful thought. and sustained by well
dgested information. they no longer produce
a profound or q permanent impression. The
Southern orator who trusts simply to the
coverings Of his periods TO move his hearers
belongs to an age which is not likely to return
in the Southern States. His work is finished
the scenes in which he took the leading part
are closed, and closed forever.
As the highest eloquence voices herself
she stands with one hand on the shoulder Of
industry. and tho other on the shoulder Of
knowledge This has been her attitude in all
the periods Of our Southern history, but too
much attention was at one time paid TO an
eoquence that stood aloof disdainful Of the
assistance Of her necessary hand maidens.
If the object Of the Interstate Oratorical As
ISOLATION is to encourage oratory according to
the definition now generally accepted, name
", as a fusion Of reason, knowledge and feel
ing, and not a mere mixture Of sentiment and
rhetoric, il will commend itself to popular
approval and gratitude, because subscribing a
very practical and a very useful purpose. If
/ it departs from this standard it will only be
seeking TO revive style Of public speaking
which, while it may have been adapted to the
different social and political conditions of the
past, is acknowledged to be unsuited to the
spirit which prevails in the present age.