The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-25

student at Williamsburg he stood in
the lobby Of the House of Burgesses
on the day when his friend made his
Immortal speech against Great Brit
aims attempt TO tax the Colonies. He
saw the tall. awkward figure rise in it's
place. with a stumbling, embarrassed
movement and heard tho first husky
and faltering accents. But In few mo-
mehts wonderful change came over
the speaker The passion Of the orator
was kindlcd and he stood erect and
masterful before his audience. His
homely face slowcd, and there camo
into his voice the musical information
that held his hearers speilbound. FIFTY
nine years aiterward Jefferson spoka
OF that scene with enthusiasm, and
confessed that he would gladly have
exchanged all his earthly prospects
for the oratorical power of Patrick
Henry.
Although Madison came to be re-
garded as the leader of tho Rcpublicar
party before he was thirty years OF
age 1t was not on account of his
facility as public speaker. In that
respect no was vastly the inferior of
Alexander Hamilton the brilliant lead
er of the Fedtralis.s. The scholarly
had been colleagues, but this new deal
brought them into political antagon-
ism. The atmospheric of controversy
was especially dlstastefui To Madison,
and in all his discussions he was tho
most courteous and conciliatory of
political opponents.
The Speech That Got Monroe Into Hot
Water.
James Monroe had no brilliant social
gif bt shn
sentences had ring of sincerity and
courage that made them OF conse-
quence. notable example OF this
trenchant style is to DO found in his
orders TO the Governors of the South
west when England sent her great
fleet to New Orleans to secure tho
mouth of the Mississippi "tIaster
your militia to New Orleans" no com.
manded. do not wait for this govern.
mont TO arm them Put all the arms
you can into their hands Lat ever,
man take his rifle with him. we
| shall see you paid" One speech made
when he was minister to France gave
him celebrity which was not relishec
| by some of his friends at home. II
was delivered in the national conven.
| ton at the close of the French Revo-
luton. Monroe's Instructions had been
somewhat vague and large powers had
been left to his discretion, there being
| no precedtn to guide him AS he rose In
| the convention, his fine. tall figure
held erect his frank blue eyes and
| fair hair in vivid contrast to the
| swarthy faces about him. the young
American envoy attracted universal
| attention. In the excitement and emo
tion of such an hour Monroc's impul-
! sive nature was carried away and his
speech was more sympathetic with the
new order OF things in France than
| was prudent for his country. II was n
! speech which encountered great hos
! tility at home. The Federal party
| seized the opportunity to denounce
! both the speech and the speaker. That
| first embassy was not u bed OF roses
for James Monroe.
| William Henry Harrison was never
regarded as an orator even by his
warmest admirers. His most effective
I speeches In Congress were those In
behalf OF his beloved Northwest. In
which he advocated its interests,
, called attention TO its increasing pros.
I perity and to the bright promise OF
l It's future. AT such times his theme
! fired his soul and inspired his words
and he made a deep Impression on his
! hearers. Despite John Tyler's bril-.
liant career as politician. he was
not an orator. but he was a powerful
and impressive debater. In the Sen
ate he distinguished himself by hi,
vigorous hostility to John Quincy
Adams's administration. Zachary Tay-
Tor. unlettered frontier soldier and
Indian lighter, was no more at home
on the platform than with the pen
After his acceptance of the nomination
to the presidency the party manager
prepared his few communica lions to