Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1982 The outheS rn Educational Oratory of William Preston Johnston, 1880-1899. Dinah Daniel Richard Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Richard, Dinah Daniel, "The outheS rn Educational Oratory of William Preston Johnston, 1880-1899." (1982). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3770. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3770 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. 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Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 8229513 Richard, Dinah Daniel THE SOUTHERN EDUCATIONAL ORATORY OF WILLIAM PRESTON JOHNSTON, 1880-1899 The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical PhD. 1982 Col University Microfilms international300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE SOUTHERN EDUCATIONAL ORATORY OF WILLIAM PRESTON JOHNSTON, 1880-1899 A Dissertation Submitted to the. Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Speech by Dinah Daniel Richard B.S., Louisiana State University, 1973 M.A., Louisiana State University, 1976 August, 1982 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank the following people for their contributions: Dr. Harold Mixon, for his encouragement and guidance In the duration of this study; Dr. Waldo W. Braden, for his sugges­ tions about the topic, contributions In Southern oratory, and support throughout the author's college years; Dr. Stephen Cooper, Dr. Fabian Goudas, and Dr. J. Donald Ragsdale, for their careful editing and recommendations; the archivists at the Tulane University Library, for their assistance when the w riter examined the Johnston manuscript col­ lection; Mrs. James F. Bartlett for typing and duplicating the disser­ tation; Guy and Doris Daniel, for their prayer and inspiration; and Conrad Richard, for his unwavering approval, understanding, and enthusiasm. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................ i i ABSTRACT................................................................................ v C hapter I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. I A. S tatem en t o f th e Problem . ; ............................... 2 B. Ceremonial O ratory ................................................................... 4 C. Justification .............................................................. 5 D. Plan of Analysis and Sources of Research .................... 8 I I . THE SPEAKER: WILLIAM PRESTON JOHNSTON..................................... 10 A. The Youth .......................................................................................... 10 B. The Student ..................................................................................... 12 C. The Lawyer ..................................................................................... 23 D. The Soldier ..................................................................................... 27 E. The Educator ................................................................................ 34 F. Sum m ary............................................................. ................................. 48 I I I . RHETORICAL THEORY AND PR A CTIC E............................................ 49 A. Rhetorical Theory .......................................................... 49 B. Speech Preparation and Delivery ........................................... 64 C. Speaking Engagements ............................................................... 71 D. Sum m ary........................................................................... 79 IV . THE CAMPAIGN IN LOUISIANA..................................................... 80 A. Background . ................................................ 81 B. What Education Is . • ........................ ................................. 92 C. The Demand f o r High Schools in L o u isia n a ..... 103 D. State Education as a Factor in Civilization .... 117 E. Sum m ary............................................................................................... 133 V. SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOUTHERN EDUCATIONAL AWAKENING .... 133 A. Perils of Universities ...................... ........ 134 B. The Work of the University in America ........................... 149 i i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter Page C. Problems of Southern Civilization ..................................... 161 D. Sum m ary................................................................................................ 179 V I. SPEECHES TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES .... 180 A. World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial E x p o s i t i o n ....................................................................; . 182 B. Thirtieth University Convocation of the State of New Y ork ...................................................................................... 196 C. Sum m ary................................ 208 VII. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................... 210 A. Phases of His Oratory ........................................................ 210 B. Audiences ........................................................................................... 212 C. Strategy ............................................................................................ 213 D. Preparation and D elivery ................................ 214 E. Other Characteristics ................................................................. 215 F. Effectiveness ................................................................................... 215 BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................. 217 VITA ............................................................................................................................... 234 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT This dissertation analyzes eight ceremonial speeches delivered between 1880 and 1899 by William Preston Johnston, Southern educational leader. Emphasis is placed on the contexts in which he spoke, the strategy he employed, the various forms of support he used to amplify his messages, and the degree of his effectiveness. Realizing that the South needed to implement universal educa­ tion, Johnston