The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-01

| II the founders OF our governments buils
much of the sentiment which snstsiness q
by expounding from the rcstrum al III
/ merits and advantages. IL was because tia
| times possessed no other vehicle through
which 10 reach the public mind. But even
at that time the written word was far
more convincing than the spoken one. Tho
| pamphlets printed by Hamilton. Jay and
Madison and collected under the name OF
The Federanst.'' did more to convince
the American people than all the oratory
even though they had limited circulation
among the masses Of the population. The
fiery oratory Of the day appealed to tho
sentiments and the prejudices OF the pee
pie. but the printed essay went deep and
abidingly Into the Iecesses OF their UNDER
standing
And here We may find the real cause q
the dccadence Of political oratory Mora
and more the people Of America require
that their intelligence shall be safis1le<i.
Emotinal action IS more and more rese-
gated 10 the circles OF the ignorans- sixty
or seventy years ago tho people took their
inspiration from the magnificent forensic
display Of trained orators. when n bur
another name for trained actors one a -
read the speeches Of Clay and weesssa
and marvel at their beautiful rhetorsc.
their picturesque SMILES, and their GER
geous perorations. and yet smile az thetr
lack OF reason and logic A contrast 10
afforded by one OF our recent presidential
campaigns Ne orator on either side was
more effective than she late Marcus \.
Hanna in the contest of 1899. He made 30
pretense OF dramatic oratory or OF moving
eloqucnce He went straight at the an
Outstanding Of his hearers. Offering fact
and argument in place OF rhetoric. And
the fact OF his effectit eness without the
arts Of the polished orator is not a refiec-
ton on the taste or culture OF the people.
but proof that the American public has
passed the emotional stage in matters
political and forms It's judgments on tho
basis % reason.
IL Is a common remark that the news
papers have driven The political orator
away from the field That Is true 70
certain extent. but the statement does not
grasp and comprehend all shc facts In thu
premises. The newspapers have pot taken
the place OF the political orator simply be-
cause they are the easiest way 20 reach
the largest audiences. but because theY
treat their subjects / ma way most con.
vlncing 10 the advancing intelligence Il
the people The average speech IN con-
grcss today II simply an elaborate news
paper editorial The set speech on the
floor OF either body is an essay. not an at
tempt at what might be called the Web
sterian STYLE Of matter or delivery. The
orators themselves have abandoned th<sr
own peculiar field. seemingly eorvinced
that the country has outgrown the lfkspx
for emotional eloquence. and knowiss
that nthls field they must be great Indeed
II they would escape the half huraofoas
contempt OF wiser people.
In recent years the speech which most
closely patterned after the style ~ sncsens
American oratory was that Of V =. Sfy-
before the Democratic coz
vcntion az 1885 II was dramatically gfvsu
and WAS sent straight AZ tho pre- i',sgkf-s
and passions Of all who heard "a u IT,.
wonderfully suggestive ~ one Of The ThesEs :
indulKed hy John CsshouD
when ~ was organizing the nullfiesfisn
movement IN California But what poor
thing IL appears at this moment when
read in a critical fashion It's cheap fury.
ts lustisn. it, want II logic or TACT 10
enough 20 make the man ~ho was moved
bv Il ashamed ~ hts weakness Yet 40
may aver with iry:ih fha; IL ir a tYgs q
1eopie speak reKreffuIly not realizing that
distance lends euchantmenf. and that ths
world has ved.-Kansss city Journal