We sat well up the hall of the Tremont Temple, where the oration was given, on the right of the speaker, seeing and hearing him clearly, and clearly seen by him. I do not think we lost a word of the address,—the clearness of utterance by “his big, manly voice,” his decision of expression, his earnest, impressive, and eloquent declamation, and the evident sincerity of his opinions, all aiding to win and retain our attention. He spoke, I think, without notes, his wonderful memory never failing him, and his manner and elocution being intensely earnest and impressive. With a single exception, I cannot recall that we were interested by any one part more than by any other of this splendid oration, with its richness of classical allusions, its fertility
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of the immense waste of war defences, he compared the cost of the ‘Ohio’—a ship-of-the-line lying in the harbor, and, on account of its decorations, a marked spectacle of the day—with that of Harvard College.
There was a reference to the military escort which excited comment.
‘Respectable citizens volunteer to look like soldiers, and to affect in dress, in arms, and deportment what is called “the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.”
The ear-piercing fife has to-day filled our streets, and we have come together on this anniversary by the thump of drum and the sound of martial music.’1
One passage, mentioned in General Oliver's reminiscences, and supposed to refer to the uniform of the Boston Light Infantry, naturally attracted the attention of their officers, some of whom were present.2 Another was pointed at Rev. Dr. A. H. Vinton, who, in a recent sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, had defended war with Christian texts.3 The comparison of a nation making preparations for war to ‘the wild boar in the fable, who whetted his tusks on the tree of the forest when no enemy was near,’ is still remembered for its effect.4
Henry K. Oliver, then Adjutant-General of the State, who was present in uniform as a guest, writes:—
1 Works, Vol. I. p. 11. ‘All eyes, at this remark, were turned in the direction of the Washington Light Guard, who occupied seats at the left of the orator.’—Boston Post.
2 Works, Vol. I. p. 91.
3 Works, Vol. I. p. 55, 56, where the allusion is justified in a note. To the original editions of the oration Sumner added a long note of his own upon this sermon, and also a critical examination of its use of Scriptural texts, by another hand. The appendix of the city edition contained a letter of his, dated July 6, to Mr. Winthrop (the name of the person to whom it was addressed being left blank), which related to the Revolutionary War, and to Dr. Vinton's sermon. Other editions printed a part of the letter, omitting so much as referred to the sermon.
4 Works, Vol. I. p. 115. The same comparison appears in his earlier correspondence. Ante, Vol. II. p. 278.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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