study of the work what good style in oratory is. Whatever he may have felt about the use of Saxon words, it is evident that he uses with great power both Saxon and Latin words, each in its appropriate place, according to the thought he wishes to express. He discriminates carefully in their meanings and use. He is so clear in his words and the expression of his thought that the unlettered man can readily grasp his meaning. Words and sentences and paragraphs are marshalled in such a way as to appeal to the mind with the greatest power. In addition, the oration, rolling on in grand cadence that may be called Websterian, rises through clearness and force into that highest style which fills the soul with delight, the style that many call beautiful, but here might often be called noble or sublime. If an oration moves the heart, we say it is eloquent. It is hard to define eloquence, but perhaps no one has given a better definition than Webster in another of his occasional orations, that on Adams and Jefferson, delivered in Faneuil Hall, Boston, on the 2d of August, 1826, in the celebrated passage: "When public bodies are to be addressed on momentous occasions, when great interests are at stake, and strong passions excited, nothing is valuable in speech farther than as it is connected with high intellectua' and moral endowments. Clearness, force, and earnestness are the qualities which produce conviction. True eloquence, indeed, does not consist in speech. It cannot be brought from far. Labor and learning may toil for it, but they will toil in vain. Words and phrases may be marshalled in every way, but they canhot compass it. It must exist in the man, in the subject, and in the occasion. Affected passion, intense expression, the pomp of declamation, all may aspire to it; they cannot reach it. It comes, if it come at all, like the outbreaking of a fountain from the earth, or the bursting forth of volcanic fires, with spontaneous, original, native force. The graces taught in the schools, the costly ornaments and studied contrivances of speech, shock and disgust men, when their own lives, and the fate of their wives, their children, and their country, hang on the decision of the hour. Then words have lost their power, rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate oratory contemptible. Even genius itself then feels rebuked and subdued, as in the presence of higher qualities. Then patriotism is eloquent; then self-devotion is eloquent. The clear conception, outrunning the deductions of logic, the high purpose, the firm resolve, the dauntless spirit, speaking on the tongue, beaming from the eye, in forming every feature, and urging the whole man onward, right onward to his object-this, this is eloquence; or rather it is something greater and higher than all eloquence, it is action, noble, sublime, godlike action." The unity of the oration may be more readily studied by aid of the following analysis: THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT SUBJECT: THE BUNKER HILL MONUMENT, A MEMORIAL OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE 1. The deep feeling of the occasion. 1. The uncounted multitude, a proof of the feeling. 2. The place, worthy of emotion. 3. Personal interest in the discovery of this continent. 4. Greater interest in the settlement of our own country. 5. Greatest interest in the American Revolution. II. The monument itself. 1. Its auspicious beginning. 2. Its consecration to the spirit of national independence. III. The fifty years since the battle. 1. Extraordinary events in this country. 2. Europe's mighty revolution and separation from the new nations of this continent. 3. Change of the whole world. 4. Presence of men of 1775, the survivors of fifty years. IV. Address to the survivors. 1. Address to the venerable men of Bunker Hill-war changed to peace. 2. The departed heroes. 3. Apostrophe to Warren. 4. Sympathy with other revolutionary soldiers. 5. Address to veterans of all the battles. 6. Overwhelming joy in their service to mankind. V. Immediate causes and results of the battle. 1. The country incited to common effort and common sacrifice by the altering of the government of the province and the shutting up of the port of Boston. 2. Lexington and Concord, the occasion of action. 3. Four colonies together in arms on the 17th of June. 4. The result of the battle, open war sustained by able appeal. 5. Proof of the devotion of the colonies to their cause. 6. Fame of the battle conveyed to Lafayette. VI. Address to Lafayette. 1. Solemn welcome. 2. Fortunate, extraordinary life, cherished by two generations. 3. Hope for long delay of merited eulogy. VII. Leading reflection, the great changes in fifty years. 1. A common progress of the nations. 2. A community of opinions and knowledge amongst men in different nations. 8. Improvements in the personal condition of individuals. 4. Change in politics and government in the world favorable to human liberty. 5. Political revolution on the other continent accompanied with terror. 6. Character of our people calculated for setting the great example of popular governments. 7. Europe's benefit from revolution, superior knowl- 8. People thinking and reasoning on affairs of state. 10. The influence of enlightened sentiment and public 11. Sympathy with the country of art in her contest for existence. 12. The importance of the revolution of South America. 13. A new spirit of enterprise and industry there. 14. A new land through political liberty. VIII. Exultation in the influence of our country on human freedom and human happiness. 1. Our country the head of popular government. 3. The principle of free government firmly implanted. |