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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review, October 1906

Plunket Medal Competition

Plunket Medal Competition.

"His foot should stamp and his throat should growl,
His hair should twirl and his face should scowl,
His eyes should flash and his breast protrude
And this should be his customary attitude."

While congratulating the Debating Society upon the success of the second Plunket Medal competition, we should like to draw attention to the necessity for an important amendment of the present rules. In the first place, we would suggest that the number of competitors be reduced from ten to six. Each speaker might then have fifteen minutes for his speech, instead of ten as at present. Besides it must have been very evident to page 44 the audience at this year's competition that out of the ten speakers there were three at least who should not have ventured to offer themselves as candidates for a prize in oratory. These three are all good debaters, but they are not orators. Again, during the current session, the Society has considered and rejected a proposal to dispense with the ballot system of voting and appoint instead a few competent judges, the amendment being made chiefly on the ground that at present personal popularity may exert undue influence over the decision of the voter. Now, though we concede that there is something to be said in support of this contention, still we think that in an oratorical competition the popular vote supplies the better test. A proposal has been made to extend the privilege of voting to the whole audience. It is claimed that such a course would eliminate to a great extent the personal element.

Coming to the competition itself, it must be confessed that certain of the speakers failed to realise the object of Lord Plunket in establishing the medal. His Excellency did not intend his prize to be awarded for a meritorious historical outline of any man's career, nor yet for a minute description of the invention of a machine, however useful and beneficial to the human race. The speeches of G. V. Bogle, R. Mason and C. B. Collins could hardly be said to come under the definition of oratory. Taylor's speech had considerable literary merit, and if he continues at his present rate of improvement he may yet be an orator—a good orator—even one of the best. Gillanders took as his subject a strong rugged man, with whose character and ideals he was evidently in perfect sympathy. His speech was not only sincere—it was eloquent. One extremely awkward pause in the middle of his speech, however, seemed to disarrange the sequence of his thought.

John Mason was the same logical, earnest, clear-toned sage whom we know in debate. None of his qualities are opposed to oratory; yet—perhaps, if he had chosen another hero instead of the wily knight who sacrificed his cloak he would have been more enthusiastic, less matter-of-fact. Kelly, as we know, was ill. Many of us would like to hear him tell the story of Robert Emmet again when he is well. Even as it was, Kelly gave a peroration that was one of the best things of the evening. For a ten minutes' speech, O'Leary's was a masterpiece. His delivery was good, his diction was correct and euphonious. But what distinguished his oration from the others was the impression of completeness it gave. It was a speech-picture of Nelson, the National Hero. Even of the explanatory part of page 45 the speech each sentence added an essential line to the picture. The introduction, comparing Nelson with the great men in other walks of life, grasped the attention of the audience; the descriptive sentences roused their interest; he was able to forget O'Leary and to forget self is the essence of oratory.

After O'Leary came Grundy, on Francis Drake. Everyone appeared to enjoy this speech. The story was not ill-arranged, but Grundy's passionate style would have been far better suited to the touching tale of Robert Emmet than to the roving, rollicking Francis Drake. Banks spoke on Napoleon. He has many of the external qualities of an orator, but his speech lacked the saving grace of sincerity.

The voting gave O'Leary first place and Kelly second. While the votes were being counted there was a dull interval, only made feebly lucid by the murdering of some capping songs.

Lord Plunket presented the medal to O'Leary, and gave a neat speech in response to a vote of thanks.

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