The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-09-21
C3CKRAN AND BRYAN.


were brought into proximity at the Chi
cage conferepcc last week and under cir
cnmstances which make comparison, =
perhaps contrast unavoidable. For the
convenience of the writer the editorial
form of impersonality viii he disregard
ed. feel that those who may choose 70
read what write on this subject viii
not consider me wholly divorced from
preconceived opinion. lconcede the JUS
tice of this view while striving to be I'M
partial, knowing that conviction uncon-
sciously seeks reinforcement and col
ors description with its own hue.
Besides my opinion Of the relative mer-
its of the two men has undergone no
change. except that can be called change
which enlarges the appreciation OF which
had been deemed superior and puts a
lower estimate on wat had been deem
ed inferior by compali son The arrange
ment to have the men speak on the same
evening was made during the progress
of the convention, and was, | believe, at
the instance of Cockrans friends though
with Bryan's approval. The committee
put BRYAN on as the first speaker, but he
objected and Cochran took the initiative.
Therein lay Bryan's discontinue us it
was evident he did not do himself jus
tice if the reputation he enjoys has q
substantial basis.
After arriving in Chicago Bryan de-
clined to speak ON the same evening
Cochran did did not have this direct
" from the committee on arrangements,
but was told so by ex Mayor Hopkins who
said he had personal knowledge of the
refusal. 1t was not announced that Bryan
would not speak Friday evening and it
was the magic of his name which drew
the immense Gro Nd, so large that police
men had to form lane through the
mass so as to permit delegates and those
with tickets to gain access to the hall.
No such crowd would turn out to hear
Cochran, though no doubt, the fact that
he was also to appear whetted expect
ancy.
The regular order was followed, two
papers being lead before Cochran was
introduced. The audience was impa-
tent of delay and attempted by noisy
demonstration of disapproval to drive
the speakers from the platform after
Bryans arrival A sharp admonition
from the chair rs to the proper conduct
for guests restored quiet thereafter until
some one called time" on Cochran.
Cochran did not encounter a hostile
audience, but he did an impatient one
The atmosphere was chilly when he be-
gan and it must have been apparent to
lim that the gratitude of the audience
could be earned by speaking briefly and
their affection by not speaking ut all, as
he would thereby hasten the appearance
of the man for whom their souls hunger
ell He was given a perfunctory hear
ing to- begin with, sympathy was with
neld for some time after they began to
follow his arguments. Their interest
grew as he proceeded until finally they
became lost to the sense of deprivation
and attention soon grew to complete alb
sorption He had nodded the audience
into receptacle for his own thought.
had passed through the practice of as
sanitation myself though not sharing
the prejudice Of my fellows. feared
FOR the orator, and the feeling of SYM
pathy produced that peculiar psyche
logical effect which puts one in an atti-
mde he condemns SO as to gage the ex-
tent of the obstacle the orator has to sur
mount and which you hope he will over
come, though constituting part of it
yourself through friendliness. l shared
in the vicissitudes of the audience until
capitulation came and then III common
with them became unconscious of every
thing but the splendor of Coekran's logic.
Cochran makes oratory the auxiliary
of argument. He is more anxious to con-
vince than to give pleasure 1t is quite
evident he has not made a study of elo-
cution as his naturalness, at times, Dor
ders on awkwardness. But from the
| depth of his earnestness, sympathy with
his thought and vigor of his intellect,
there is grace of delivery which defies
imitation, 1t is the unconscious express
| sion of conscious strength. He is argu-
mentative and brilliant; humorous and
solid; blending ridicule with reason with
out diluting the one or making the other
less pungent His language is classic in
its purity. unstudied and ready as the
thought it clothes, swift with impulse
but freighted with reason, His brillian,
cy is auxiliary only, as his reasoning
powers are dominant. The arts of the
orator are there, but subsidiary. called
forth as natural concomitant of power
I never before heard an orator of great
repute who reached the hight of my ex