Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-26
THE oRAToRY OF WEBSTER.
Recoliections of His Two Days Speech
Against Filling Up Back BAY.


Against Filling UP Back BAY.
The last limo we heard Daniel Webster
speak was in 1918. Tho impression no
then made upon our mind is stlll frcsh.
We SEQ even now this intuitlyo statesman,
lawyer and orator md shall never while
sense and memory are loft US forget tho
tones of his voice, his attitude and hls
gestures. All who have any rcmombranccs
of tho man know that ho was called "The
Godliko," and certainly II such phrase
is ever to be applied to mortal Mr. Web
ster's title TO II is prc-oininent, for indeed
when he was inspired by his subject no
seemed TO hc being from another and
higher sphere.
The ploa or address. which consumed
part OF two days, was made before a rail.
rond committee Of the Massachusetts, leg
islaturc Tho writer was then member
OF that body and enjoyed the opportunity
of listening to Mr.. Webster, little think.
ing It was the last time we would DO PRIV.
iloged to hear him. Ho then appeared TO
DO In good health md strength Mr.. Web.
stor died In October, 1859, when ho was
ono Of tho Wing candidates for the presi-
dency, and we therefore heard his voice
for the last time us 1t sounded forth In tho
representatives. hall of tho Massachusetts,
statohouse Tho committee agreed To
hold It's hearings In this hail. that all who
desired to hoar the great man mi ght do 30.
Tho commudious Hralcaco room below
and above WINS crowded to its utmost ca
pacity on this ocsnsion.
The question Mforo the committee was
proposition from tho Old Colony railroad
to I'll up what was then known as tho
South Boston flats, over which the tides OF
the bay and hnrbur flowed. Tho road
wanted moro room for It's depots and
buildings. The Boston merchants who
owned the small ooastwlso vessels and
were engaged In tho mercantile shipping
and longshure trade wanted all this room
where the waters flowed for the mooring
OF their small craft, and these mon sent to
Washington and called the great orator
md senator TO come on and help thom dc.
feat tho railroad management and paid
him good round fee, and ho did H.
Ii is OF this great ind pertinent address
alone we now propose to speak. Tho hall
WINS crowded. Mr.. Webster did not tall,
on this occasion to the multitude but to
tho committee, and his argument was
able, torso and to tho point, and delivered
In n tone that tho committee and those
near tho front could hear y vast number
OF people in that audience did not hear
anything he said tho first day, But mover
mind. II was Mr.. Webster who was
speaking, and all stnid and listened just
tho same.
Mr. Webster's argument was for the
committee and not intended for public Ell
foct. To these officials he nado his address
with convincing power. He was perfect
master OF tho English tongue, and the
purcst md best words and phrases Of our
vernAoular wero always at his command.
So on this occasion there wore no mere
platitudos, pompous phrases and useless
and frivolous words. His entire plea WAS
plain and replcto with arguments pnten.
tlal with tho committee, and this was all
he sought to accomplish. The crowd went
away at tho close OF tho first days hearing
disappointed. Nevertheless there was a
sort Of satisfaction that they had listened
md tried to hear tho gron orator, On tho
second day they wers more thnn pleased
for their trouble.
Ono Of tho lawyers of the railroad tool,
tho opportunity TO critiolso and almost
pooh az the great mans argument. 1t was
just the course TO arouse tho sleeping lion,
md for an hour and a I there was such
an outpouring. such ondortul preson-
tHtion Of arguments rhetoric, forensic
skin and legal Hcumen, us put to silence
all cnyillng at once.
Tie real BostoniAn prides himself that
his native or chosen city Is tho Hub. Amy
one who was so fortunate as 20 hear Mr..
Webster that day and to 500 tho grand pic.
turo which he draw would, for n time Mt
least, admit that Boston-Mr. Webster's
Boston-is indeed and In truth the Hub
He described tho pilgrim city as tho entire.
pot Of tho world and declared It to DO tho
national mercantile emporium Of all tho
long md wide stretch of country which
enyirons IL, He entered masterly protest
sguinst filling up the harbor and said ii
was not moro land, but moro harbor, that
tho city needed, and thon he pronounced |
tho word oxcavAte three times with a |
thrilling and indescribable effect, which |
no one who listened to him at that time
can over forget
Tho summing up Of Mr.. webstor's sbil.
ity and unsurpassed oratory and tho skill
that he possessed is found In the words
alone that ho used though those wrought
nightly in his favor. 1t was necessary to
couple all no said with n look Into his face
and into tho flashing eyes md to taho into
account tho mans entire individuality.
Our estimate Of Mr.. Webster is predicated
upon this dual opportunity and method
afforded Ms In seeing and hearing him
We are glad TO say this now, as we ro.
member our privilege. IN. "
Sun.