Robert G. Cousins

              Miss Stern Please File

Figure

Robert G. Cousins


ROBERT G. COUSINS, LL.D., who served his native county in the General Assembly and as a Manager of the noted Brown Impeachment, later, as Prosecuting Attorney, and with sixteen years continuous service in the United States Congress, voluntarily retiring while he was Chairman of Foreign Affairs, is accepting a limited number of engagements for some of his favorite lecture subjects, including:

Lincoln and The Great Commander. Public Life and Some Public Men I Have Known. With All Thy Getting, Get Understanding. Benighted Belgium, Historic Land of Battles and of Tears. Robert Burns.

Forthcoming Lectures:

Thomas B. Reed. Supremacy of the Sea. Napoleon, 1815—The Kaiser, 1915. An Era of Extravaganza. Mrs. John Jones. The Moral Influence of a Dollar and A Half.

Mr. Cousins has spoken on various subjects and on great occasions at representative places throughout the country including:

Boston, Middlesex and Home Market Clubs.
New York City, Grant Association, St. Andrews Society and Republican Club.
Philadelphia, Union League and Bankers Association.
Portland, Maine, Lincoln Club.
Pittsburg, Americus Club.—Baltimore, Lincoln Anniversary.
Indianapolis, Columbia Club.
Chicago, Hamilton and Marquette Clubs.
St.Louis, Republican Club.—Des Moines, Grant Club.
Omaha, Trans-Mississippi Exposition.
Denver, Colorado Lincoln Memorial Meeting.




A FEW OPINIONS
Following are a few opinions of leading editors and writers throughout the country from the East coast to the West.


Robert G. Cousins—one of the greatest orators in Congress for the past twenty years, who left public life because he was tired of it, is now one of the platform stars of the country.—
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post.


Cousins sprang to the very first rank of Congressional orators.—
Boston Journal.


Mr. Cousins won for himself high distinction as an orator.—
New York World.


Among the later accessions to the better class of orators, Robert G. Cousins must be included.  He is doubtless the best today.—
Washington Post.


He is an honor to the Hawkeye State.  He has made for himself a name and fame as an orator.  The country will yet hear more to the credit of Hon. Robert G. Cousins.—
Editorial, Toledo Blade.


Like Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg, Mr. Cousins' address will be preserved as one of the gems of American Oratory.—
Editorial, Chicago Tribune.


Never has a single hour been made more valuable and worthy to be remembered than that devoted to the Address on Lincoln by Robert G. Cousins last evening—one of the most perfect pieces of English composition ever delivered on a like occasion in this or any other city.—
Editorial, Portland (Me.) Express.


When Mr. Cousins sat down amid the storm of cheers, which again and again swept the room, ex-Senator Edmunds advanced and congratulated him on having made the best speech he had ever heard.  This compliment was that of the master bestowing the crown, and the young man was worthy of the honor.—
Philadelphia Star.


Robert G. Cousins is an orator—the foremost orator.  As a master of our language he has few equals among living Americans.—
“Savoyard” in Louisville Courier-Journal.


Mr. Cousins is in a class by himself.  Upon the lecture platform, without a rival in actual eloquence.—
Editorial, Des Moines Capital.


The chief speaker was Robert G. Cousins, and his reputation as a speaker is certainly deserved.  Frank C. Goudy later pronounced him the greatest orator ever heard in Colorado.  Cousins is certainly a speaker of marvelous eloquence, with a gift of framing his thoughts into sentences of wonderful beauty.—
Denver News-Times.


The most noteworthy speech that has so far been made was delivered by Representative Cousins of lowa.—
Editorial, San Francisco Chronicle.




A RECORD WORTH HAVING.

