The standard speaker; containing exercises in prose and poetry for declamation in schools, academies, lyceums, colleges: newly translated or compiled from celebrated orators, authors and popular debaters, ancient and modern. A treatise on oratory and elocution. Notes explanatory and biographical

Front matter

'^cT

. ^'^ . '7.

^'44* -,:-

Preface

Ttie distinguishing features of the present collection are, the utusnai mnety and methodical arrangement of the materials ; a comprehensive grouping, such as has not hitherto been attempted, of exercises from the most celebrated orators and popular debaters of ancient and modem times : the allotment of a liberal space to original translations from the French and other languages ; and the introduction of notes, explanatory and biographical, with the dates of the birth and death of authors. Side by side with those pieces of acknowledged excellence, that justify the title of the work, will be found a large numlier that are now, for the first time, pre eented as exercises for recitation and declamation. In the case of selee tions, care has been taken to collate them with the latest and moa' authentic editions of the works from which they are extracted ; and thui many current errors and mutilations have been avoided.

Of the British parliamentary specimens, many aire valuable, not onlj as models of style, but as illustrating the early history of our own country Much original research has been bestowed on this part of the volume. The privi'lege of occasional compression being indispensable, it has been exercised with as scrupulous a regard as possible to the integrity of the text. Most of the extracts from Chatham, Pitt, Fox, and Sheridan ; nearly all from Bm-ke, Grattan, Curran, and Brougham ; all l)ut one from Canning and Macaulay; and all from Vane, Meredith, Wilkes, Shell, Croker, Talfourd, Peel, Cobden, Palmerston, Russell and others, are now, for the first time, introduced into a " Speaker."

Among the familiar masterpieces of American oratory wiU be found many new extracts, not unworthy of the association. They belong to tlie whole coimtry, and no sectional bias has influenced the choice.

Of the brilliant specimens of the senatorial eloquence of France, all but two have been translated expressly for this work. In the other departments of the volume, there has also been a considerable expenditure of original editorial labor; all the highly effective exercises from Massillou. Hug., Pichat, Mickiewicz, and many others, having been translated ; all those from Homer, Schiller, Delavigne, Bulwsr, Mazzini, Kossuth, and

17 PREF-VCE,

Browning , aiid nearly all from Enowles, Croly, Horace Smith, and others together with the comic dialogues from Morton, Mathews, ani Coyne Laving been selected or adapted for this collection.

It will he seen that the oratory of the ancients has supplied an unu8ua< number of exencises. A certain novelty has, however, in many instances, been imparted here, by original translations. We have had little, in modern times, to surpass the Phihppics of Demosthenes or the fiery invective of .^schines. The putative speeches from Livy, Tacitus, and Sallust, have been newly translated or adapted. In two or three instances, the translation has been so liberal that a nearer relationship to the original than that of a paraphrase has not been claimed. The speeches of Brutus, Caius Marius, Canuleius, Virginius, and others, have been expanded or abridged, to serve the purpose of declamation. The two speeches of Spartacus, that of Regulus, witli several others, are now, for the first time, published. The extracts from that strangely depreciated work, Cowper'a Homer, have the vivid simplicity and force of the original, and are among the most appropriate exercises for elocution in the whole scope of English blank vcrae.

Throughout the present volume, in deciding upon the insertion of a piece, the question has been, not " Who wrote it? " or, "What country produced it' " but, " Is it good for the purpose? " Like other arts, that of eloquence is unhedged by geographical lines ; and it is as inconsistent with true culture, to confine pupils to American models in this art, as it would be in sculpture or painting. While exercising great freedom of range in selection, however, it has been the editor's study to meet ail the demands of a liberal patriotism ; to do justice to all tlie noblest masters of eloquence, and to all schools and styles, from which a grace may be borrowed ; and, above all, to admit nothing that could reasonably offend the ear of piety and good taste.

The Introductory Treatise embodies the views, not only of the. editor, but of many of our most experienced and distinguished teachers, in regard to the unprofifaible character of those " systems "' which profess to teach reading and speaking by the rule and plummet of sentential analysis oi rhetorical notation. Of these attempts the pupil may well exclaim, in the words of Cowper, —

" Defend lae, tberefore, commoD sense, say I, From reveries so airy, — from the toil Of dropping buckets into empty wells, And growing old in drawing nothing up ! "

The preceptive portion of the Treatise presents no particular claim to origi oality ; the object being merely to give a summary of all the discoverioi and hints that can be serviceable t(> the student, in the development of hie vocal and elocutionary powers.

