The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 16, 1909, Page 4, Image 4
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."
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