The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-05-11

5. Who are the great orators of the present time,
and what their themes?
]. The greatest orator of Revolutionary times was
/ Patrick Henry; born 1870, died 1899. In speech
before a Colonial Assembly in I765. TO consider the
/ questions OF the time he said:
Cesar had his Brutus Charles the First his
+ Cromwell and George the Third-CTreason! cried
the Speakcrl-gnGy pro@ by their example. II this
! be treason, make the most of it."
March HIS. 10 years later, when the crisis was
on Patrick Henry gave utterance TO these undying
words:
as life so dear or peace so sweet, as 10 be pur-
chased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid
! it, Almighty God! know not what course others
may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give
me DEATH
O-atory flourished in Revolutionary times and
| jefferson, Hamilton. the Adamses Josiah Quincy,
George Washington and a score of others have
left glorious enuuciations that destined to live
! while the Republic lasts. 1t was Washington who
said, in speech before Congress- January, 1870:
ITO be prepared for is of the most effect
Gal means OF preserving peace"
2. Among the great orators of reform of the
/ Emancipation period were William Lloyd Garri-
son and Wendell Phillips. Political orators of
note Daniel Webster and Henry Clay. OF
! the war period proper there were Abraham Lin
/ coin and Stephen A. Douglas. Henry Ward
! Beecher, the great Brooklyn divine. ranks among
the first OF those whose ringing patriotism helped
! to save the Nation. He went to England, by re-
quest of Lincoln. to speak 10 the great Commoners,
| and neutraiized the strong rebel sympathy
manifested toward the South by the party in
| power.
The most memorable piece of modern American
oratory extant, and deeply characteristic of the
man who uttered it, is Lncoln's address the
| battlefield of Gettysburg, in which the Oft
quoted words: with malice toward none and
charity for all" To care for him who has borne
| the battle, aud for his widow and orphans"
3. period Of profound peace is not promotive
of tle highest order of oratory. Perhaps the most
foTeibe speakers OF the times In the ranks Of
| temperance reform, and the most notable OF these
a woman, Frances Willard, who has given the
/ great watehword 20 the country: God and Home
and Native Land"
| Miss Willard has for some months been travelling
in England, in company with Lady Somerset, in
| augurating the temperance movement in the
| British Isles.
AMERICAN LITERATURE.
An excaiien, paper on American Literature
comes from I. f. Hic<mon, Bradford. Ark. but
too late for the paper for which it designed to
compete. Some poials of interest given:
! Bancroft, Prescott aud Motley may be taken rs
representative historians bancroft has given us
an admirable history of our country. Prescott
deyo;es himself to tie conquest of Mexico and
Peru. Motley hns written history OF Neither
J u V.
benIahih Er;snktii pe was one OF the bright
/ est that have graceI American literature. His
autobiography has been pronounced the best
wrhieh. FRANKLIN was q truly great man, who
/ sought to make everything useful He sought TO
educate the people In industry and economy.
Washington Irving worked hitherto untred
! field. kt cke rhocker History" became very
popular; - The Sketch b oI; " was well received.
/ His subsequent works only added TO already
Cooper's Stories of The Sea" and Leather
Stocking Tales are entertaining to the young.
older.
Hawthorne IS another who wrote for young aud
( OLD The Woader Book y was your delight; per
faps Scarlet Letter pleases you now. The
genus.
Bryant was one of the irsi to attract attention as
poet While yet ia his youth lac wrote his best
| poem. "Thsuatolssis."
( Poes writings show the touch of poet The
! Raven - may he ialen example of his work.
/ EAersoh WAS orc OF our brightest essayiss. He
| also won admiration "a "a puei.
/ In both prose and Holmes meets as He
treats mostly of things met in actual experience.
He sorns tie things around him. instead Of seek
ing beauties Ia the realm OF imagination.
/ Lower y entitled so "a place ameug our literary
men Of high rank Bjgelpw Papers " are unique.
/ " The Commemoration Ode IS a heauiifuI poenl
/ Lowell is nan OF exceptional strength aud Gull
AIand Mnlier.' The Yankee Girl.'' Tent ON
the Beach. Among tie HIS Snow Bound"
" lao ca'fnoi recognize these? Long may good
Quaker poet Whittier, live in tile minds Of The
/ peope- Lei Ills words continne 10 ring through
tho school-r"ons for Ills are words that harm
! none.
We meaiion more. the dearest Of our Ameri-
can poets, Lonsiellow. Though we do not ciaIn
that we have produced great poet, yet Longfellow
comes very near TO greatness.
What aspiring youth is not indebted 10 him !?
=" Psalm of Life " and - Tie Builders " have been
/ helping hands millions To climb The ladder
of ~. Augustine y is the work OF we-ss,ent life
EyaBgeiine is one of the most beauifi! stories
In our language. The Conrtship OF Miles STAN
dish is we'll worth study. Hiawalha is the only
| poem of the kind. Read Lougfcllow's works and
VOC will know him. no pen but his can do him
justice.