Robert G. Cousins is home again after filling his late August and early September dates, which kept him on the road most of the time.  It is a record worth having, that during a quarter of a century of more or less continuous public speaking on all manner of occasions, Mr. Cousins has never failed to appear and fill his engagements wherever his promise was outstanding.  In evidence of the excellent satisfaction given on the Chautauqua platform, testimonials continue to appear, the following being from the Guthrie Center Times: On Friday Hon. Robert G. Cousins came to us.  Mr. Cousins has perhaps few equals and no superiors as an orator, and he was an inspiration to those who heard his message.  He showed the greatness to which human character might attain, and spoke in purest English of the opportunities and possibilities of the American boy.  It was a grand address.—
Tipton Conservative, Sept. 30, 1914.

Cousins at Primghar—Judge W. D. Boies in an impressive and attractive manner, introduced the speaker of the day, Hon. Robert G. Cousins.  All could not get under the big tent, but the seats, isles and all available space around the sides were packed with people to hear the masterly effort of Mr. Cousins.  It was indeed and emphatically a master effort.  No words of ours could do it justice.  Nothing that we can say would be exaggeration.  He had a great subject: Lincoln and His Pioneer Days, and it was handled most ably and charmingly—thoughtfully, feelingly and eloquently.  He is indeed an orator.  We have listened to Talmage, John Sherman, Cassius M. Clay, Mahlon Chance, Gov. Curtin, Dolliver, Bryan, Cummins, a score of the foremost, but there is only one Robert G. Cousins and we think we have never heard him excelled.—O'Brien County Bell, Sept. 3, 1914.

After having heard in eulogies of his Father, the greatest orators of the nation, General Frederick D. Grant wrote this: Of all the kind words which have been said about my father none have touched me more than Robert G. Cousins' great tribute to his memory.—Frederick D. Grant.

Opinion of Secretary Hay—Concerning a speech on Abrahan Lincoln, delivered in New York City by Robert G. Cousins, that world-known author of the Life of Lincoln, John Hay, late Secretary of State in President McKinley's Cabinet, wrote a letter in which he says: My sensibilities have been somewhat worn in reading and writing about Lincoln, but this is a new speech, full of original ideas set forth in a very vivid and attractive manner.  I did my best to find something to object to, but without success.—John Hay.

Mrs. Grant's Compliment to Cousins—I have read in the Philadelphia Press the report of Mr. Cousins' great tribute to General Grant at the anniversary dinner of the Union League.  It is very beautiful and he is very gifted.  If I had been present, I fear I should have done as my son, Col. Grant did—embraced him.—Julia D. Grant.


Hon. Robert G. Cousins, as chairman of foreign affairs, came in contact with many public men of this and many foreign countries.  He is a man of pleasing personality, genial and whole souled, and a polished orator who has few equals on the American platform today.  His command of the English language is something marvelous and he held the close attention of his great audience last night for an hour and a half.  Mr. Cousins is different from most chautauqua talkers.  There is nothing sensational about his talk.  He is not a seeker after cheap notoriety.  He is a student and a scholar in addition to being a gifted orator, and his address was replete with wise sayings and abounded in historical facts beautifully presented.—
Freeport (Ill.) Journal-Standard. July, 11, 1914.


Bob Cousins is perhaps the greatest orator Iowa ever produced, and was one of the greatest orators in congress in the last decade.—
Grand Junction Globe, July 15, 1914.


Robert G. Cousins came up to expectations and delivered a splendid address on: 'Public Life and Some Public Men I Have Known'.—
Albert Lea (Minn.) Evening Tribune, Aug. 24, 1914.


Hon. Robert G. Cousins, in a pleasing discourse in which flashes of the wit and eloquence for which he is famed shown brightly, opened the 11th annual Chautauqua here Sunday afternoon.  In all, he mentioned something over 185 names of men famous for the endeavors they have made in the World's history, and told interesting incidents in their lives.—
Fort Dodge Messenger, Aug. 17th, 1914.


A large number of Audubon people heard Robert G. Cousins on the lecture platform at the Chautauqua at Exira last Saturday.  All are unanimous in their opinion that his lecture was the greatest and grandest lecture ever delivered in Audubon county.  Mr. Cousins is reputed to be America's ablest orator, and all who heard the distinguished Iowan are convinced that the reputation is well founded.—
Audubon Republican, Aug. 13th, 1914.