Contents

INTRODUCTORY TREATISE

Oratirt. . . 15

Eloq.»».ice 15

Part First. Moral And Didactic

Truth, Frayssinous, 37

Immortality, Massillon, 38

Utility of the Beaitiful, . . . Ruskin, 39 The Mind of Man, .... Akenside, 40

The World, ....... Talfuurd, 41

Mechanical Epoch, .... Kennedy, 41

To-day, Wilhinalnn, 42

Duellist's Honor, .... England, 43 Day Conceals what Night Eeveals,

Sonnet, miite, 45

Man's Material Triumphs, . . . Fayet, 45

Foi'tiiude, Anonymous, 46

The United States of Europe, . . Hugo, 46 The Peac^ Congress of the Union,

Everett, 48 The Spirit of the Age, . . . Becktvit/i, 49 Moses in Sight of tlie Promised Land,

Peahodjj, 50

Necessity of Law, Hooker, 60

Justice, Carlyle, 51

To-murrow, Col ion, 52

Eloquence of Action, . . . Webster, .jo Sincerity the Soul of Eloquence, Gnelhe, 5:i The Christian Orator, . . ViUeviain, 54 Affectation in the Pulpit, . . . Cowper, 55 Utility of History, . . . . De Sesrur, 56 False Coloring Lent '.o W»r, Chalmers, 57 Death's Final Conquest, . . . Shirley, 5S

ReUgion, Lamartine, 58

The Saviour's Reply, Milton, 59

Nobility of Labor, Dewey, 60

Labor is Worship, Osgood, 61

Moral and Physical Science, . . Chapin, 62

The Order l? Nature, Pope, 63

Future Empire of our Laneuage,

Bethu)ie,&i Compensations of the Imagination,

Akenside, 64 The Great Distuiction of a Nation,

Channing, 65 What Makes a Hero, .... Taylor, 66

rt a Last Hours of Socrates, 66

To a Child, Yankee, 67

America's Contributions, Verpianck, 68 The True Kmg, Hunt, 69

40. Death is Compensation Rousseau, W

41. Fate of Charles XU., . . Johnson, 70

42. Our Duties, Story. 71

43. Love of Country, . .Montgomery 72

44. Nature a Hard Creditor, . . Carlyle, 73

45. Times Midniglit Voice, . . . Young 74

46. The Common Lot, . . Montgomery, 7fi

47. True Soui-ce of Reform, . . Chapin, 76

48. The Beacon Light, .... Pardoe, 77

49. Cleou and I, Mackay, 77

50. Problem for the U. States, Boardman, 78

51. American Experiment, . . Everett, 78

52. The Ship of State, Lunt, 79

52. Luies, Longfellow, 80

53. Art, Sprague, 80

54. The Pilot, Bayly, 8]

55. Death Typified by Winter, Thomson, 82

56. Religious Inducements, . . . James, 83

57. Never Despair, Lovr 84

58. Charity, Talfourd, 84

59. The Battle-field, Bryant, 85

60. Dizzy Activities, Everett, 86

61. The Giiod Great Man, . . Coleridge, 87

62. Taxes, Sydney Smith, 87

03. The Press, Elliot, 88

64. Defence of Poetry, . ... JVolfe, 89

65. Great Ideas, Channing, 89

66. England Elliot, 90

67. Hallowed Ground, .... Campbell, 91

68. Nature Proclaims a Deity, Cluiteau-

briand, 92

69. What we owe the Sword, . . Grimke, 92

70. Abou Ben Adhem, Hunt, 93

71. Polunius to Laertes, . . Shakspeare, 94

72. Where is he, Neele, 94

73. international Sympathies, Way land, 9?

