The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1892-07-16

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have bartered the spontaneous eloquenc
of great occasions for the advantages {
greater audiences. With this came tn
gradual decline of z American oratory q
such. And the change unquestionab)
fits the times in which we now live.
Out of such time rises all Irish lac
but few years ago unknown, to beguil
and charm us with the simple power O
extemporaneous speech. Born in count.
Sligo, Ireland, educated in France,
young and penniless emigrant, DIR.
goods clerk, a schoolmaster, poor Law
student, living practically from hand tt
mouth always, so short time ago Jha
It ooenns to those who know MIN but yes
terday, he stands row at the head of the
New York Bar, rich, the lawyer of big
cases and big fees, the idol of the gov.
erning power of New York and an orator
whose name and fame are coequal with
the length and breadth of the land.
Such success is enough to turn the
head of anybody but an extraordinary
man.
| But Bourke Cochran is an extraordin-
! ary man, and his head is still we'll bal
anced. He is yet young, being only
thirty-eight, and what is left of the great
world for him to conquer is still ahead
of him. He was turned seventeen when
he came to this country, SO he is but
twenty -one years an American. He was
being educated for the priesthood at
Lille, France, when he concluded that
he would rather be an American citizen
and take his chances with Americans
than be pillar of the Church. He is a
thorough classical scholar and speaks
Partisan like native.
When he appeared on the floor Of the
Convention at Syracuse in 1879 he was
but twenty-one, almost a total stranger,
poor and lank of appearance, and in the
storm of the great battle between Sam
uel J. Tilden and John Kelly the last
man who would have been called upon
to champion either side. He wore the
badge of Irving Hall-that was all that
was known Of him. And he was greeted
by the same pandenonjum Of yells and
cat calls that greeted him at Chicago,
differing only in volume. They showered
on him all epithets Of contempt and de-
rision. But he needed them not. Stand,
ing in the aisle, with right hand raiseds
he waited until the lowling mob gave
him an opening. Then with bovine voice
and gently ripping words his language
fell upon the listening ears like the
music of running waters. And like
sweet music, as it rose and fell, it soothea
the savage breast Of delegate aud alter
mate and shouter alike. Now and then
it poured along foaming torrent TO q
climax cataract-before the thunders Of
applause had died away to nlurmur
smoothly across the green meadows and
to gurgle peacefully over the cooling
stones. For upward Of half al hour the
young orator held the convention be-
meath his magic spell, The applause
was spontaneous, like the speech, and it
rolled up from all sides and reverber-
ated from floor to roof in unison. Then
the factions went on fighting just the
same as if the speech had never been
made. But Cockran's fame was assured.
When he returned to New York it was
to find himself in political demand. No
money was yet in sight-his clothes
were poor and worn to seediness-but no
matter. The impetuous and big hearted
Irishnnan never thought of that. He
felt that he was bound to be in the swim.
The rest would care for itself. He next
appeared at the Albany Convention in
1881 as the spokesman Of the Irving Hall
Democracy, and there he gained fresh
laurels.
It was at the Chicago Convention of
1884 that Bourke Cochran was first intro
duced to the national democracy. The
same old rancorous spirit was at war IN
the New York delegation. Grover
Cleveland was the bone of contention
if may SO far strain physiological facts
as to designate the ex- President as bone
-Tammany was the ballot and Bourke
Cochran the premier high kicker. Cock
ran had an understudy in the person OF
Senator Grady, who prepared the way
for him by an ill-tempered speech that
made the exposition building roar with
the collective anger of the floor and gal
leries. The astute Manning and Oily
Canon Fellows handled the majority OF
the delegation, which was for the unit
rule and for Cleveland. That majority
embraced the elements and embodied
the characteristics OF old Irving Hall,
and grim old John Kelly sat at the head
of those against whom Cochran had for
merly launched his rhetorical thunder
bolts. Now, however, the great Irish
orator and master Of the English tongue
was the accredited spokesman for Tam