Clinton people were charmed Friday evening with the beautiful eloquence of Mr. Cousins.  His rhetoric was faultless, his manner polished and his sentiments of the highest type.  His eulogy of the three martyr Presidents would rank with the finest gems of English oratory.—
Clinton Daily Herald.


Robert G. Cousins, the most eloquent speaker and one of the ablest men in the House of Representatives.—
W. E. Curtis, in Record Herald.


Of speakers who have ever been in Keokuk our people put Robert G. Cousins ahead of all.  He is a great master of his art.  Nature has endowed him with every gift that goes to the making of an orator.  His physical perfection, his genius so sanely embodied, the delightful originality of his thought, the salient epigrammatic suggestiveness normal to his mind, the calm unassertive reserve and freedom from effort with which he goes to any height of either thought or sentiment, make him a marvelous orator.—
Keokuk Gate City.


Cousins was born an orator.  He has single speeches to his credit which have not been approached in either House of Congress in his time.  He was the beloved young man of President McKinley and of Senator Allison and he held intellectual communion with the great of those glorious days.—
Editorial, Cedar Rapids Republican.


Robert G. Cousins delivered his lecture on Public Life and Some Public Men Whom I Have Known, at the opera house Thursday evening.  It represents a great amount of work and study.  It has the rhythm of a poem, the melody of a song and in eloquence runs as sparkling and clear as a crystal spring.  He drew no party favorites in his tributes.  Cleveland drew praise with Harrison and McKinley, and Gorman with Hoar and Allison.  Mr. Cousins is a master of English.  He has a nation wide reputation as an orator.  His appearance will be occasion for repetition of the encomiums showered upon him.—
Editorial, Anamosa Eureka.


The beauty of Mr. Cousins' English has long been conceded and on this occasion when his hearers were not waiting for the end of one of his poetical sentences they were enthusiastically cheering the one that preceded it.  It was the most brilliant address ever made in Tama, without exception, and added to the reputation of the great orator who gave it.—
Editorial, Tama Herald.


To say that Mr. Cousins pleased is putting it mildly, indeed.  He simply held that large assembly for an hour while it was entranced with the beauty and poetic eloquence of his master-piece of oratorical art.  It is indeed a rare gift, that of oratory, combining as it must the arts of history, philosophy, poetry and eloquence in one.  Mr. Cousins possesses the gift as have but few men in the nation.—
Editorial, Tama News.


Robert G. Cousins lectured in the Trojan Opera House, Tuesday Evening on Public Life and Some Public Men I Have Known, and for nearly two hours the eloquent Iowan was followed with an attention enforced by the matchless witchery and charm of an eloquence that knows no second.  Down the great public avenue the speaker led his audience while at every turn of the way men and measures stood out wrapped in the halo of a language more captivating than the spell of sweetest music.  We will make no attempt to analyze this Cousins masterpiece.  It is too rich, too great to be marred with an attempt to cover a field that opens in full view upon a quarter of a century of American history.  Those who heard it all, heard the best thing in the form of a lecture that is before the American people today.—
Williamsburg Journal-Tribune.


What was probably the most eloquent lecture ever heard in Webster City, was that delivered Tuesday evening by Hon. Robert G. Cousins—Public Life and Some Public Men I Have Known, Political history, history of the arts, science and music fairly rolled off his tongue in the purest English.  Mr. Cousins lecture is deep and profound, showing a wide range of research, a wonderful memory and a great storehouse of knowledge.—
Webster City Journal.


Undoubtedly one of the finest addresses ever delivered from a platform in this city was heard Tuesday evening—Hon. Robert G. Cousins discussing the very interesting subject: Public Life and Some Public Men I Have Known.  The address was, as expected, cloaked in eloquence and replete with the logic that enthuses.  His discussion of political matters was keenly interesting and uplifting, and the speaker demonstrated a wonderful fund of information in regard to both historical and social conditions as have existed.  The address was one of the finest ever listened to by a Webster City audience.—
Webster City Herald.


