New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-08

Nr- Doneu's friends In the Senate had 1T
,1a 1arob If his expense saturday, when, In
answer 10 an accusation OF Inconsistency ne
remarked: L was not then a Senator DuI
"Simulv 4 Ncv-Gorkcr. making speeches. III
most every night and giving little thought 10
chem" Il can hardly be pleasing 10 any pub
lie man TO he forced TO confess that he ever
talks without thinking. and most men con-
frouted with unconsidered, Tar of inconsistent
cies world prer1r 10 end some other cxplana-
ton for them. Mr.. Depew's fraukneSs is en-
gazing. and IL is highly useful. for II is an
expert diagnosis Of a disease OF the age. For
wears the most popular orator in New-lork' IN
demand on all occasions and with unparalleled
readiness we may almost say rccklesSncSs, TO
spending to all demands. Mr.. pepew has put
10 an uncomfortable strain human capacity for
Thought and consistency by trying 10 make it
keen pace with fuency in continuous per
Torrance. He is the victim Of his enjoyment
OF speecamaking as an exercise aud his good
natured readiness 10 respond 10 all drafts
on his eloqucncc. lie has done remarkably
well. perhaps better than anybody else engas-
ing I'm the same occupation on the same scale
and if Mr. DcDew cannot talk every night and
think Of what De Is saving nobody else car.
Haze fabula dOcet~ This little incident is
simply typical Of what under present condi-
tons every man I'm public life is brought 10
who does not heroically resist the eager suction
OF the vacuum around him, tending 10 spread
his intellectUas out thin 10 emptiness The
passion seems 10 be all pervadiGg. No man
is content 70 take time TO give the world a
perfect work or e be is content the clever
exploiter who prefers 10 market ten imperfect
half baked works. rather than wait for q single
perfect one. posters him TO death with hattering
demands and dazzling prizes for fertility. \
thoughtful forceful preacher gets established
where he can do good, with just enough in
tellectual power 70 inspire a congregation once
a week. The lecture bureau ami the publisher
come along, put in force pump where a
spring was demand three or four addresses
and articles q week and soon have him running
emptyings 4 man with n clever turn OF wit
makes n few capital aftcrdinner speeches.
and the whole race Of dinner committees sets
on him and in six months turns him into a
fTightful bore. Somebody writes n promising
poem or novel and before he has chance 20
develop any real greatness the temptation OF
popularity carries him into the army or prolific
modiocrity. The noble ambition 10 DO good
becomes in itself a cause Of evil. The work er
attacked by the germ Of megalomania is told
by his conscience that he must reach a larger
audience. The thing which be finds so helpful
70 a few must not be wasted it must be made
Serviceahle 10 the many. So il is diluted, and
soon becomes useless 10 anybody.
1t may be said that the newspaper writer
should be Tie last person in the world 10 he
critical on this score, for the newspaper is the
quintesscnce OF snap judgment and rapid. con
tlnuOus Utterance. But for that very reason the
newspaper writer can appreciate the evil incl
. dent 10 lis calling. The newspaper must be
superficial and imperfect and the public takes
IL with appropriate qualification. Are our
preachers, statesmen, professors. historians and
norelisis 10 De taken rs mere ephemeral iour-
na!istsE Are their serious works 10 be treated
as words without careful thought? III not
greater selfrestraint and concentration OF actiy.
Z tiles must he sought. From old time The rtih-
4 BE has n tradition that what tho preacber or
statesman says in formal address or what tho
author puts forth IN book is OF Significance
I as the product or mature thought but that fra.
/ oiton VIII not long endure experience with
TIC modern three-ring. intellectual hippodrors
winch asks OF eli Characters making claim "a
] distinction n continuous exhibition o. verbal
liaeilliy Tiiae Is On element n the formation
OF thought which the populace seems 10 forget