ys begins
with a _that_-clause which is the subject of the principal verb of the
sentence--"was the statement of," "was the declaration of," etc. The
_that_-clause may contain a resume of the entire speech or only the most
striking statement in it. Here is one of the latter:

| That the cruise of the battleship fleet|
|around the world has taught the citizens |
|of the United States that a powerful |
|fleet is needed in the Pacific was the |
|statement of Rear Admiral R. C. Hollyday,|
|chief of the bureau of yards and docks of|
|the navy, at a luncheon given to him by |
|the board of trustees of the Chamber of |
|Commerce at the Fairmont Hotel |
|yesterday.--_San Francisco Examiner._ |

It is not always necessary to use the phrase "was the statement of." A
variation from it is often very good:

| That it is the urgent mission of the |
|white people of America, through their |
|churches and Sunday-schools, to educate |
|the American negro morally and |
|religiously, was the sentiment of the |
|twelfth session of the International |
|Sunday-school Convention last night, |
|voiced with special power and eloquence |
|by Dr. Booker T. Washington, the chief |
|speaker of the evening.--_Louisville |
|Courier-Journal._ |

| That the Irish race has a great destiny|
|to fulfill, one greater than it has |
|achieved in its glorious past, was the |
|prophecy of Prof. Charles Johnston of |
|Dublin university in his lecture at the |
|city library Sunday |
|afternoon.--_Wisconsin State Journal._ |

It is perfectly good usage to begin such a lead with two _that_-clauses
or even with three. The two clauses in this case are of course treated
as a singular subject and take a singular verb. It is usually best not
to have more than three clauses at the beginning and even three must be
handled with great care. Three clauses at the beginning, if at all long,
bury the speaker's name too deeply and may become too complicated.
Unless the clauses are very closely relate