Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-11-03
HON. S. B. ELkINs.


HON. S. B. ELkINS.
A Critical Review of His Martinsburg
Speech.
To the editor of the Herald.
/ CHARLES Town, Oct. 2o.--Permit
\ me, my dear sir. TO inserta few brief
remarks i'll the Herald in reference to
the general impression made upon my
mind by the above mentioned speech
of Mr.. Eikins'. 1t was undeniably a
most mastery effort, if indeed such a
speech can be called an effort where
levery Inference of the speaker was
4 simply and purely the spontaneous
outpouring of full mind perfectly
comprehending the subject treated in
all its bearings and manifold appllca-
tons. had on several previous oc-
casions heard Mr.. Wilson speak. and
it was treat to NE to have an oppor-
tunity OF comparing his style with
that of Mr. Elkins. The comparison
is somewhat difficult, because the two
distinguished gentlemen nd.it may
be said without the least disparage-
inent to either-are peers i'll the lat
est and best school of American ora
tory. Some of us can remember the
! stilted, rhetoric, rip-roaiing style of
public speaking in vogue some thirty
years ago, of which numerous we'll
preserved specimens still remain both
in and out of the rural districts. Now
all things are undergoing rcformatory
changes The day of facts and I'M
| adorned logical deduction is upon us.
People can no longer be either dazzled
| or dipped by vague generalities or by
brilliant pyrotechnic displays of in
/ consequent rhetorical flourish Bonn
bast and rhapsody are virtually de-
funct. Smooth flowing diction and
well-rounded periods burying common
sense beneath mass of high sound
ing words are now largely at discount
and bob-tailed eloquence is all the go.
A man nowadays must not only read
as he runs, but he mustn't let the
electric telegraph outrun him. Brew
ity of speech is more than ever in
| fashion, not only as the soul of wit,
but as an ever present sine qna non in
all the affairs of life. American prog
ress, the outcome of American energy,
is driven to find expression in terse
and condensed liberalism, and Ameri-
can adaptabilIty is rapidly taking in
the situation. Above all others the
American politician is catching on
True, there are as yet few public men
who can be regarded asexperts in this
reformed style of lightning logic and
instantaneous photographic present
nent of public affairs and legislative
necessities. Among these few trained
business minds, these men of far
reaching thought, well-tutored in the
school of practical observation, I'm
questionably Mr.. Elkins holds the
foremost rank. Certainly no one un-
biased by partisan prejudice could for
moment hesitate to pronounce the
speech he made last Saturday night in
Martinsburg masterpiece of argu
mentative reasoning presented in
form at once clear and condensed He
impressed all who heard him as man |
infinitely and thoroughly familiar with |
all the varied details of his subject,
and these details to their remotest APP
plication were discussed by the able !
speaker with all the ease and self. pos |
session of practical business MN
transacting everyday business matters
i'll his counting room. Not one harsh |
word was uttered from beginning to
end; not single sentence betrayed !
improper feeling toward any of his |
opponents-in word, his discourse, |
perhaps an hour and half long, had !
not the least expression in it calcula-
ted to wound the most unfair among |
his judges nor had it single illu-
sion unbeconling a genial. well-bred |
gentleman in conversation with fa-
miliar friends in the privacy Of his
own drawingroom. This calm, cool, |
collected manner was maintained !
throughout, and nowhere was it more
markedly apparent than when justice
to himself compelled Mr.. Elkins to al
lude to Mr.. Chairman McGraw's mex
cusable act, betraying the EXTREMIST
bitterness Of interruptions partisanship
in dragging Mr.. ElEins' private bus
mess affairs before the public for the
sole purpose of subscribing party ends.
Now let us briefly draw a parallel
DNtWSSh MI Isihiifo duu Jul HOHOlSu
First Citizen of the Commonwealth "
Comparisons, however consistent with
truth, are too often invidious; the one
we are about to institute shall be as
free as possible from any objection
able feature. In fact l should have
attempted no comparison at all be-
tween the two gentlemen had there
not been an opinion current that Mr..
Wilson is at present engaged in a sort
of triangular fight with Mr. Elkins
and Mr.. Dayton. Being both of the
new school, Mr.. Wilson's oratory af-
fords few points of contrast with that
of his rival. Like the latter he is in
the main quiet, deliberate, argument
tative. Where the great commoner
chooses to display emotion he is most
effectively passionate. And this pow
er really constitutes the chief differ
erce between the two speakers. Mr.
| Elkins talks steadily on like a man
bent on proving his facts with mathe-
NAUTICAL precision; Mr.. Wilson occa-