Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-09-09

tihes prophecy made by Senator Conkling
in that speech, for he then said that ~
soon as the questions arising out Of the 10
construction problems were settled the
budness OF congress would be chiefly that
which the financial banking md revenue
policy Of the government entailed
There have been since that prophecy was
made some 10 or ~ special occasions in
which many days have been set apart for
debate upon financial questions, but except
In the case Of the present remarkable de,
bate no great reputation has been made by
any member Of congress by reason Of a
speech 80 delivered Mr. Carlisle now scc-
rotary OF the treasury, won his spurs as did
Mr. Conklir Z by financial speech which
was elaborate, lucid and mastery In preson.
tation. Carllslc's reputation, however, was
gained rather as thinker than as a great
orator.
Tho method OF preparing public speeches
which prevails now, mud 10 some extent
the manner adopted for the delivery OF
many OF them, may account for what seems
10 be a decadenee in the delightful art Of
oratory
William pinlney, who is now forgotten,
but In his day was esteemed an orator OF
extraordinary charm, fairly sweated over
tho preparation Of his addresses. He not
only wrote, but be pronounced each nell
tenoe, striving TO get q rhythmic quality
Having polished and rcpolished the literary
form, Mr.. Pinkney practiccd the rhetorical
gIaces before looking glass, and one OF
tho senntors who recently spoke upon the
silver question used 10 be in tho habit Of
rehearsing bis speeches before a full length
glass.
What ia regarded as the greatest speech
ever made In thesenate -webster's reply 10
HAyne-had no other preparation than a
study Of the subject for 20 years by Mr..
Webster. Haynes speech wasdellyered one
day; Webster went to dinner party Ia the
evening. sat form few moments before going
10 bed arranging the heads Of his reply,
slept MS he said like top, entered the
senate chamber the next morning perfectly
cool, and when he was asked by Senator
Clayton II he was well charged replied,
-Four fingcrs, cir" and fow moments
afterward began aspeech which made his.
tory.
ConklinE's genius for oratory rs revealed
in the senate was the result not only OF a
native quality, but Of the most nrduoua toll.
He lRbored far into the night, adorning his
speeches with quotations that were peril
nent, although not Of common use, and en-
riching them by dictiOn which such
orators as Tom Corwin, Stephen A. Doug.
las and even Mr. blaine pronounced the
most magnificent and oOpious possessed by
any American orator Conkling would no
more hAvo rad speech ssis the custom at
the present time, than he would have ad.
dressed the senate IN his shirt sleeves. His
manner was entirely that Of u man deliver
ing an impromptu address. IT was the nrt
which concoils art, Dlainehad that qualify,
too, although hisspeechcs were not prepared
with the extraordinary care which Couk-
ling bestowed upon his
10 was the comment OF Mr.. Frederic r.
Coudert, one Of the most charming orators
OF the New York bar, that most Of the
speeches delivered at the present session OF
congress rea like mere essays, elaborate.
correct IN style. sound inrcasoning, but en-
tlrely void OF the quality which gives ORA
torical charm and foroe. Senator Hill pre-
pared his speech as he would have written
an essay for one Of the reviews, lie hRd
no thought OF the sound Of wordA. but only
for their lucid arrangement. Mr.. ConklinR
was constantly striving not only 70 get q
word which would accurately expr14s his
meaning, but would also when spoken Eug.
gest synp- thetic sound Tint II one Of
the seorcta Of Gladstoncs charm ~ an ora
tor. Blaine had that happy quality, but
II was intuitiye with him.
Bourke Cochran. who carried 70 congress
u peculiar ia ie as an orator, does not care
fully prepare his speeches lie relies upon
a copious vocabulary, high gift for imag-
ing or pictufesques statement and capacity
for quick thinking upon his foet- no that
with him the rhetorical gracer hre largely
a matter Of habit and Intuition, Upon. n
financial or legal QUESTION Mr. Iockrnn de
votes much ltudy and N careful 10 the mr.
rnnRement o. his argument put that form
IN which Il appears when II u delivered
and read Is very largely the result OF the
inspiration u tho moment q address
Colonel Fellows IA another orator who
speaks With ease and without previous
preparation u writing II "a tbs opini
u David Dudley field that orntory IL nc
n lost art because men have lost the power
Of creating oreht orntorical efforts or BE-
cause men no Longer are charmed by Il, but
because othcf things no press upon tliosc
who might make great oratorn that they
do not have the time or the inclination 70
bestow upoA orntory fhAt laDor without
which IT. ", afest rewards rAbnot be gain
cd, and that "a probably The reason, In The
opinion u many " those sho have made n
study of orl.ory. Why 20 few nembefH u
congress WI might have won the most
glorious Wet tories which TIE power q per
huaaion 81 speech can gye have JAILED 70