The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-16
ELOQUENCE.
A PHASE OF OhhT0RY.
ABOUT GREAT SPEAKERS.
New York Press,

| New Iork Press.
A recent writer denies that the
late George William Cnrtls possess.
ei the true oratorical instinct, on
the ground that his speeches and ad.
dresses were premeditated and
menorlzed with care. Its manifest
that the reason assigned for this
charge is an absurdity. Undoubt-
edly this Idea :s not uncommon.
A popular feelIog exists that elo
quence and huency Of speech are
synonvmous, iosomuch, Indeed, that
the speaker who is confined to writ.
ten manuscript IS usually reg arded
as absolutely wanting in true orator
| ical ability.
1t Is unnecessary to say that
such a standard Of opinion would
condemn all the ancient masters vf
eloquence from Demosthenes and
Cicero down. There have been mo-
mentous occasions which have stirr-
ed great orators to lmprOmptu out
bursts of astonishing eloQuence
Sucl was tha csse with moro mem
orsble efforts OF Chatham, Mirabeu
and Patrick Henry. But these IN.
stsnces only emphasize more strong.
ly the general rule that studiou.
preparation and memorizatlon have
characterized the finest exhibitors
|of orat"ry. While it is probable
that geniuses like Burke, Pitt and
Fox never committed their speeche
in whole to memory. we have their
own testimony that their more pre-
tentlons efforts we're the result OF
careful premeditatlon. Sheridan
made no c,ncealment of the fact
that the iner passages of his
speeches were "cut and dried" as
he expressed it. Macsulay men,
orized his speeches word for word,
and delivered them as they wer.
written. John Bright declared tina.
while lie did not commit the body
Of his speeches to memory ne al
ways prepared his perorations with
great care. Dr.. Chalmers, the
famous Scotch pulpit orator, read
lis sermons from manuscript.
ireland is commonly reported to
be nursery Of eloquence; yet Grat,
tan, who by general consent stands
st the head Of her orators, labored
slreEessly over his political addresse.
Richard Lalor Shell followed hi
example, and carefully memorizeo
each word OF his speeches.
The orators Of the United State:
have seen no exception to tbe-e
practices, Clay, Calhoon, Webster
Choate and Phillips, while not ad-
dicted to memorizatlon, usually
made 90 formal addresses AMI
speeches which we're not the frui!
of severe preparation. Some Of the
nobler flights Of Webster, like those
OF SherldAn's had long been prepar~
ed. Notably was this the cas-.
With the glowing pesoratlon oi
his reply TO Hsyne. Edward Ever
EFT religously memorized his ad-
dresses even to the attitudes and
gestures. Charles Sumner followed
the came practice. Lincoln's Get
tyshurg speech IS said to have been
written Oh the beck Of an envelope
while he was on the cars on his way
to the battle field and was read from
this manuscript. Colonel 1nger>
soils historic speech nominating
Blaine was the result OF premedit=-
ton, as are all of his great oretorica
efforts. Roscoe Conkling's mors
elaborate speeches were largely con
mitied to memory,
it Is impossible to lay down an
iron rule for pab'lc speakers. The
capabilities of orators differ tOo
ouch to admit Of the establishment
of laws applicable to all alike. The
great enc of public speaking is to
arouse, persuade ard convince.
Where this Can be accomplished Or
ly bv dillgent study ard memorl1a-
ton 1t would be IDLE to adopt diff
ferent course. Where 1t can be best
attained by mOment.ry inspiration
it would be waste o. labor to cul
tlvate artificial aids.