Part 5 (1/2)

_Lord Brougham_

Lord Brougham excelled in cogent, effective argument. His impa.s.sioned reasoning often made ordinary things interesting. He ingratiated himself by his wise and generous sentiments, and his uncompromising solicitude for his country.

He always succeeded in getting through his protracted and parenthetical sentences without confusion to his hearers or to himself. He could see from the beginning of a sentence precisely what the end would be.

_John Quincy Adams_

John Quincy Adams won a high place as a debater and orator in his speech in Congress upon the right of pet.i.tion, delivered in 1837. A formidable antagonist, pugnacious by temperament, uniformly dignified, a profound scholar,--his is ”a name recorded on the brightest page of American history, as statesman, diplomatist, philosopher, orator, author, and, above all a Christian.”

_Patrick Henry_

Patrick Henry was a man of extraordinary eloquence. In his day he was regarded as the greatest orator in America. In his early efforts as a speaker he hesitated much and throughout his career often gave an impression of natural timidity. He has been favorably compared with Lord Chatham for fire, force, and personal energy. His power was largely due to a rare gift of lucid and concise statement.

_Henry Clay_

The eloquence of Henry Clay was magisterial, persuasive, and irresistible. So great was his personal magnetism that mult.i.tudes came great distances to hear him. He was a man of brilliant intellect, fertile fancy, chivalrous nature, and patriotic fervor. He had a clear, rotund, melodious voice, under complete command. He held, it is said, the keys to the hearts of his countrymen.

_Calhoun_

The eloquence of John Caldwell Calhoun has been described by Daniel Webster as ”plain, strong, terse, condensed, concise; sometimes impa.s.sioned, still always severe. Rejecting ornament, not often seeking far for ill.u.s.trations, his power consisted in the plainness of his propositions, in the closeness of his logic, and in the earnestness and energy of his manner.”

He exerted unusual influence over the opinions of great ma.s.ses of men.

He had remarkable power of a.n.a.lysis and logical skill. Originality, self-reliance, impatience, aggressiveness, persistence, sincerity, honesty, ardor,--these were some of the personal qualities which gave him dominating influence over his generation.

_Daniel Webster_

Daniel Webster was a ma.s.sive orator. He combined logical and argumentative skill with a personality of extraordinary power and attractiveness. He had a supreme scorn for tricks of oratory, and a horror of epithets and personalities. His best known speeches are those delivered on the anniversary at Plymouth, the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument, and the deaths of Jefferson and Adams.

_Edward Everett_

Edward Everett was a man of scholastic tastes and habits. His speaking style was remarkable for its literary finish and polished precision. His sense of fitness saved him from serious faults of speech or manner. He blended many graces in one, and his speeches are worthy of study as models of oratorical style.

_Rufus Choate_

Rufus Choate was a brilliant and persuasive extempore speaker. He possest in high degree faculties essential to great oratory--a capacious mind, retentive memory, logical ac.u.men, vivid imagination, deep concentration, and wealth of language. He had an extraordinary personal fascination, largely due to his broad sympathy and geniality.

_Charles Sumner_

Charles Sumner was a gifted orator. His delivery was highly impressive, due fundamentally to his innate integrity and elevated personal character. He was a wide reader and profound student. His style was energetic, logical, and versatile. His intense patriotism and argumentative power, won large favor with his hearers.

_William E. Channing_

William Ellery Channing was a preacher of unusual eloquence and intellectual power. He was small in stature, but of surpa.s.sing grace.