Masterpieces of modern oratory

Preface

The fifteen orations in this volume are intended to furnish models for students of Oratory, Argumentation, and Debate. For the most part the orations are given without abridgment. In making the selection the aim has been to include only orations that (i) deal with subjects of either contemporary or historical interest, (2) were delivered by men eminent as orators, and (3) are of inherent literary value. There are of course many orators and orations in modern times that fulfill these tests, but it is believed that the orations selected are fairly representative. A further aim has been to secure such variety in the selections as to cover in a single volume the fields of deliberative, forensic, pulpit, and demonstrative oratory, and so to meet the needs of classes both in argumentation and oratorical composition.

If we give relatively less attention nowadays to the art side of oratory, — the manner of delivery, — there is all the more need of studying the matter, — the invention, organization, and expression of the thought. The young men in our schools and colleges, who in a small or large way are bound to be called upon to speak in public, should be taught how to compose for a hearer as distinguished from a reader — how to construct an oration as distinguished from an essay. To this end oratorical models should be critically studied in order that the student may learn and appreciate how masters have wielded the language for the purposes of conviction and persuasion. And this should be made an intensive rather than an extensive process. To become thoroughly acquainted with one great oration is better than a cursory reading of many

ill iv PREFACE

orations, and especially better than reading the extracts contained in books of " choice s'elections."

With a view of such intensive study each oration in this volume is preceded by an introduction, and bibliographies and notes are given on pages 339 to 369 inclusive. In the notes, which are here and there in the form of suggestive questions, the editor has tried to incorporate only such comments as will illuminate the text for the average student, and has tried to avoid explanation of the familiar or obvious. To avoid confusion to the general reader, the notes are put by themselves in the back part of the book ; and even for the special student, each oration should first be read independently of the notes, whatever use may subsequently be made of them.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to Little, Brown & Co. for permission to use the text of Webster's speech as contained in the volume, Webster's Great Speeches and Orations ; to the O. S. Hubbell Company, publishers of The Lincoln- Douglas Debates^ for the text of Lincoln's speech ; to Lee & Shepard, publishers of the Speeches^ Lectures., a?id Letters of Wendell Phillips^ for the oration by Phillips ; to Harper & Brothers, publishers of the Orations and Addresses of George William Curtis^ for the oration by Curtis ; to Fox, Duffield & Co., publishers of Watterson's Compromises of Life, for the speech by Watterson ; to Honorable W. Bourke Cockran, for the use of his oration on Marshall ; to Callaghan & Co., publishers of Dillon's John Marshall, which contains Mr. Cockran's oration ; to Bishop J. L. Spalding for permission to use his address on " Opportunity," contained in a volume entitled Opportunity, and Other Essays and Addresses, published by A. C. McClurg & Co. ; and to the Reverend Dr. Henry van Dyke for the use of his baccalaureate sermon on " Salt."

E. D. S.

The University of Texas September, 1906