of eloquence there are seven great orators who stand
preeminent above other orators whom the world calls great. A
visitor to that venerable institution of learning, on coming to
Memorial Hall, will find at the theater end, on the outside and
just above the cornice, seven niches containing gigantic busts of
these seven orators: Demosthenes, the Greek; Cicero, the Roman;
Chrysostom, the Asiatic Greek; Bossuet, the Frenchman; Chatham, the
Englishman; Burke, the Irishman; and Webster, the American.

It is in furtherance of this idea that we have selected short
passages of eloquence from each of these men; and also with the
threefold purpose of acquainting young students with masterpieces
of oratory since the dawn of history, of providing passages well
worth committing to memory, and offering extracts well suited for
practice in public speaking.

I. DEMOSTHENES

THE ENCROACHMENTS OF PHILIP[26]

Men of Athens, if any one regard without uneasiness the might and
dominion of Philip, and imagine that it threatens no danger to the
state, or that all his preparations are not against you, I marvel, and
would entreat you every one to hear briefly from me the reasons why I am
led to form a contrary expectation, and why I deem Philip an enemy;
that, if I appear to have the clearer foresight, you may hearken to me;
if they, who have such confidence and trust in Philip, you may give your
adherence to them.

What did Philip first make himself master of after the peace? Thermopylae
and the Phocian state. And how used he his power? He chose to act for
the benefit of Thebes, not of Athens. Why so? Because, I conceive,
measuring his calculations by ambition, by his desire of universal
empire, without regard to peace, quiet, or justice, he saw plainly that
to a people of our character and principles nothing could he offer or
give that would induce you for self-interest to sacrifice any of the
Greeks to him. He sees that you, having respect for justice, dreading
the infamy of the thing, and exercising proper forethought, would oppose
him in any such attempt as much as if you were at war. But the Thebans,
he expected, would, in return for the services done them, allow him in
everything else to have his way, and, so far from thwarting or impeding
him, would fight on his side if he required it. You are judged by these
to be the only people incapable of betraying for luc