Crossword Genius

An alternative to a politician speechifying (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oratory

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'an alternative to a politician speechifying' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'an alternative to a politician' is the wordplay.
'an alternative' becomes 'or'.
'politician' becomes 'tory' (term for a Conservative Party politician).
'or'+'a'+'tory'='ORATORY'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for oratory that I've seen before include "speech day's main feature?" , "devotional space" , "Eloquent language" , "church" , "Rhetorical language" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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