The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1897-06-09

"'"Iuerdole-he may have made
MS ihlStakes-hut those who know him
oeSt Will never doubt his higb-minded
sincerity OF purpose or the general nobi-
IVY Oh MS character. Gordon, the soldier
Is lmmortallzed in history; Gordon. the
orator, has made his indelEble innrass
upon the minds and hearts of tens of
thousands; Gordon. the statesman. leaves
oehInd him a record of conservatism of
honesty and ability; Gordon. the chris
I'ah gentleman, is none the less admira-
bic.
AS an orator General Gordon possesses
magnetic power, while he does not lack
In those arts of gesture and diction
which form the basis of all successful
oratory. He has proved himself as in
VlAclole IN canvass before the people
III Ihe Tune OF peace as he was in Lees
memorable campaigns in time of war
he has been known to face vast audi-
ences where he was Kissed on every side
and every shouting. throat seemed to de.
~ him to speak, but finally forcing a
hearing his eloquence change Kisses to
cheers, defiance to allegiance, and he left
the platform a cOnquerer. This happen
ed IN Columbus once where the populace
tormented by Ex-Governor Milton Smith
determined to shout Jack" Gordon
down. He faced them undaunted. and
IN his deep, commanding tones, his right
hand pointing upward, he Numbered:
Il come here in the right of citizen in
this republic to voice his opinions on the
political questions of the day, and by
this good right arm, which has never
failed me, in war or in peace, | shall be
heard" AS usual the man CONQUERED
the Gro Ed
Gordon is pre-eminently a soldier. At
any time, in any place, in any sort of
apparel, you would mark him as a mill
tary man. The very tones of his voice
in his oratorical efforts smack of the
field, where he knew 81 we'll how to in
spire and lead. He is imbued with the
true martial spirit, and no commander
never knew better than he how to appeal
to this quality in other men. 1t IS an old
story that after one of Gordon's address
es before battle his men felt prepared,
as they expressed it, to "storm hi It.
self"
The secret of Gordon's power as an or
ator one cannot easily point out. His
words are simple and he uses no highly
wrought figures. 1t must be the grand
eur of the man behind the arts of speech.
of which he is nevertheless master.
What he says is said with sucn consul
mate naturalness and rec that one new
stops to consider the how and he why
OF his power. HIS gestures are all his
own. There is nothing of the calculated
grace of the ordinary speaker II them,
but they come like sabre cuts with an
expressive energy. He captures his
hearers by his personal magnetism and
by the sort of martial eloquence peculiar
to him. Then, he is ever high-spirited,
ready to take advantage of the slips of
an Oppon ent, and he knows we'll how to
make keen home thrust with such per-
feet good nature as to dsarm all bitter
ness.
l remember hearing him introduce
David B. Hill and Roswell P. Flower,
the latter then governor Of New York,
and the addresses which followed seem
ed fiat and tame in comparison to the
! fine spirit and humor of the Introductory
remarks.
An incident or two will throw side
! light on the character of the man. This
one he tells in his lecture, 1.-The Last
Days of the Confederacy.' On the first
days battle at Gettysburg GordOn's
command was thrown upon the enemy's
right flank. AS his men were driving
the blue coats across field of red clover
he saw a federal officer fall from his
horse. When he came up to where be
fell the southern commander saw that
the man was still alive. He dismOunt-
ed and spoke to him. The man said he
was Major General Barlow of New York,
and General Gordon gave his name and
rank in return. General Barlow was
shot through the body, the ball passing
out near the spinal cord and completely
paralyzing him. He was plain y in dy-
ing condition, and Gordon had him re-
moved to the shade of tree and did