Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-06-04
CHAMP CLARK AT COLUMBIA.
A Mastery Production on Daniel Web
ster Before the State UniVer-
sity Law Glass.

COLUMBlA, MO, june l.-Io-uhy Is
the best day of commencement week
IN Missouri State University. Champ
Clark, the man from Pike, who be-
came n national figure in two years,
spoke this morning, and President
Harper, who has built one of the
greatest universities in the world in
a few years, is to speak this evening
at s O'Clock.
Mr.. Clark's address was to the grad
uating law class. He had been heard
in Columbia before, and he had n of
the largest audiences ave in the new
chapel. He was at his best. Gener-
ally acknowledged to be one of the
best speakers in the country, he is
seen at his best advantage when deal
ing with men. His address to-day is
declared by those who know him best
to be the finest speech he has ever
written. Mr.. Clark was defeated for
Congress two years age by the land
slide which caught his friends ''nap-
ping" but his party has recently ex-
pressed its great confidence in him by
again nominating him as its leader in
the "BIoody NINTH" and it is certain
that he will again be heard from in the
halls of the nations Legislature. The
Ninth has reason to be proud of him,
and there should be no doubt about
the result in November.
The subject of Champ Clark's ad-
dress before the law class of the Uni
versity was "Daniel Webster" and the
portrait of the great expounder of the
Constitution by the ex-Congressman
a drawn with q friendly hand. Evil
IDENTIFY he has been a close and critical
student of Webster's life, and selected
the most salient features of that re-
markable career as The basis of his
discourse. He presented his subject
from every conceivable standpoint to
his audience; and candidly dealt with
his many sided character. The address
was not a eulogy, but rather a frank
discussion of the richest product of
New England.
Mr.. Clark thought it a strange para
dox in nature that New Hampshire
should have produced a man of Web
ster's characteristics-of such mental
opulency and burning eloquence.
He began by saying: "a lawyer, |
come to speak to lawyers about one
of the greatest lawyers this country has
evor produced, whose influence will
be felt so long as the American Re-
public endures." He ran an elaborate
parallel between Webster, Clay, Cal
houn and Benton, Analysing the quail
ties which gave them success, and
pointing out wherein each excelled
the others, and of what their great
ness consisted.
He then took up and discussed in
extenso Webster's reply to Hayne and
his 7th of March speech in 1850, giving
a ~succinct and graphic account of the
effects produced by each.
Next he treated of Webster's career,
rank and character as a lawyer, dwell
ing particularly on the Dartmouth
College case, tracing it's influence on
Webster himself and its influence on
our Jurisprudence and political affairs.
He asserted that the decision in that
case, together with the ~ceaseless
usurpation of the United States courts,
has largely modified u system of
government; and that the insidious
process of modification is still going
on. To the young lawyers this was
probably the most interesting portion
| of the address. Then came a short
passage descriptive of the deep relig-
ious tone that characterized Webster's
speeches, writing and thoughts. This,
Mr.. Clark claimed, was one of the Sc
crets of Webster's transcendent posi-
ton among men,.
For ten or fifteen minutes he dis
coursed on Webster's personal APP
~pearance, speaking of looks as an ele-
ment of influence and success, quoting
descriptions and opinions of various
persons who had committed to writing
their impressions of "The Godlike
Daniel" and adding a characteristic
description of his own production.
Webster's amusements, tastes, rec
reations and habits were touched on
In a decidedly friendly manner; and
in these respects comparisons were
drawn between him and Washington
and jefferson.
| The concluding portion of the ad-
dress was a portrayal OF the wrath of
the New England people, produced by
Webster's 7th of March speech-the
terrific explosion of popular indigna-
tion-the immediate disastrous effect
on Webster's popularity and his final
place in history.
In this matter he ran a parallel be-
tween the treatment accorded to Web
ster by the New Englanders and that
given to Benton by the Missourians
for his action on precisely the same
question which wrecked Webster's "a
reer. Also between the treatment
Webster received with that which
Charles Sumner received in the clos
ing years of his life.
The dominating idea which ran
through the address from the opening
! sentence to the close was that by rea-
son of peculiar circumstances,
unusual opportunities, superb or
atorical gifts, commanding in
teIiect and exalted patriotism
: Webeter's influence on American