The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-15

piause. 1t was by such means that
Mr.. Pitt always took care to repress
any disposition to treat his remarks
with levity or disrespect." A very re-
markable event IN his Parliamentary
career was his reply TO Fox, the
most accomplished debater the world
ever saw" While Fox was speaking,
Pitt was very sick, and actually had
to go out and volnit, while holding the
door behind him open so as to hear
his antagonist. His speech is said TO
contain passages which he never sur
passed in his long and brilliant career
of elCquence" | have before me
parts of his speech but cannot use
them here. 1t was held by some of
his most distinguished contemporaries,
that Pitt had at his command more
perfectly than any other British
speaker of all times the weapon of
'keen and polished sarcasm" Charles
Fuller said 1T enabled him ito iTlfict
q wound even in a single member OF
sentence that could never be healed.
lord North, opposed by Pitt, said of
one of his speeches that his "eloquence
was amazing
Although I have extended this
Sketch beyond my original purpose, let
NE refer 10 one of hls ready, classical
reDukes. In a heated discussion Cen
eral Conway had charged corruption"
Pitt treated him, who was old, with re-
spect, but demanded specification, and
told him that what he could not
prove, he ought never to assail." He
with great dignity said that no man
had a right to ''call upon him for re-
plies TO questions involving great pub
lie considerations. Nor is Il incum--
bent upon him to answer interroga-
tories pu. in the harsh language that
had been used Then turning 10 the
hn u Or
TO have taught him moderation. His
reproof was so apt ii brought forth
burst OF applause from the House. He
quoted the noble reply of Scipio to
FaoiuS-Si nufla ALA re, mode sta
ccrte ct temperance linguam doleAcens
senem Vicero'-"Yout as l am. | will
conquer the aged, if in nothing else.
at least in modesty and command of
my tongue" Given by Goodrich.
He died on 23rd January. 1906, in
his 47th wear. and was buried in West
minister Abbey among many who be-
fore him were men of renoWn ana
power. When he was Informed by
the Bishop of Lincoln that he was soon
to die he heard il with perfect COM
posture and clasping his hands with
the utmost fervor, he exclaimed, i
throw myself entirely Qaying a strong
emphasis on this last word) upon the
mercy of God through the merits of
Christ He now arranged all OF his
concerns with perfect calmneSs.' He
was a man of admirable turthfuln3GS,
and Wilberforce says that for person
al purity, dis ntereStedneSS, integrity,
and love of country" / have never
known his equal. High testimony that
from very high source. DR.. Good
rich thus describes his appearance:
"In person he was tall and slender
his features were somewhat Marsh
hut lighted up with intelligence by the
flashes Of his eye; his gesture was ami
mated, but devoid of grace; his articu-
laton was remarkably full and clear,
filing the largest room with the vol
ume Of sound" WraXall said that
those who knew him best as speak
er eSpatiated with delight or the per-
lection of his arrangement, the COM
pI ehensiveness of his reasonings, the
power of his sarcasm, the magniriccnce
of his declaration, the majestic tone
of his voice, the legislative authority
Of his manner, and his felicitous OBJ
servance of the temper of his audi
ence."
] must quote bit from another very
gifted, able, distinP uished orator and
statesman, George Canning, regretting
] have not space for a long and adj
lnirable passage from him. l cite only
a few segregated sentences from his
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were
among the mastery qualities of his
mind at its first dawn. He has been
mentioned IS statesman He
allowed himself but little recreation
from mis- labors. His mind was al
ways on its station, and its activity
was unremitted. His plans
were full Of energy, and the principles
which inspired them looked beyond
fha the hour He had
nothing of that timid and wavering
cast of mind which dares not abide by
it's own decision. AS a de-
batter in the House of Commons. his
speeches were logical and argumenta-
tive. If they Gid not often abound in
the graces of metaphor, or sparkle
with the brlliancy of wit, they We're
always animated. elegant, and CLASH
cal. The strength of his oratory was
intrinsic, it presented the rich and ele
CANT resource of a clear diScernment
and q correct taste. His speeches
were stamped with unmistaltable
marks of originality He was
always prompt and always diGrified.
He could sometimes have recourse to
the sportiVef. eSS OF irony. His
eloquence, occasionally rapid, electric
and vehement, was always chastc.
winning and persuasive. g Ills
Understanding was bold and compre-
hcnsive. Nothing seemed too remote
fer its reach or too large for its
grasp. His talents, superior
and splendid as they We're, never made
him forgetful of that Eternal Wisdom
from which they emanated. The faith
and fortitude of his last moments
were affecting and exemplary"
{ What a. portrait is that OF greatness,
and what a painter Lr. Canning was
born in 1870, was younger by eleven
years than Pitt, but knew we'll whereof
he affirmed for he too was very ac-
complished, gifted and distinguished,
and often heard the great statesman
in debate of whom he wrote 50 enter.
tainingly. Canning entered Parlia-
ment in 1893, when but twenty-five
years of age He displayed often
manifold, splendid and captivating
genius, and was very delightful in con-
versation and fellowship. 1t is well to
study the great historic characters of
the past. l am reminded III studying
the character and fame Of William
Pitt who died without a title OF arti-