The lecture at the Wieting theatre on Public Life and Public Men by Robert G. Cousins was purely non-political, logical and intensely interesting throughout, which with the speaker's perfect English, attractive personality and masterful oratory, holds the audience fascinated.—
Toledo Chronicle.


Hon. Robert G. Cousins, gave his able lecture on, Some Public Men I Have Known, in the new Wieting, last Thursday evening.  The speaker is a close student and he delved into the lives of some 200 noted men with a skill and a research which edified his audience.  It is a noble lecture, well worthy the high minded gentleman who gave it.—
Editorial, Tama County Democrat.




COUSINS AT CLARINDA AND AT CEDAR RAPIDS.

Imagine a large, handsome man, walking up and down the rostrum, talking in a conversational tone, in a deep, musical voice, and you will have a mental picture of Hon. Robert G. Cousins as he appeared at the Armory last Thursday night, opening the lecture course with an address on the noted men of America he has known.  Mr. Cousins talked to the audience as if he were telling a story to a few personal friends in private.  And the audience listened just as the friends would have done.  Had he spoken another hour there would have been the same attention.  That's the tribute an audience pays to an orator—it listens to him, giving him the appreciation of silence at times and applause at times, but giving him close attention all the time.  And Cousins was worthy the attention given.  In the first place he said something worth hearing; in the second place, the excellent English used in saying it was an inspiring example of how to use words; and, third, his musical voice, pleasing manner and the charm of his personality gave just the right finish to the whole to make the entertainment one long to be remembered.—
Clarinda Journal.


A literary treat was accorded Friday evening to those who attended the first lecture on the Lyceum Course.  Robert G. Cousins held the interest of his audience in speaking of Public Men Whom I Have Known.  Six presidents he has known personally, besides many men in public life, whom he speaks of in a most interesting way.  He pictured men in action until you could hear them talk.  If the first lecture of the course is a criterion of those to follow, there is a great treat in store for Clarinda patrons of the Lyceum Entertainment course.—
Clarinda Herald.

Hon. Robert G. Cousins lectured on some of the great men with whom he was associated during his congressional career to an appreciative and delighted audience in Greene's Opera House, at Cedar Rapids last evening.  He was happily introduced by Mayor Roth.  We have heard nearly all the great orators of the country during the past fifty years, but we never heard the equal of Mr. Cousins' last evening's address.  It was the greatest speech ever delivered in Iowa.  There is only one Robert G. Cousins in the U. S. A.

Both Cedar Rapids dailies made lengthy and commendatory mention.  The following paragraphs are from the Republican's article.

There is no one in Iowa except Mr. Cousins who could have made that speech, and one does not know anyone in the United States who could have done it in the same way—since such men as Wendell Phillips and Beecher ceased speaking.  The terseness and historical richness which distinguished those men were also present in Mr. Cousins last night.  Such flow of language, such drollery, mingled with pathos, such philosophy and poetry and such love of the beautiful has not been heard in Cedar Rapids in a long time.

No one could give an adequate idea of what it was, in substance and in spirit.  Men and events were marshalled singly and enmasse, in word pictures that were full of the breath of life and that scintillated in the voluminous and multicolored lights that were poured over them.  Presidents, senators, representatives in congress, judges passed in constant review and for each there was the distinctive utterance.  The men he dealt with belonged nearly all to the dead, from Cleveland to Mckinley, covering the years that Mr. Cousins was in public life.

After all, there is only one Robert G. Cousins' living in Iowa now and all Iowans have reason to be proud of having such a man among them, and all can join heartily in mutual congratulations that he has returned to public life in the best sense of that term—the use of his large gifts for the uplifting of the thoughts of men and the widening of their mental horizons.

