The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-11
THE POLITICAL BANQUET.

The methods of political expression change
a. we'll as the fashions in the various branches
of art. There was period in the history Of
the United States when the great public meet
ing WAS almost the only occasion on which
| leading public men discussed the principal
questions in contemporary politics Faneuil
Hall in Boston and Cooper Institute in New
York will always be celebrated for the mag
nifcent popular assemblies which have come
together within their walls to listen to the adj
dresses of speakers who enjoyed "a national
reputation, and whose words uttered from
these rostra have not infrequently become
historic
Such overlooking meetings are still held in
the course of every political campaign III the
| North, but a. occasions of national proIni-
hence, as opportunities for proclaming great
principles in speeches which are destined TO
have a material influence upon the character
of public events, they have lost large part Of
/ their Importance. The banquet is now taking
/ the place of the great public meeting. When
a politician of distinguished reputation,
whose comments on any political subject
| carry great weight. wishes To come before the
| public. he prefers TO make his appearance at
! political banquet. at which he is one Of the
| principal guests leaving 20 the press the wide
| spread dissemination of his remarks
Two facts ue disclosed 10y this growing dis
| position on the part OF our leading public
men. II shows in the first place how thorough
| the American press is an agent in reporting
news in the fullest detail. aud how universal
is the habit of reading newspapers among tho
American people. distinguished public man
/ delivers an address at banquet upon which
few hundred citizens of conspicuous stand
ing are in attendance. Every word that be
uttcrs is caught mp and reported 10 millions If
readers on the following day. With this the
orator j. content. He is speaking 10 the coun-
Try far more than 10 his audience. This could
not have been the case II he WIS addressing IN
immense popular concOurse. for here he must
adapt his language and thought IL a measure
to the character of the mixed assembly before
which he appears.
AT u banquet. the degree Of intelligence and
culture IN his auditors is higher and more uni
FORM which admits Ot more careful and
elaborate preparation on his part. as demand
cd not only by the nature OF the occasion. but
also 10y that audience Of readers who will ex-
anime what he has said with the trained dis
elimination Of the audience which he actually
addresses but which is really subordinate in
his estimation to the subsequent audience of
readers
The greater prominence of the banquet rs
an occasion for discussing public questions AS
compared with the popular meeting. is also
due very largely TO second fact. namely. a
tendency in men Of great national distinction
70 withdraw IN degree from immediate con-
tact with the people at large. IL shows
marked leaning towards exclusiveness which
Is decidedly undemocratic in It's character.
Ths banquet, as medium Of political ex-
preston, Is being pushed to point of devel-
opment where it is rapidly sinking into alb
surdity. Whenever prominent association.
industrial or social in our great cities wishes
10 bring itself cOnspicuously before the pub
lie II proceeds 70 invite large number OF dis
unguished men from every section OF the
country. Every word spoken ON the occasion
is carefully reported. The guests are pleased
by the prominent position which they take on
the following day in the eye Of the public, and