PATRIOTIC ELOQUENCE RELATING TO THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AND ITS ISSUES COMPILED AND ARRANGED BY ROBERT I. FULTON DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ORATORY AND PROFES- WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AND THOMAS C. TRUEBLOOD PROFESSOR OF ELOCUTION AND ORATORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 021 mx 1759 PREFACE It is said that a nation's history may be read in the utterances of her great orators. The history of oratory shows that great epochs in national growth inspire the best eloquence of the times. In order that the most notable orations relating to the Spanish-American War and its issues may be put into convenient form, this compilation is offered to the reading public. The compilers and editors of this volume may claim consideration for its merits, since its authors, the orators represented, are well - known Americans from all sections of our country, presenting all phases of the stirring questions of this epochmaking period. For the most part the speakers themselves have furnished the corrected copy, with suggestions as to the passages to be used. We have followed these suggestions so far as they conform to the general plan of the book, and we trust that no misfit has been made in cutting the cloth to suit the pattern. We have not attempted an exhaustive collection. Our aim has been to make a judicious selection of speeches, to preserve the characteristic eloquence of each speaker, together with the main thought of the entire speech, and to secure such brevity and adaptation as may make the volume available for the general reader and the earnest student of public speaking. It is hoped that an added interest may be found in the biographical notes concluding the book. We take this occasion to thank the speakers herein represented for their uniform courtesy and aid in the preparation of the following pages. ROBERT I. FULTON, May 2, 1900. |