University of South Carolina Libraries
Hon. J. J. McSwain's Address. We publish today the last and fourth section of the address by J. J. McSwain, Esq., of Greenville, S. C., on the work of the literary societies: We often meet the trite remark that public speaking has lost that potency for influencing the actions of people it formerly had ; that its cultivation now is an anachronism, a vain search for a departed glory. Only in a most modified and unessential sense is this true. The former style of public speech is no longer acceptable. Times change and we must change with them. It is said that much more exact and full information on all subjects is sup plied by the press. This is true also in a measure, but the argument is pred icated uipon the fase assumption that the sole purpose of public speaking is to instruct. Rather is its mission to interpret, correlate, and apply the in formation already furnished by the press. Suppose a speaker comes be fore an audience every member of which has as much information upon the subject he is to treat as the speaker himself. Yet in the busy run and read every day life, every man has not sufficient time or ability to. sift the final significance of the facts, to trace the ultimate results of the ten deticies, and to formulate plans to meet a puiblic emergency. A bare reference by the speaker to the leading facts puts the audience into complete sympathetic understanding with him; he scans at once the entire field of facts. Soonl lie begins to arrange, organize and sys tematize these facts. From these he next draws well nigh self-evident in ferences; then they see the true in wardness of the circumstances; then they see the direful consequences, if they longer remain inactive ; something must be done ; then they see the only avenue of escape from public calamity, then the stern demands of public duty ; then the patriot's glory for achieving public salvation ; then high resolve sits enthroned in the heaving breasts of hundreds of citizens, burning with a righteous ardor anl enthusiasm, that mere cold type could never have aroused. The power, efficiency and necessity of public speaking can never be supplanted. Man invented the type, and the [foe press, and the telegraph that brings the news, and the railway train that scatters the papers, anl great indeed are his vorks. But God alone could make human speech "with wanton heed and giddy cunning, the melting voice through mazes running, untwisting all the chains that tie the hidden soul of harmony." The human voice alone can lisp with the light ness of air, or peal with the p)ower of thunder. You can't translate into wordls the feveredl flush of honest coni viction that arises on the speaker's cheekc; there's something in the cut of a man's eye, there's sonmething in the pose of a man's head, there's some thing iln the stamp of a mani's foot that can't be told with p)rinter's ink. Young gentlemen of the societies, hese and1 a hundred others are the matters that will engage your atten tion as citizens. Whatever p)articular occup)at ion you may puirsueC, you must if true to yourself, constantly engage in the wvork of good government. 'Where the majority rules, the utmost vigilance and activity are dlemandedl ignorance and corruption control af fairs. There is no cohesive force so powerful as selfish wicked designs'of unscrupulous men, to loot the public purse, save the quickened and aroused conscience of true, patriotic citizens, who form and enforce the high re solves, that intelligence and integrity shall rule the State. It will not be the lot of all to shine in the firmament of leadership, but each can be a sleepless sentinel at the outposts of good gov ernment; each can let his convictions be known, and his influence felt among his immediate neighbors ; each caii and will exercise the ballot honestly, at every opportunity; each may be a small centre from which will flow the principles and precepts of a lofty pa triotism. Though some may "steal inglorious to the silent grave," so far as mortal fame ever knows, yet in the great "add-up," when the average is struck, and each is known as he is, then I am persuaded that the very low liest man who loved truth, righteous ness and his fellow men will not be "unwept, unlionored and unsung." I offer you this sentiment, found on the cover of the january number of 1"verybody's Aagaziine, "Resolved to be a soldier in the army of common good ; never to suffer graft in silence, nor endure the acquaintance of graft ers; to en force the square deal; and in all my relations vith politics and gov ernment, to remember that I am first of all an American citizen." One parting word must be addressed to the old college. These, thy (laugh ters, salute thee, on their centennial birthday. T'hey hail thee as mother. 'hou hast sown the dragon teeth of true manhood, and reaped a mighty harvest of men. Go forward into the coming centuries, on thy mighty mis sion sustaining these societies at thy inrturing breast. Let them ever lay at thy feet their tribute of service to thy sons. Go forward, proclaiming and teaching the riches of truth and learning, and inspiring thy sons to fill their lives with service for their fel lows. "Carolina, heaven bless thee, croned with a liuindred years. We otr love can ne'er express thee, vith mere vords for morta! ears. Ptrue to the native soil, thou with ceaseless toil, Taught us with supernal beauty, how to give our lives to dluty. Carolina, heaven bless thee, crowned with a hundred years; Time can never dispossess thee of thy motherhood of seers; Bluilt for the common good, true men round thee stoodl, And madle thee charer in the story of our State's consummate glory.'' "Let the hostile hand he palsied that would tear thy pillars dlown; Let the breath of judgment wither all wvho smirch thy fair renown. Ily a thousand sacred memories, thou art wedd(edl to the State, And for glory or dlishionor, each must share the self-same fate." Fresh. Owens p)resents a check to Cashier , of the National Loan and Exchange Blank, to he cashed. Cashier :"What dlenonmina tion?'" Fresh. Owvens: "Methodist ; but I dlon't see what that has to (do with your cashing my choek." 061e UNIVEI SOUTH CA FOUNDED BY THE STATE IN 181 4C Spacious campus, commodious athletic field. University life between faculty and students, ca1 vidual student, public opinion of as regards gentlemanly conduct, and physical culture. THE GENIUS OF THE UN The health and morals of the yo of the governing authorities. Varied courses of study in Scienc Civil and Electrical Engineering, in road construction. Forty-two scholarships, each wo tuijion. Tuition remitted in spec The advantages offered by the I in this section. For Cta.logu SS.C. 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