74. Worth of Fame, Baillie, 96

75. Frivolous Pleasures, .... Yonmc, 97

76. Forgive, Heber, 97

77. Science Religious, . . . Hitchcock, 98

78. Triumphs of the English Language,

Lyinis, 99

79. The Water Drinker, . . E. Johnson, 99

80. The Days that are Gone, . Mackay, JOO

81. The Work-sliop and Camp, .... 101

82. The Wise Man's Prayer, Johnson, IM

Part Second. Martial And Popular

Pa=e

1 ficipio to his Army, Livy, 103

2 Hanniba-l to his Army, .... /d., 104

3 ReguluB to the Roman Senate, OrisH, 105

4. Leonidas to his Three Hundred, Pickat, 107

5. Brutus over the dead Lucretia, Orisr^l

arid compiled, 107

6. Achilles' Reply, Comperes Homer, 108

7. Hector's Rebuke, M., 109

8 Hector's Exploit, Id., 110

9 Hector Slain, Id., Ill

10 Telemachua to the Chiefs, Fenelon, 113

n litus Quintiua . . Livy 114

12. Caius Marius, Sallust.

13. Caius Gracchus, .... Enowles

14. Galgacus, Tacitus.

15. Icilius on Virginia's ^e\z\xss,]SIac.antay

16. The Spartans' March, . . Hemans.

17. The Greeks' Return, Id..

18. Ode, Collins.

19. Virginius' Refusal to Claudius, Livy.

20. Canuleius againdt Patrician AiTogaiice,

Id.,

21. Catiline to his Army, .... Jonson.

22. Spartacus to the Gladiators. Kello^.x,

,115 va

8{jartaeri3 to the Koman Envoys, Orif;., Marullus to the Komans, Sha/cKpeare, Brutus on Ciesar'a Death, .... Id., Mark Antony, " .... Id.,

Moloch's Address, Milton,

Belial's Address, Id.,

The Death »( Leonidas, . . . Crolt/, Catiline to the Uitllio Conspirators, Id., Cutiiine'? Last lliirauijue, .... Id., The ISarJ's cunimons, . . . Bulwer,

Alfred to his Men, .... Knoiule.i, Rienzi to the Kipuians, . . Mitford, The Patriot's \'nAs-\Wim\, Montgomery ^ Richard to the Princes, .... Scott, Richmond to his -Men, . Shak.ipeare, Henry Y. to his Meu, . . . .Id.,

Pa? •10. Battle of Ivry, . . . , . Maca%>ay,^^

41. Van Artevelde to Men I'f Ghent, Taj lor, 14fi

42. Wat Tyler to the King, . . Southey, 140

43. The Soldier's Dream, . . . Cimpbel'. \Vi

44. Before Uuebeo, IVolfe, liT

45. The American Flag, .... Drake, 148 40. To his .Men, before the BaHle of Ixing

Island, lyaxhineton, 150

47 To the Army of Italy, . . I^a/io.eon, loO 48. Hymn to the Greeks, . Lo.niar tine, iol 4y. Um-ial of Sir. lohu .Moore, . . /fo//?, 152

50. Ilohenlinden, Campbell, 15.?

51. Sonj; of GreeliS, /ti., 1.54

52. Fall of Warsaw, W., 155

5:i. Marco Bozzaris, Hulleck, 156

54. The Seminole's Defiance . . Patten, 10%

55. Battle Uyum Ka^ner, 158

Part Third. Senatorial

1 Against Philip, .... Demosthene.i, 159

• Degeneracy of Athens, .... Id., 160

-mocracy hateful to Philip, . . Id., Itil

». tenality the Ruin of Greece, . . W., 162

5. Demosthenes Denounced, .^schines, 16)3

6. E,v:ordium, Demosthenes, 165

1. Public Spirit of Athenians, . . . Id., 168

8. Demosthenes not Vanquished, . Id., 167

9. Catiline Denounced, .... Cicero, 168

10. Catiline Expelled, Id., 169

11. Yerres Denounced, Id., 170

FROM THE FRENCH.

12. Against the Nobility, &c., Mirabeau, 171

13. Necker's Financial Plan, . . . Id., 172

14. Disobedience to National Assembly, Id., 173

16. On being Suspected, Id., 175

17. Eulogium on Franklin, .... Id., 177

18. Church and Stale, Id., 177

19. To the French, Ferfrniaud, 178

20. Terrorism of Jacobins, Id., 119

21. Against War, Robespierre, 180

22. Morality the Basis of Society, . Id., 181

23. Last Speech, Id., 182

21. To the Peers, ........ Trilat, 183

25. The Republic, Lamartine, 185

26. Democracy adverse to Socialism, De

Tocqueville, 135

27. Practical Religious Instruction, Hu§o, 186

28. Necessity of Religion, Id., 187

29. Universal SutTracce, Id., 188

Bij. Liberty rd the Press, Id., 189

V A Republic or -Monarchy, . . . /(/., 190

Bi The Two Napoleons, W., 191

BRITISH.

