University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-28
Oratory Today.

CHAMP Nidih, iedueF VI tHc DeiHt-
cratic party in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes has been pondering on the
/ contributed to the current number of
{ the Century Magazine he sums up his
views on the decline and fall of the
orator William Bourke Cochran of
New York was, In Mr.. Clark's opinion,
the last great orator TO grace the
House of Representatives His charm.
according TO Mr.. Clark. was due 10
( his erudition and 10 his emotional
| temperament He had mastery OF
the Greek. Latin and. French tongues.
with "A superb voice. vivid magma
ton and commanding presence"
tor is TO force applause from hostile
audience. and. Mr.. Clark says. he has
often seen such an audience applaud
/ Cochran until their hands were blis-
tered.
! II do not mean that there are not
still great speakers and great de-
batcrs in both houses OF Congress,
me proceeds. for there are plenty OF
them. But there is vast difference
between an orator and debater A
man may be both. but he is lucky ii
he is either.
hn IL Of :.
noticeable in the pulpit and the bar
Lawyers and preachers as we'll as rep
iresentatiyeS and senators have left on
oratorical soarings and cOnfine them
selves TO arguments and facts OF
course, their speeches are frequently
adorned with learning, wit. humor,
fancy and all sorts OF historical, hi
ographical and scientifis illustration.
| but they lack the elaboraiencss the
polish and the lofty style Of the ora
/ tinns OF the day that has gone Old.
/ time lawyers were in the habit of
Il lawyer who would weep in the
presence of the jury would simply
rcnder himself ridiculous. and the
chances are that it would prejudice
! his ease instead ow helping IT,
What has produced this change
in the manner OF speaking? | believe
that it is chiefly due 10 the general
diffusion OF knowledge As Il -,rlte the
more information Il man has the less
emotional he is, and the orators ip-
| peal was TO the emotions rather Than
/ TO the understanding There are
! plenty of men in the United States
! WHO could deliver old-time Orations.
but they have concluded that in this
tase OF highest intelligence the plain
er style of speaking is the better. The
! principal causes OF the decadence OF
0ratOry arc the telegraph, the print.
ing press. the telephone, the steam
| engine and the electric car
| When mans speech is once gen
orally printed in fhe newspapers. he
dislilies 10 deliver il again. because
now nearly everybody reads Il daily
| paper. and il would be merely Il twice
told tale. Moreover, in this time of
fierce competition in all the walks of
| life men are TOO busy to listen to
oratory. They prefer simply IL lucid
statement of the reasons for or
against any proposition. In both
houses there are eloquent men and
dcbaters who perhaps have never
been eycelled in clearncss of state
mcnt. in force of illusrration. in pow
er to marshal all the facts thar can
be brought 10 bear in favor of the
proposition they desire 10 maintain.
but they rarely enter into the orator
ical role"
70 the novice who would master the /,
arr of effective public speaking Mr.. /
Clark says: Master your subject. |
waste no words and state your ideas !
ctly.'-Chicago Record Herald |