New-York tribune., 1870-12-21
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.
THE MISSOURI DEBATE-LRK AND MRS. LEE.


of political sagacity and strategy 1t was COOL philoso-
phical plausible persuasive and In portions at least
most logical compact and powerful. think that the
best strength OF this orator. agaor though nc BE- lies In
the steady, even flow Of bis argument IL Is not until
you are well In the current that you realize its great
power. Such consdmmate mastersmp OF English IN
foreigner is more than marvel to me- Kossuth
surpassed him in poetic apness but was far from being
his equal In scholarly accuracy.
tits condensation FOR the lack Of the blessed boon OF
suffrage that woman enjoy fine political speech
as a literary effort without caring VINO II comes from
without anxious inquiry the local or temporary e
feet OF the broad principles 1t may inculcate Here
where party spirit foams and RACES and swells grow
daily less and lees partisan in spirit Indeed the more
hear and see Of politicians with their ways that are
dark and tricks that vain" the moro am inclined to
say, with lofty inpartiaty "a plague On poth your
houses"
Among the most attentive listeners to Mr. schurz
Frederic Douglass. Quite study WAS his DARK power
full cynical facein type un-Arean, az unAmerican
the face it has always seemed 10 me- OF an intellectual
Malay full OF thoughtful subteties and almost sutry
with tropical forces and passions becamed He followed
the silver thread OF the speakers eoquenee through all
its subtle windDgshe II any man there saw the weak
placesbe If any man there could have answered him.
from radical stand point with equal logic, profounder
feeling and more impassoned eloquence He ought to
be in that Senate the great champion or his people
Yesterday we had brakes reply. IL was for this I'M
pulsve Senator q carefully studied and oo0lly premed
itated effort stin IL partisan, passionate and bit
teIly personal. II had many telling points, much forc
bic statement and fiery defamation. IL was not quite
fair the Schurltes say; perhaps under the ercun
stanses, fairness morally impossible There Is bad
blood between the two Senators and great political gulf
set between their adheIens After this gallant defense
and more gallant attack concluded the Senator's
face, manner, and voice underwent an Impressive
change-the parting hour had come, which have no
and init Ip
ead his words Of kindly farewell Of regret for posi-
bic mistakes OF trembling hope for the future OF his
party he looked around for the last time on the familiar
OF Senatorial ife-caSt thought tender glance
the genial face OF the VcePresident orgave his en-
emes, and minutes before four the drop curtain
fell, and he launched into the Court oi Cians-a
better and Calmer sphere.
Seriously we shall miss this roughand ready debaer
from the scene OF pompOue propetes lie has envened
long He the ready sensation OF the Senate
We shall miss his alert wiry figure his strong antique
head, with it's short thckmatted curls-the head OF
gladiator, Discus thrower. We shall miss the sharp
ring OF his challenging voice. his sudden, hot worrying
style Of speakinghis speeches themselves trenchan
arrogant bristng with beicerence and personal pro-
nouns but always graphing the attention and holding
one % the end. lie always alive and awake, what
ever else may be said OF him.
Twas obliged to let drift from the subject OF the
Arlington resolutions but perhaps il Is not too late TO
a
caused great Senatorial avakening-almost n revival
OF the religion OF patriotism. II not eloquent himself
the doughty McCreery the cause OF eloquence In
OthersOf OrtOIcal effects most astounding and stun
ming to him. After pause Of blank horror and gath
erng up forces all the loyalty and humanity OF the
Senate rallied TO oppose that dreadful man! fine
sentiment Of righteous Indignation went round the
Chamber glowing and flashing like the flaming cross
Of Vich-Alpine's henchmon, til all had fred up
and fred or IL really fine and stirring-some-
thing Hike the good old reeOnstructng times. There was
in the speeches much unanimty OF sentiment and neces
sary similarity OF expression Yet each speaker In the
manly passion OF the hour, produced something pecu
larly characteristic and striking. Mr. Edmundss protest
against admitting Joint resolution in the first place
very strongly put and ought TO have ended the dis
graceful proceedings then and there. The only thing
did like i'll the protest the Senator's declaration
that he enerans "the highest respect" for the author
Of that resolution. Did he expect TO be believed MI
MortoDs most effective passage was, speaking OF Lee
"s the enormity OF his crime cannot be concealed by
strewing the flowers OF rhetoric over his grave y
Surely there IN great truth in thi Tenderness toward
the dead may be an amiable human weakness, but Is
often the very soul OF injustice We have all yielded TO
II more less, regard to the great Rebel soldier Few
were bold enough to speak the brave honest truth OF
him. when he entered the dark valley into which he had
sent such a vast advance guard Have not yet all
10 learn that death but the life renders character
sacred Senator Thayer said he had predicted that the
time would come "if the policy Of Congress not
riedy carried and adhered TO- in the Southern States
when the leaders Rebellion would sit in these seats
and encOmums would he pronounced upon their acts"
The Democrats wonderfully prompt and positive
In their condemnation OF the bad policy bad taste and
bad feeling OF ths resolution. Mr. Bayards brave and
tender words would have done honor to the Bayard OF
more poetic and chivalrous time Mr.. Salisbury found
opportunity his brief speech TO pay reyerentia trib
ue u the "patriotc," honorable" Christian" char
tbeC Can't W Tx
getting 10 be thoroughly overused in euloges South
ern men "high-toned" or chivarc." We have Saint
Ieoudas and Saint stone wall, shall there be also Saint
Roberts Christian graces seem to have been at pre-
MUM In the CoDfederacy. To be sure, little piety
goes a great way among the military. They get
fu credit for all their meek and humble virtues The
fighting Bishop and the Puritan Raider had their secret
de yoons and deyout psalm faith fully chron
icled by army correspondents who left little FOR the re-
cording angel 10 down. Even Washington could not
get far enough into the woods say his prayers out OF
the hearing Of jenkins and the Quakers 1t is verycever
I'm the apolcgss Of Secession 10 endeayOr TO throw an
odor of sanctity about IT, at this day. and to impart
evangelical favor to treason.
Now IN my opinion mot particularly humble), that
ioint resolution should never have been read in the
Senate Chamber at ALL When the passage reached,
eubOdyng the proposal 10 dig up the bones OF our
soldiers On Arlington Hights-a proposal which would
have been sn insnlt Council of Digger Indians and
was an unspeakable outrage against humanity itself
the Secretary should not have been allowed TO proceed
II SURPRISES no one hear that the family Of Gen. Lee
repudiae the action OF their rash friend. never for
moment believed that he acted for them had partcu
larry at heart the interests OF the widow and the father
less believe that joint resolution was merely
for what followed The real object and plot TO pro-
nounce an eulogy the character and
OF the great Rebel General before the Senate OF the United
States. This pretty programme was carried through,
thanks 10 the magnanimy-if that what you call it
OF the Senate itself
There ia one thing more I want 10 say. Though our
dead soldiers possess the pleasant grounds OF Arlington
roA nr.d l.l Id