83. The End of Government, . . . Pym, 192

84. Defence, .... Earl of Strafford, 193

85. Reducing the Army, . . Pulteney, 195 8«. Against Richard Cromwell, . . Vane, 196 37. How to make Patriots, . . . TValpole, 196 88. Against Pitt (Earl of Chatham), , Id., 197 B9. Reply to Wal pole. Earl of Chatham, l\)% M. Reply to Greaville. Id., 199

Pag. 41. Reconciliation with America, CAafAaw, 201 202

Repeal claimed as a Right, Lord North's Jlinistry, .

On Employing Indians, .

Ruinous Consequences, .

Id,

Id., Id., Id., Id., Meredith,

Parliamentary Innovations, lieaufoy.

Religious Persecution, . Comptlation, jVmerica's Obligations, .... Barri,

Reply to Lord North, Id.,

Bold Predictions, Wilkes,

Conquest of Americana, . . . Id., Reply to Duke of Grafton, Thurlow, Present Popularity, Lord Mansfield, .Magnanimity in Politics, . . Burke, American Enterprise, ....'. Id.,

American Ta.'^ation.

Des)>otism Unrighteous, Imiieachment of Hastings, Peroration against Hastings, To tlie Bristol Electors, . .

Marie Antoinette, ....

Irisli Riyhls,

Reply to Flood,

National Gratitude,

Catlioli<: I)is(iualification, . . , Heaven on the Side of Principle,

.\gainst Corry,

Union with (Jreat Britain, . .

The Catholic Question, ....

Religion Independent, ....

Sectarian Tyranny,

American War Denounced, . . .Motion to Censure Ministry, . . .\.ttfinpt to make him Resign, .

Ilurliiirisni of Ancient Britons, .

Ivi'Milts of American War, . . .

Wasliiugtou's Foreign Policy, .

Liberty is Strength,

Democratic Governments, . .

Partition of Polani, ....

Politicid .Jobbing, Id.,

Poiiular and Kingly Examples, . Id., Reform in Parliament, . Lord G-^ey, Conservative Inno^a/ors, Wuskisson, The Peusi >;i Sy.stera, . , . Cunan.

Id

Sraltan,

Id.,

Id.,

id..

Id.,

Id.,

Id.,

Id.,

Pitt,

Id.,

Id.,

Id.,

Fox,

Id.,

Id.,

Id.,

Id., nn

On Threats of Violence, Eeligious Distinctions, War with France, .... Canning,

Bank-notes and Coin, .

Lord J. Russell's Motion, Mr. Tierney's Motion, .

Defence of Pitt, ....

Measures, not Men, . .

Balance of Power, . . .

Collision of Vices, . . .

England and America, Mackintosh.

Fate of Reformers, . . , Brougham Parliamentary Reform, .... Id., Religious Liberty, . . . O'Connell [i-ish Disturbance Bill, .... [d.

The Death Penalty, .... Byron.

Charges against Catholics, . Sheil.

Irish Aliens, Id..

Irish Establishment, Id.

Repeal of Union, . . ... Id.

England's Misrule, Id.

Civil War, . . . Lord Pacmerston Reform, .... Lord J. Russell.

Iiish Church, Macaulay .

Hom-s of Labor, [d.

Reform, to Preserve, Id..

Men always fit to be Free, . . [d..

Second Bill of Rights, .... Id..

Public Opinion, the Sword, . . Id..

A Government should Grow, . /d.!

Reform irresistible, Id..

Reply to 119, Croker.

Perils of Reform, Id..

Copyright, Talfourd.

Literary Property, Id..

International Copyright, ... Id..

Legislative Union, Peel.

American Vessels, .... Cobden,

245 '; 144 246 ; 145.

246 1 146.

247 ! 147.

248 ! 148.

249 1 149

251 151.

252 1 152. 253

Resistance, Henry, 281

War inevitable, Id., 282

Return of British Fugitives, . . Id.,1S3

Supposed Speech, Otis, 284

For Independence, ...... Lee, 285

Federal Constitution, . . Franklin, 286

God Governs, Id., 281

For a Declaration, .... Adams, 2S8 Conclusion of foregoing, . . . Id., 289 On Government, .... Hamilton, 290

U. S. Constitution, Id., 291

Aristocracy, Livingston, 292

E.xtent of Country, . . . Randolph, 293 France and the U. S. ffaskington, 294

Foreign Influence, Id., 294

Sanctity of Treaties, .... Ames, 295 The British Treaty, Id., 296

The Strongest Goveniment, Jejfe tson, Freedom of Judges, , . . Bayard,

Judiciary Act, Marrvt.

