The morning times., 1896-09-13
URNING from this book to Henry Hard
wicke's History OF Oratory and Or
ators,'' as so handsomely published

ators,'' as so handsomely published
recently by q. p. Putnam's Sons, is
to turn from the consideration OF mar
rownesS to breadth, superstition to intellect,
tyranny to freedom, for, as the author re
marks, oratoryis the parent OF liberty. By
the constitution OF things 1t was ordained
that eloquence should be the last stay and
support of liberty, and that with her she is
ever destined to live, flourish and to die.
II is to theinterest OF tyrants to cripple and
debilitate every species of eloquence. They
have no other safety.
Naturally national analysis OF such
subject as this one reduces the divisions to
the few nations to which liberty has teen
dearest. There We find the greatest or
ators-almost the only orators Greece and
Rome led the ancient contingent to the eN-
clusion of the Egyptian, Persian, Arabian
and other peoples, whose rule was tyran-
meal. In modern time, England, France
and America furnish the only great orators,
because their forms of government furnish
the only occasions. Occasionally in Spain,
Germany, Italy, Portugal, a smothcred
voice is raised, but 1t is the voice pleading
for liberty and Is not heard These Coun-
tries have no association with the growth
of eloqucncc.
Mr. Haruwicke has written with scho-
larry completeness OF the art itself. and
in Illuminating his text with biographical
examples OF the greatest exponents of the
gift of tongues he has chosen with dis
cretion where choice is not easy.
1t would seem, fter a critical study of the
history OF eloquence in America, that II
need only he known TO he appreciated
rs standing shoulder to shoulder in vigor,
beauty, and effectiveness with the best
of the old world and ancient times.
Golden opportunities have called for sill
yer tongues. and they were not wanting.
Eloquence Tired the oppressed Colonists TO
reputation OF tyranny, it stimulated cour-
age and aggression in critical moments,
and made freedom possible. Eloquence
was the flaming sword with which the
first skirmishes of the war against hu-
man slavery was fought. In the present
political crisis a burst OF oratoricai inspira-
ton made hero and recognized \ cause
which may write an Immediately new
epoch in our history. Under our system
of government the hum!,lest is often called
to the tighest station where the art OF
speaking is an absolute necessity. The
dissemination cf campaign doctrines make
u grand school Of oratory of the whole
country Inmncrse fortunes are at stake
in our courts every day, and there at the
tribunal OF clcuuence the more sacred and
valuable rights of life. liberty, and repu-
tation must lie adjudicated. America
offers unexampicd opportunities FOR the
inspiration of lofty eioquence.
not been cpochrai. From the very first the
orators were great and worthy of place
in world history. In every case there
have been tongues aud brains comnlen-
surate with the cause. But there are
landmarks. Not men who may I've singled
as isolated in their tines, but who stand
conspicuous in Coterie Of orators.
About the gifted and redoubtable Patrick
Henry cluster. even shoulder high, James
Otis, immortal. If only Tor his impassioned
debate OH the odIous "Writs of Assist
auCe;" Alexander Hamilton, not forgotten
for a certain speech delivered even as a boy:
Samuel Adams, Josiah Quincy, Joseph
Warren and his speech on the Boston mas
sacre; John Hancock, john Adams and
Richard Henry Lee Though DR.. Charles
Cald well had listened to wilberforce,
BroughaIn. Canning, Burke, Pitt and Fox.
he said that Fisher Amcs' speech on The
jay Treaty" and his ''Tonaha wk'' speech
were the most brilliant and fascinating
speeches he had ever listened to- Ran
dolph, of Roanoke, was another oratoriCal
giant. The fire in the flint first shoDe
when as boy he pittcd himself against
Patrick Henry. and the latter said:
There's an Old mans head Oh that boys
shoulders"
Virginia gave US Randolph; Maryland
gave us Pinckney. Judge Story cele-
brates him as an orator uneQualled in his
time. William Writ was another great
Marylander, whose tongue won him inimor-
tality. Massachusetts may boast OF Ed
ward Everett and Rufus Choate; Kentucky
OF Tom Corwin. and contends with Viz
giuia for the honor Of Henry Clay; Maine
sent Sergeant Preutiss, with his gift Of
tongues, and Webster is the glory OF New
Hampshire and the nation.
No one can listen TO the history OF these
men without glow of pat triotisni or read
tbair burning words without he catches
some OF the fire which famed from their
inspired tongues. A book such as MIR.
is not only a lesson in his
tory and rhetoric, but that portion 1T
least devoted to America OF patriotism
as well.