Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/24

 16 William D. Fenton. of hallelujahs and harping symphonies' may be reproduced by new artists from age to age. But oratory, in its grand- est or most bewitching manifestations— the 'deivotes' of Demosthenes, contending for the crown— the white heat of Cicero inveighing against Antony— the glaring eye and thunder tones of Chatham denouncing the employment of Indians in war— the winged flame of Curran blasting the pimps and informers that would rob Orr of his life— the nest of singing-birds in Prentiss's throat, as he holds spell- bound the thousands in Fanueil Hall — the look, port and voice of Webster, as he hurls his thunderbolts at Hayne— all these can no more be reproduced than the song of the sirens." How difficult, then, it is to estimate correctly the funeral oration over the dead body of Broderick. It is true that the text has been preserved, but the great audience, stilled and filled with feeling, the great events which surrounded the tragedy, the magic presence of the great orator, all these are gone, Mr. Rhodes, in his history of the United States, speaking of ihis great oration, says: "The funeral oration was pathetic and caused profound emo ion; at its close orator and people wept in sympathy. It was calculated to stir up men's hearts, and it impressed in glowing words the conviction that Broderick had been hunted o the death by his antagonists. Baker, in 1861, met an heroic #nd at the bat.le of Ball's Bluff, but before he fell, the martyrdom of Broderick had borne fruit. It pro- duced a mighty revolution in public opinion." It must not be forgotten that Senator Baker, after he had received his commission from the President, organized a regiment in the State of Pennsylvania, called at first the ''California Regiment" and later the "71st Pennsylvania," and that he was leading these men when he fell at Ball's Bluff. How much of glory and fame this tragic end may have added to his name it is impossible to judge. At the time. General Charles P. Stone, who was in immediate com- mand, was severely criticized, put in prison, and although asser ing his innocence and demanding a trial. Stone was