The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-11-08
CAMPAIGN WORK.
Printed Matter Against the EIoquence of
Oral Speech.

NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-THE enormous in
crease in the use Of printed matter in po-
litical campaigns has caused some of the
politicians who have shown great skill in
the management of canvasses TO be OF
opinion that the time Is near at hand when
campaign literature will practically sup
plant the stump. In fact, in two cam
paigns recently ended the battle was main
~ fought, so far Us appeals to the public
were concerned, with literature sent TO the
voters In Vermont no speeches, with one
10 two exceptions, were made, and yet
public interest was so stimulated that n
very large vote was polled In Maine the
prominence of ex-Speaker Reed and the
desire TO hear Mckinley caused these two
distinguished public men TO appear upon
the stump, but the battle as a whole was
conducted by the agency of the printing
press, supplemented, of course, by the
proper work of organization.
In New York state, where a very excit-
ing political battle is TO be fought, the
amount Of campaign literature to be sent
out by either party will be enormous. 1t
will consist of speeches, letters of Presi-
dent Cleveland, carefully prepared state
ments made by those who are skillful in
arranging campaign material, and 1t is
expected that every voter in the state will
have laid before him large quantity Of
documents of this sort
Nevertheless, while the use of campaign
literature has been very greatly increased
in the past few years, it is not likely ever
to supplant wholly the spoken word. The
printed argument may convince, but the
platform speech will sometimes persuade
when logic fails TO convince Campaign
speaking, however, of today is not exactly
what it was before the voters were fur
nished with so much literature. There
are today comparatively fewer men who
are distinguished Us stump speakers than
there Were 90 years ago. Before the war,
and, in fact, for little while after, it was
by means Of the stump that ambitious
men mounted TO places of political prefer
ment. Therefore stump speaking was q
most carefully studied and cultivated art.
Such men as Tom Corwin gave as deep
thought 10 the peculiar methods necessary
to make stump speech that would sue
cessfully appeal as Wendell Phillips did to
the preparation of his addresses. Both of
these men, in fact, prepared themselves
in manner almost identical. Neither
ever used notes, and with one or two ex-
ceptions there does not exist a speech of
Phillips in his own manuscript Yet
when he was upon the public streets or
travelling he was constantly thinking OF
the arts by which he could persuade an
audience and was even formulating his
addresses. Corwin studied his crowds and
his methods with as patient care as did
Phillips, and he therefore gained the rep
utation, at least in the west, of being the
most pleasing stump speaker of his gener-
alton.
Mr. Conkling gained his first fame as a
stump speaker. He was only a little past
81 when he delivered his first address, but
he then, as he always did, carefully prepar-
ed it and committed it to memory. He
also, when he had a number of speeches to
make in n campaign, prepared variations
from the first speech, SO that 1t would not
appear that he was limited to a single ad-
dress. The late Senator Nye, who was
one of the most delightful, witty and sue
cessful of stump speakers, also bestowed
great study upon that art, and it was his
skill upon the stump which at last brought
him to the United States senate. Gerrit
Smith, famous years ago rs one of the an
tislavery leaders, was a wonderful speaker
upon the stump, and he had a voice which
in power, melody and delicious information
has been compared even to that of Glad
stone and as a more perfect organ Of speech
than that of Phillips.
In these later years other influences than
the stump have made it possible for men
to succeed in politics, so that the number
who are capable of drawing immense
throngs to hear them seems TO be growing
smaller each year.
There is great demand from all parts OF
the country for the presence of Mr.. Reed,
and that is not wholly due to curiosity to
see him. He has won wide fame as
most adroit and captivating stump speak
or, and that he has the natural power of
a true orator is indicated by the fact that
he sometimes does not prepare his speech
es, relying upon the inspiration of the mo-
ment, and that sometimes when he has
prepared one he abandons it when he takes
the platform, some new thought being sug-
gested to him as he stands facing his au
dience and then there follows a speech
which charms his audience. That was the
case a few years ago in Boston.
Bourke Cochran is almost as widely
sought as is Mr.. Reed, and that is because
of his brilliant midnight speech ut the
Chicago convention. 1t has been called
speech which said more and accomplished
less than any address delivered under sim
liar circumstances, although that was also
said of Mr.. EvaIts' speech at the Chicago
convention of 1860, in which he placed
Governor Seward in nomination for the
presidency. Mr.. Cockran's speech in Chi
cago in 1892, it is generally believed, was
inspired by the mighty excitement of the
moment That is not exactly true, since
for a day or two he had made practically
the same appeal TO certain delegations
whom he desired TO persuade.
Colonel Fellows of New York Is stump
speaker much sought, and ne has the ma
tive gifts of a true orator of that kind
He never prepares his speeches and fire.
Guently mounts the platform without any
idea OF what he is TO say. Mckinley, oi
course. i u speaker who commands the
greatest crowds wherever he goes, and his
record j. probably unique IN one respect.
and that j. in the number of speeches G@-
livered upon consecutive days in single
canvass. an intellectual and physical ef-
fort which he has made in three recent
canvasscs probably without equal. The
only apparent effect upon him was a slight
huskincss in his voice toward the close CT