The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-15
Our Popular Orators.

The season Of banquets and festive as
sembages Is now pretty we'll completed. and
tho question is In order whether any new
popular orators have been developed dur
ing tho campaign that Is closing and also
whether the old favorites havo held their
own so that they still wear the laurcls which
the nppreciative and delighted public have
30 often and 50 ardcntly bestowed.
We cannot say that Gen. HORACE PORTER
is precisely o new man. for he has been
among us for some time. and his humor.
heightened rs it is by q sing-song voice
and drawllng delivery. has never failed
OF admirers. Effects Of eloquenco and high
imagination Gen. PORTER docs not seem to
aim at very often. but effects Of drollery.
surprises OF Qucerncss. and commissions OF
laughter are frequent enough when lie
speaks. OF late his shrewd and efficient
management Of the movement to build tho
tomb Of GRANT has shown that he knows all
the time what he Is about. aud understands
how to hit tho null on the hcad. PORTER
has gained decidedly In his standing as
dinner orator during the season; and no
body will ever see him got up to speak with
out an anticipation OF pleasure.
This does not mean that no Is taking away
the palm from CuAuNCEY DEpEw. tho man
Of genius. the universal favor;te. 1t seemed
hardly possible a year ago that DEPEw
should equal his former trtumphs during
another season. much less surpass them;
yet progress is the law OF nature. and We
conclude that he has boon gaining steadily
In flush. in fertility. and in dplomb through
out the winter. Even the nasal twang and
snullo with which he likes to bring
out u novel rush Of wit. penetrating his
audience like an electric nimbus seems
finer aud moro Dsthetlcal than before. We
have heard persons Of good Judgment de-
ploro the circumstance that such an
orator should be heard mainly on occa-
siops that nre merely temporary. where
efforts that might make q speaker i'm
mortal are destined to evanescence and
forgetfulncss; but this objection seems
altogether superficial. Provided the foel-
ing Of the audience is raised to the high
point. and provided the artist. who plays
upon their minds. Is exercised and trained
by each performance. and raised to greater
power and perfection In his art. what moro
should any one demand? The Joy OF ono
moment Is just as good as the Joy OF an
Other. Tho revolving year will bring
around now festivals. new anniversaries,
now banquets: and with this artist our
present delight iustlhes for his future dis
plays tho expectation OF higher potion
TALLY and o more fascinating charm.
The wonder about CHAUNcEY DEPEw's
speaking Is not so much its constant flow OF
thought its literary refinement and elabora-
ton. tho brilliant points that flash and
glitter through his sentences. but tho solid
substrntum OF fact on which 1t rests, and
the accurate knowledge OF whatever sub
ject he touches upon. whether by way OF
argument or III illustration. We might
imagine that DEPEw had spent weok In
study and accumulation for tho speech wo
are listening to. instead OF having thought
1t up on his way to the hall whore it Is do
livered. and having then arranged Its points
In order between tho courses OF the dinner
which 1t crowns and glorites.
The one rival who IL believed by every.
body to approach Mr.. DEpgw. II not som.-
times to outlo him Gs au occasional orator,
Is Mr.. CHoArE. He too possesses tho gift
OF fno presence and Byronic brow.
with rich tenor voice. and vast stores
OF extended and miscellaneous informa-
ton that is never loose or inaccurate.
Much practice rs n cross-eAan,lncr and an
advocate In tho courts has given him a
readiness In the uso OF his wrcoous, which
no doubtless fnds exceedingly convenient
in tho tits and conflicts OF otter din
ner. Ho always knows tho weak point
OF an antagonist. and his blow Is
not dealt In vain. We should say
perhaps that his speaking Is more witty,
more filled with tho element OF intellectual
and unexpected fireworks. than with humor,
the clement Of quieter and deeper. laug Inter
and moro sentimental satisfaction. How
ever. 1t will not do to shut CHoArE up In any
narrow limits: and. SO far as tho dining
public are concerned. We can only express
our regret that tho lsborious exactions
OF his profession. and OF most eminent
position In 1t. keep him too much away
from those lighter opportunities In which |
no shines SO gayly and coniers such varied
Another gentleman who cannot DO omitted |
from any list Of tho all-around athletes of |
popular orstory, u Mr.. CoUpERT. He In I'm.