The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1917-04-22
What the Southern States Haze Done In Oratory
Fo, the Literary Wond--Many Years Of History

The genius of the south was not the
poet, though we had poetry, nor the
novelist who produced books, nor the
traveller or his tales, but the orator
awakened to his destiny as was his
forefathers.
The literature of the time and the
orator felt the necessity Of protecting
the local institutions peculiar to its
soil.
For the orator represented the seat
Of learning, the court of law and the
religious and political gatherings were
swayed by his eloquence. And his gifts
and his power he had gained through
storing of his wonderful mind with
gathering learning from literature of
ancient and modern times, and his
matchless and superior manner Of dis
playing it, and the fertile soil has pro-
duced mind-flowers of such eloquence
and fascination that has made him
not only an integral part Of the glory
of the south, but America and through
out the world.
The orator of today sill holds the
record, retains the power of impress
ing himself upon the age in which he
lives. No other section has ever pro-
duced such orators.
Those orations are gems of beauty,
uneXcelled, and to the point, precise;
poems and paintings in words, diction
and effect the imaginary inspiring.
The orators strength lies in his abil-
ity to defend what he deems his rights,
and his leadership is in proportion to
his power to speak convincingly.
AS the oratory of the Old South dealt
with sectionalism, that of the New
South emphasizes the spirit of pro-
gress, and nationalism, as expressed in
the attitude of the southern citizen
of today, now and always, an Ameri-
can.
George Washington stands as the es-
sentially sound but SILENT leader and
he is the lrst man to be raised above
sectionalism and made the father Of
his country. Oratory began with Pat
rick Henry, his grafton, "Give me lib
crty or give me DEATH" embodies the
true meaning of liberty, though JEFF
ferson's efforts were more far-reach-
ing.
The Declaration of independence, &C.
credited to him, is a grand war song,
to which has been given many different
interpretations. The history of the ora
tions of such men as Marshall, Wythe,
Pendleton, Randolph, shows the intel
lectual forces that emanated from the
old regime.
The very brilliancy Of southern ora
tory is said to have checked the pro-
gress of the southern author. South
Carolina had John Rutledge, North
Carolina had Ramsay, Alabama had
Williams Lowndes aYncey, who al
ways championed the south's interest
and as the voice Of the old south in
creased in volume, Calhoun typifes
the extreme unrest and stands as the
embodiment of the Rise and Fall of
the Confederacy," and Clay is typical
of those who were in favor of preserv-
ing the Union at all costs. He has
been called the great pacificator."
Robert Toombs stands between Yam
cey and Alexander Stephens, and while
Stephens recognized that the north
had not kept faith in regard to the
Fugitive slave law" it was from such
as he the the south drew her strength
after the war. His Reviewer Re
viewed" and "Autobiograp hical Notes.
are representative Of the southerners
trend of mind
! The farewell speeches of the southern
senator's epitomized the southern
views, favoring secession, and their
orations were the testimonials CT the
| sentiments of the states they repre-
sented J. L. NJ. Curry's paper on
"Tbe Constitutional Analysis of the
| Legality OF Secession" is the best
and fairest argument to be perused.
/ Alabama was the Cradle of the Con-
fcderacy." and Davis inaugural ad-
dress was a dignifed but imprisoned
article and stands as the wheel that
set in motion the Confeerate States
Of America" 1t is said of Robert K.
Lee that he was the climax of the
Old south and the leader and proph-
ct of the new" and he stands as the
champion of nationalism and has, like
Washington, been raised above sec
tionalism an American. Thus the man
tie of oratory has fallen from shoulder
to shoulder down the line of time.
Southern statesmen and orators have
gone to convention, legislature and
senate. Charles Pickney of South Car
DINA is said to have carried full plan
OF government in a single speech.
The south led the nation in oratory
before the war. and she has not relin'
g.