American Eloquence, Volume I | Page 2

value of the volumes; and it is hoped that they may lead many teachers and
students to see in these orations a text suitable as a guide to valuable studies in American
political history.
The omissions of parts of the speeches, made necessary by the exigencies of space,
consist chiefly of those portions which were but of temporary interest and importance,
and which would not be found essential to an understanding of the subject in hand. The
omissions, however, have always been indicated so as not to mislead the reader, and in
most instances the substance of the omissions has been indicated in the notes.
The general division of the work has been retained: 1. Colonialism, to 1789.
Constitutional Government, to 1801. 3. The Rise of Democracy, to 1815. 4. The Rise of
Nationality, to 1840. 5. The Slavery Struggle, to 1860. 6. Secession and Civil War, to
1865. The extension of the studies covering these periods, by the addition of much new
material has made necessary the addition of a fourth volume, which embraces the general
subjects, (1) Reconstruction; (2) Free Trade and Protection; (3) Finance; (4) Civil-Service
Reform. Professor Johnston's valuable introductions to the several sections have been
substantially retained.
By the revision, the volumes will be confined entirely to political oratory. Literature and
religion have, each in its place, called forth worthy utterances in American oratory. These,
certainly, have an important place in the study of our national life. But it has been
deemed advisable to limit the scope of these volumes to that field of history which Mr.

Freeman has called "past politics,"--to the process by which Americans, past and present,
have built and conducted their state. The study of the state, its rise, its organization, and
its development, is, after all, the richest field for the student and reader of history.
"History." says Professor Seeley, "may be defined as the biography of states. To study
history thus is to study politics at the same time. If history is not merely eloquent writing,
but a serious scientific investigation, and if we are to consider that it is not mere
anthropology or sociology, but a science of states, then the study of history is absolutely
the study of politics." It is into this great field of history that these volumes would direct
the reader.
No American scholar had done more, before his untimely death, than the original editor
of these orations, to cultivate among Americans an intelligent study of our politics and
political history. These volumes, which he designed, are a worthy memorial of his
appreciation of the value to American students of the best specimens of our political
oratory.
J. A. W.

INTRODUCTORY.
All authorities are agreed that the political history of the United States, beyond much that
is feeble or poor in quality, has given to the English language very many of its most
finished and most persuasive specimens of oratory. It is natural that oratory should be a
power in a republic; but, in the American republic, the force of institutions has been
reinforced by that of a language which is peculiarly adapted to the display of eloquence.
Collections of American orations have been numerous and useful, but the copiousness of
the material has always proved a source of embarrassment. Where the supply is so
abundant, it is exceedingly difficult to make selections on any exact system, and yet
impossible to include all that has a fair claim to the distinctive stamp of oratory. The
results have been that our collections of public speeches have proved either unsatisfactory
or unreasonably voluminous.
The design which has controlled the present collection has been to make such selections
from the great orations of American history as shall show most clearly the spirit and
motives which have actuated its leaders, and to connect them by a thread of commentary
which shall convey the practical results of the conflicts of opinion revealed in the
selections. In the execution of such a work much must be allowed for personal limitations;
that which would seem representative to one would not seem at all representative to
others. It will not be difficult to mark omissions, some of which may seem to mar the
completeness of the work very materially; the only claim advanced is that the work has
been done with a consistent desire to show the best side of all lines of thought which have
seriously modified the course of American history. Some great names will be missed
from the list of orators, and some great addresses from the list of orations; the apology for
their omission is that they have not seemed to be so closely related to the current of
American history or so operative upon its course as to demand their insertion. Any errors
under this head have