The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-22
"THE POPULAR UNDERSTANDING"
w. II. MILLS Believes That Must BIO
Eeached by the Orator.

w. II. Mills Believes That Must BE
Reached by the Orator.
That speech is most nearly ideal which
most clearly ana comprehensiyely discIoses
to the popular understanding the underly-
ing issues of the campaign. The campaign
speech is addressed to the intelligence of a
mixed audience.
That speech is most effective which is
most suggestive Of thought and comment,
for opinion is the result of thought, and is
the great central force of government in
free constituency.
Our government is one of distrlbutive
sovereignty each individual voter is an in
tegral part of that sovereignty.
The camp algn orator shoul be con SciOus
that he addresses the real sovereign when
he speaks to an aggregation OF his fellow
citizens. BE should also remember that he
speaks to men presenting q great diversity
OF educational attainment. If he has any
thing TO present worthy OF the attention OF
the sovereign Of great people, he need not
hesitate TO disclose the best thought Of his
mind.
Persuasive eloquence or even cogent
reasoning. when put forth by one of notori-
ously unreliable character. rarely conyinces.
There must be consistency between the
character Of the orator and the sentiments
he processes.
A character for perfect candor lends
weight to the argument of the orator, even
beyond the inherent oogency Of the reason
ing employed.
While it is true that In each campaign is
Involved the highest good of the nation it
is also true that the professions of parties
cluster round some central principle, at
least the diverging conceptions of national
policy are capable OF a single formulation.
The clear elaboration of the great central
idea. or paramount issue of the campaign,
Is the duty of the campaign orator; hence
discursive oratory is Intellectual.
The clear elaboration of the great central
Issue should be the object of every cam
paign effort. The elements therefore of an
ideal campaign speech are: First, intelli-
gent perception of the issue of the time:
second, honest conviction on the part Of
the orator; third, the clear elaboration OF
single idea.
The ideal campaign speech is entirely just
TO the position OF the opposing parties. in
dulges In no Misrepresentation. avoids the
introduction of mere ornamental rhetoric
enforces argument with apt illustration Is
free from repetition and redundancy, joins
simplicity OF method TO clearness of state
ment, shuns all vituperation as meaningless
defamation provocative only OF antagon-
Ism. dlscloses sincere respect tor the pat
riotic motives of the opposing party, and Is
pervaded by that generous spirit of mag
nanimity and sincerity in which the potency
OF persuasion resides
lue iueai cdthpdiRu speech lllumlnRLeS
the s0mberness OF argument with the bright
rays of genial humor.
1t never consciously ev0kes merriment or
applause, but holding steadfastly to the
purpose Of adequately presenting the great
central issues Of the time, 1t finds accept
ance by producing In the minds of its
hearers that mental attitude which Is un-
consciously receptive, and thus conforms to
the maxim, you must teach mankind as
though you taught them not"
w. II. MILLS.
"TBE UNPURCHASABLE VOTER"
Henry Il. Highton Thinks That Should
BE tho Central Theme.
Ideals involve abstract perfection In all
the elements which enter into them and can
not be realized.
My own conception of an ideal campaign