The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-29

be q great artist, and mOre-nnust be
a great poet, and - be a
master OF the great things h a inter-
est mankind. What he says must
have as permanent a place in litera-
ture AZ the highest poetry. He must
be able to play at will on that mighty
organ-his audience-of which human
souls are the keys. He must have
knowledge. wit, wisdom, fancy. m
aginatfon. courage. n~obieness. grace, a
heart OF fire. He must himself re-
spOnd to every emotion as an aeolian
harp to the breeze. He must have
An EYE that tears can on a sudden ill,
And lips that smile before the tears
are gone
He u ave a noble personal pres
enc He must have the eye and the
voice which are the only and natural
by which n human soul can
enter and subdue another. His speech
must be filled with music, and possess
it's miraculous charm and spell,
Which the posting winds recall
And suspend the rivers fall
He must a. the quality which Burke
manifested when Warren Hastings
said, L felt, as I listened to him, as If
EARTH and which made Philip say Of
Demosthenes, Had / been there he
would rave persuaded me to a k up
arms against myself"
We have referred to Burke's most
splendid, most imaginative speech. He
made others of rarest value and inter-
est, replete with high inspiration, most
noble thoughts, most profound reflec-
tions. His speech on the celebrated
Warren Hastings trial was of great
perfection in art, force, e~loquence. OF
all British statesmen he was the most
philosophical. Webster, and we may
suppose Sumner, studied Burke very
closely. OF New England orators Wen
bic than Sumner, Al abofitionist Of the
most fiery, consuming, vindictive type,
was possibly the highest. His style
would doubtless have been captivat-
ing in the south. We are rather sur
prised to read this from Senator HOar
and yet it may be faithful Inning:
Wendell Phillips beautiful diction
and graceful action were delightful to
the listener. But he made converts
rarely, and seldom stirred in his audi
tors a strong moral emotion which
without him they would not feel. He
was reckless and INSCRIPTIONS in his
assertions. His statements of a fact,
LIS CSl1A1AdtC I'll luc IdC Ol q COU.
temporary, his expression Of an opin-
ion as to public policies, had no effect
on the majority of his auditors-who
went to hear him out Of curiosity, or to
crafty a taste for good speaking-ex-
cept to make them say to themselves,
L wOnde If there is any truth in that
He seemed to delight in i%nvective and
in the use OF his singing weapon, as a
gladiator might delight in his exhibit
tiOn."
Sumner had man. excellencies and
some superb parts doubtless to have
made the impression he did on New
Englanders and some English men of
letters, and upon the senate in which
he sat for many years. Mr.. Hoar says
he was persuasive and convincing in
address. People heard and were de-
lighted and believed. Tha was the
case, we suppose rnGhen he was riding
his high abolition horse and was ex-
coriating the people in the south. He
was a distinguished man, a rarely gift
ed man doubtless, and reflected as in a
mirror much of the p~rovincialism, mar
rOwness, prejudices, peculiar ideas,
assumptions, Omniscience as we'll as
learning, culture and mental gifts Of
the higher circles in his rich state.