The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29

Buckeye Senator a Strong, Forcible
Speaker.

Chicago Chronicle.
1t does not require concurrence in all the
political ideas Of Senator Hanna to recog-
nize the truth of the persistent rumor that.
although business man." he has become
an effective public speaker.
There is stubborn myth to the effect
that only lawyers or professional rhetori-
clans are entitled to be considered orators.
What is oratory? An appeal addressed
to an assembly for the purpose OF altering
the opinion prevalent in 1T or for the pur-
pose of confirming an opinion presumed to
be entertained by some OF those present.
The most effective advocacy has been that
which converted men from the prediction
they held to the opposite convictions of the
speaker.
Great oratory' has been popularity ASSOC
ciated with comprehensive and extended
classical culture. That this was true in
classical days cannot be doubted, but in
direct contradiction to it is the experience
of modern generations.
1t will be admitted that the most re-
nowned oratory of the English tongue has
been delivered in the House Of Commons.
Rotund periods. polished phrase, carefully
deposited quotations. apparent spon-
taneity derived from laborious seclusion In
advance. glowing tropes and passionate
denunciation have combined to produce
glittering effects whose scintillations con-
tinue to sparkle in literature.
But the true test of advocacy is its ef-
feet upon those TO whom IL Is directed.
Burke convinces posterity, but when he
rose in the presence OF the speaker mem
into the Hobbies. Macauley could give a
hundred reasons for anything he recon-
mended. Those he wished TO persuade fed
from him as a bore.
In this age Bourke Cochran must be ac-
knowledged the premier professional
rhetorican. In his prime and at his best,
and his best was always superb, whe en- ne ne
party he fascinated MS opponents, set the
galleries wild, demonstrated to the cynical
that the classic art OF oratory stlu hour
ishes-and did not change vote.
Not less curious is the fact that extern
sive culture and continuous familiarity
from childhood with the pest mooeis OK
speaking are not necessary 10 produce ora
torical finish. Even in the presence OF Glad
stone the most silvery voice, the most CO.
gent arguments, the most melodlous para
graphs, were frequently those OF Joe"
Cowen.
For uniformity of excellence. for sus-
tanned imagination and seemingly irref-
utable argument, for idiomatic English and
apt illustration, the pre-eminent orator or
\, estminster was John Bright, who never
crossed the threshold of a university and
For the largest measure of influence upon
his time and all time for forcing men
against their interests to agree with him
the palm belongs to Richard Golden, who
never entered a university and was at work
from his sixteenth year.
Bright and Golden were simply business
men who became orators because they had
convictions which they desired TO extend
To them language was merely a means to
an end. With the professional rhetorician
display of vocabulary and literary accom-
pliSQmentS
come the end.
Senator Hanna began public life with
more educational requirements than either
Bright or Golden had on quitting school
forever. With much less Senator Chandler
was one OF the most cogent speakers OF the
war time. With less Governor Fowler was
an interesting, even an absorbing. exponent
| of a large range of important questions.
Convictions are the foundation OF efrec-
tive public speaking. A man must state
his convictions to himself clearly in order
to convey them TO others. Simplicity OF
sentence, orderliness OF enforcing facts.
curacy in detail and precision OF phrase
| comprise the essentials OF effective public
speaking. The ponderous erudition OF the
university does not promote these qualities
| in talking.
| Sincerely earnestness and brevitx with
| courtesy and tact, are worth more than
| reconcile illusions and decorative borrow
| ings, which obscure the real object I'm view
| and distract dazzle the listener.
Senator Hanna has convictions. Their
| possession and an unfiinching courage in
1 expression OF Inefn quduly MIN 10 nOlQ
| the attention OF his fellow-men. His edu-
| cation is adequate and his success Is un-
questionable.
| 1t were we'll for the country II more Of
| its business men. whatever their convfc-
| tions, followed the example OF Senator
| Hanna, and diminished the effeminacy of
| political life caused by an undue prepcn-
derance of men without convictions and
| of merely literary advocates OF political
| impressions which are I'm the intellectual
! jelly stage and lack the bone and sinew
OF sincerely and determination.