The Gazette gave its appreciation of the eloquent address as follows:


Hon. Robert Cousins, for sixteen years representative in congress from the fifth Iowa district, and one of the most forceful and entertaining orators the Hawkeye state has ever produced, kept a good audience greatly interested for two hours last night at Greene's Opera House, when he delivered his address on Public Life and Some Public Men Whom I Have Known. 
Bob, as his many friends throughout the district, state and nation lovingly call him, appeared to be in the prime of health and his address amply fulfilled the highest expectations of the crowd that braved inclement weather conditions and assembled to pay their respects to this member of the state's old guard and to listen to his flowery bursts of oratory.
At the close democrats vied with republicans in praise of Cousins' great address.  It was the speech of a master.  Like his address in Congress on The Men of the Maine it was a gem.—

Marion Register, Nov. 18, 1913.





Orators, the poets of the platform, are less to the fore nowadays than in the earlier days of the Republic.  Now and then one of the gifted class makes himself famous with a single speech, as Bryandid in the Chicago convention in 1896.  Others, as Cousins of Iowa, acquire oratorical rank by the cumulative effects of many beautiful addresses.  Perhaps none other has a richer gift of classic and persuasive speech than Robert G. Cousins.—
National Magazine, Boston.


Mr. Cousins, with a logic that is not the less rigid because of its elegance, and with a satire that is not the less severe because of its humorous quality, and with an eloquence that is not the less inspiring because of the simplicity of its style, has made himself worthily a peer of Tom Corwin or of Sunset Cox.—
Editorial, Chicago Inter-Ocean.


We believe that Mr. Cousins has made a place for himself in the school books of the future and in the histories of two republics.  The staff correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal said: 'In my time— and I have been around the capitol the most of the last twenty years—I have never seen or heard anything on the floor that even approached this gem of a speech.'  We are glad to live in a state with a man who can elicit such praise.—
Editorial, Iowa State Register.



THE MEN OF THE MAINE
Mr. Cousins' Shortest Speech Printed in Every County in United States

NO human speech can add anything to the silent gratitude, the speechless reverence, already given by a great and greatful nation to its dead defenders and to their living kin.  No act of Congress providing for their needs can make restitution for their sacrifice.  Human nature does, in human ways, its best, and still feels deep in debt.

Expressions of condolence have come from every country and from every clime, and every nerve of steel and ocean cable has carried on electric breath the sweetest, tenderest words of sympathy for that gallant crew who manned the MAINE.  But no human recompense can reach them.  Humanity and time remain their everlasting debtors.  It was a brave and strong and splendid crew.  They were a part of the blood and bone and sinew of our land.  Two of them were of my native State of Iowa.

Some were only recently at the United States Naval Academy, where they had so often heard the morning and the evening salutation to the flag—that flag which had been interwoven with the dearest memories of their lives, that had colored all their frienships with the lasting blue of true fidelity.  But whether they came from naval school or civil life, from one State or another, they called each other comrade—that gem of human language which sometimes means but little less than love and a little more than friendship, that gentle salutation of the human heart which lives in all the languages of man, that winds and turns and runs through all the joys and sorrows of the human race, through deed and though and dream, through song and toil and battlefield.

No foe had ever challenged them.  The world can never know how brave they were.  They never knew defeat; they never shall.  While at their posts of duty sleep lured them into the abyss; then death unlocked their slumbering eyes but for an instant to behold its dreadful carnival, most of them just when life was full of hope and all its tides were at their highest, grandest flow; just when the early sunbeams were falling on the steeps of fame and flooding all life's landscape far out into the dreamy, distant horizon; just at that age when all the nymphs were making diadems and garlands, waving laurel wreaths before the eyes of young and eager nature—just then, when death seemed most unnatural.

Hovering above the dark waters of that mysterious harbor of Havanna, the black-winged vulture watches for the belated dead, while over it and over all there is the eagle's piercing eye sternly watching for the truth.

Whether the appropriation carried by this resolution shall be ultimately charged to fate or to some foe shall soon appear.  Meanwhile a patient and a patriotic people, enlightened by the lessons of our history, remembering the woes of war, both to the vanquished and victorious, are ready for the truth and ready for their duty.


The tumult and the shouting dies—
The captains and the kings depart—
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart,
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget.