New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1911-07-08
MICHEL IS NOT AN ORATOR
BUT WHAT OF THAT?


date for governor, is not a stem
torian speaker of sounding sent
ences. nor a wide -mouthed warbler
of political platitudes, and is no
such orator as are the Brutuses
that are in arms to kill the 'stata
ring" that he cannot be elected.
because when campaign oratory IS
lisporting itself before a crowd
1.-THE plain business talk OF a .plan.
blunt man has no show whateve'.
Time was when passionate and
sonorous oratory was more con-
vincing than all the logical reason
ing that could be put together.
The magic of the voice and ges-
lures of the speaker and the SYM
pathetic excitement pervading the
crowd that listened produced an
effect that could be accomplished
| in no other way.
That was during the more than
five thousand years before the art
of printing. when whatever was
recorded was engraved on stones
or written by hand upon parch-
ment and out of reach Of all man.
kind with the exception Of few
learned and almost sacred pers-
onages with whom the records
were deposited. Then it was not
only impossible to move multi
Itu6e TO action, but it was also inn
possible to inform the people OF
the conditions which required
such action. save by assembling
them in crowds and there haran-
guing them.
But the necessity for and the
power Of oraltory were not
brougt to an end by the printing
of books, although to some ex-
tent curtailed, but the daily news
papers. carried by swift trains to
all parts Of the country and re-
porting the daily events Of every
sort and giving detailed accounts
Of political conditions and trans
actions everywhere. have taken
the VI ind out Of the Oratorial sails.
They have struck the POLITICAL
spcechmaker between wind and
limited the magic Of his voice
and manner to the individuals
who made mp the assemblage
which he addressed.
Thus, while possibly two thou
sand persons saw the speakers on
July 4 at Ruston. and of thtnxx / IS
hear them. on the very next day,
through the intervention of the
telegraph, the daily newspapers
and the swift railway trains all
the speeches were laid before al
most the entire population Of Lou
isiana, and whatever there was of
sense and reason that could COM
mend it to the people of the state
was made known to- them. f.
from the noise. the elamor, the
dust and excitement of crowd.
There is no desire here to un-
dervalue the uses and the power
OF the orator and to sneer at The
thrills that his burning words
flash through nerves and brain.
but the area in which he can ex-
ert his power is now enormously
limited and circumscribed by the
discoveries Of prosaic and plain,
everyday practical science.
Moreoer THE present is the
lge OF business. Not again would
t be possible for fiery-tongued
'rators to preach through the
'ouhsry another Crusade like
hose Of the Middle Ages, nor an
ther Revolution like that of 1776. !
lor another tremendous War of !,
secession like that of 1861. To- 4
ay all is business, and plain,
lear business statement of pub
&c affairs by a business man of !.
he highest character. who under
fands it and can explain it all,
what is wanted. Mr.. Michel is
nat man, and not merely that.
lie knows what ought to be done.
nd whatever is In his power to
0 or in the power of any man
no seeks public favor today he !
IN do and will do.-Picayune.
CONSCIENCE IN POLITICS. !