The Portland daily press., 1895-08-09
AN ORATORS METHOD.
Conkling's Apparent sponitaneity the Re.
suit of Careful Study.

Senator Conkling was especially sensa-
tive to such imputation on his power as
an orator as the intimation that he al
ways prepared with care his speeches
seemed to him to cast He studied per-
haps as no orator in his generation did
the art of seeming to say on the inspira-
tion of the moment that which ought to
be said, and to say it in the best manner
possible. There were two Illustrations OF
this art of apparent extemporaneous
power, which showed how thoroughly he
had mastered it. During the second Grant
campaign Senator Conkling was to deliver
what in the colloquialism of political can
vases is called the "opening gum He
was to speak in the old Academy. OF
music in this city. He was thoroughly
aroused, in perfect sympathy with the
candidate and the issues of the campaign,
and was inspired, as we'll, by political
ambition, born of the already frequent
hint that he himself might be named four
years later as New York's 81 candidate for
the presidency.
The senator had,,probably,,the finest poll
tical audience that had ever faced a
SpCdhCI Ala VlldU vClupl0 VI luuolG IL WdS
made up mostly Of representatives of the
refinement and culture of New York.
Many ladies wereithere and occupied the
boxes, so that, excepting they were not
dress ed as they would have been had the
entertainment been an opera, their ap-
pearence suggested anything but a politi-
cal gathering.
Conkling held the audience entranced
for more than three hours Occasionally
hn a G rrh fror iv1rr h 10
thought in suitable words. Now and then
he would make references to the audience
which seemed to have been spontaneous,
to have been suggested by something which
at that moment passed before his eye.
And SO perfect was the suggestion of ex-
telnperaneous utterance that probably
every person in the audience, excepting
those familiar with Conkling's method
believed that the speech so far as the
diction was concerned, was the inspira-
tiOn OF the moment
Yet there were proof slips on that
speech, and the identical passages which
seemed to have been suggested on the in
stant were found on It. Had such an
audience as Mr. Conkling's presumed be
would have not been present, he would
ences. Mr.. Conkiing's private secretary.
long afterward, in speaking Of that men,
orable address, said, that whereas the
writing of it occupied only about two
weeks 1t took Mr.. Conkling nearly three
weeks of continuous application to
memorize it, and to practice It's rhetorical
effects.
THE ROCHESTER, SPEECH.
The speech delivered by Mr.. Conkling
at the Rochester convention of 1877 is
thought by students of oratory to be per-
haps the most powerful illustration of
sarcasm, contempt and sneerl that is
wholly parliamentary, which any Amer
ican orator has left us 1t had every ap-
pearance when delivered Of being inspired
by the passion of the moment Yet there
were few men who heard it who knew
that it had been carefully written and
thoroughly learned. Mr.. Conkling read
it, or, in fact, repeated it with his notes
to few friends on the evening before the
convention meet. Some of them advised
him not to deliver 1t, because of it's in
tense personality, correct as that was, SO
far as parliamentary usage Is concerned.
In the speech occurred two alternative
passages. Mr.. Conkling intended to
attack George William Curtis, and did
SO. In case Curtis should reply, or admit
having made certain statements, then Mr..
Conkling proposed to use one passage
which touched greater heights of sarcasm
and contempt than anything else in the
speech. In case Mr.. Curtis should ceny
that he made certain statements, then
MIR. Conkling proposed to use another
passage, and that lis the one contained
in the speech
AS Curtis did shake his head in denial,
passage he had written in case Curtis
should thus deny. But it seemed to the
convention, following instantly, as it did.
upon Curtis denial, as though it was an
inspiration Of the moment Hollands IS
Letter In Philadelphia Press.