Free Navigation, Id.,

Foreign Conquest, . . .. Clinton,

Innovations, Madison,

Party Intemperance, . . . Gaston,

The Embargo, Quincy,

Disunion, ....... Pinkney,

British Influence, . . J Randolph,

Greek Question, Id.,

Virginia Constitution, Id.,

Against Duelling, . . Compilation, The Declaration, . . J. Q. Adams, Washington's Sword, &c., . . Id., Union with Liberty, . . . Jackson,

War, Binney,

The Supreme Court, Id.,

U. S. Constitution, .... Legari, On Returning to the U. States, Id., In Favor of War, 1813, .... Clay,

Jefferson Defended, Id.,

Military Insubordination, . . . Id., Noblest Public Virtue, .... Id., Expunging Resolution, .... Id., Independence of Greece, . . . Id.,

Prospect of War, Calhoun,

The Force BUI, Id.,

Purse and Sword, Id.,

Liberty the Meed, Id.,

Popular Elections, . . . McDuffie, Military Qualifications, . Sergeant,

Opposition, Webster,

Moral Force, Id.,

Sympathy with South America, Id.,

The Poor and Rich, Id.,

Sudden Conversions, Id.,

Constitution P'atform, .... Id., Resistance to Oppression, . . . Id.,

Peaceable Secession, Id.,

Clay's ResolutiiHio, Id.,

Justice to the ^^^lole, .... Id., Matches and Over-matches, . . Id., S. Carolina and Mass., .... Id.,

Liberty and Union, Id.,

Reply to Webster, .... Hayne,

The South in 1776, Id.,

The South in 1812, Id.,

Defalcations, Prentiss,

American Laborers, . . . Naylor, Fulton's Invention, . . . Hoffman, Sectional Services, .... Cushing, National Hatreds, .... Choate,

Precedents, Cass,

On Intervention, . . . J. Clemens, Hazards of Prosperity, W. R. Smith, Flogging in the Navy, . . Stockton, Gov't Extravagance, . Crittenden,

Part Fourth. Forensic And Judicial

Pag-e

i. Mbertj of the Press, .... Cwrran, 353

t. Mr. Rowan, Id., 353

8. Habeas Corpus Act, W., 354

i. Appeal to Lord Avonmore, . . Id., 355 6. On being found Guilty, . . . Emmet, 357 fl. Great Minds and Christianity, Erskine, 362 '' On Biasing Judgment, . . Man^eld,d<>i

Pag»

8. Defence of Peltier, . . . Mxhintosh, 365

9. Instigators of Treason, . . . Wirt, 368

10. Burr and Blennerhassett, . . . Id., id'

11. Reply to Wickham, Id., 36?

12. Guilt its ow-a Betrayer, . Webster, 369

13. Moral Power, McLean, 378

14. The Death Penalty, Huge, &«•

PAUT FIFTH.

POLITICAL AND OCCASIONAL.

The Exam pi 5 of America, Qovermutnt Vigor, . . .

Rejection of Reform, . , Address V Vouiig Jlen, Au«»l to Uun-ai-iiiiis, Ccnteiitiuent of liurojie, Huii^'ai-imi Heroism, .

In a Just Cause, Id.,

Peace Inconsistent, Id.., <

The 3-2d Dec., . . ,. Sir H. Bulwer, : Uritisli Aggressions, . J. Quinci/, Jr., Eloquence and Logic, . . . Pre.ito7i,

Relief to Ireland, Prenti!-:s,

Plea for the Sailor, . . Mount/ord, '■

Pa-

Rt lations to England, . .

. Everett sse

Ui

L'Ut Ex unples

. Eveielt kh:

d will the Monument do. Id.

H<w

Ul volutit iiary Veterans, .

. Webfiter

St te Ul)

nations, ....

■jMi b\ ui-th 01

■July

. Id.

r'

ostn.i,

If to Washington, Pul .lie Opinion, .

In.

;ure ul the U. States, .

. Kh'U

A.

i-irultu i-al Interest, . .

Ciis/ihis:

;i9fi

El rui.oai

Struggles, . . .

. Johnson oae

Hi th Jav of W ashington,

. C/ioale

■m

California's Prospects, . .

. Bfun^U

Standai-d of Constitution, .

. Webster sya