Modern American oratory; seven representative orations

Preface

The purpose of this volume is to present concisely the general principles underlying the theory of oratory, and to illustrate these principles by orations drawn from the work of the most prominent public speakers in the United States in the past thirty years.

In choosing the orations a threefold object has been kept in view. The aim has been to select: (i) such speeches as were interesting, valuable, and notable productions in themselves; (2) those which were typical of the kind of oratory they are intended to represent; and (3) those which were representative of the best work of the men who delivered them. Each oration is printed without any abridgment.

The book is intended to serve as a manual for students of oratory, and to furnish precept and illustrative matter for classes in argumentation and oral discussion.

R. C. R.

Columbia University, May 4, 1898.

Contents

THE THEORY OF ORATORY.

I

I. What Oratory Is, .

II. The Divisions of Oratory, ....

III. Deliberative Oratory, .....

IV. Forensic Oratory,

V. Demonstrative Oratory, ....

The Eulogy,

The Commemorative Oration, .

The Platform Oration, ....

The After-dinner Address,

VI. Pulpit Oratory, .43 page