The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-28
MIR. SEIZURES SPEECH ON THE SALE
OF ARMS.

MIR. SEIZURES SPEECH ON THE SALE
OF ARMS.
The recent speech of Carl Schurz upon
the Sale of Arms, is being widely circulated
and exciting much comment from the Press.
1t is relied upon largely by the opposition
in all its varied phases as a campaign docu-
ment. We listened to this extraordinary
speech with very much the same sensation
that we experience in witnessing the feats
Of a daring acrobat, miracles of skill and
muscular training without purpose. 1t
was a magnificent exhibition of rhetorical
gymnastics. The occasion had been well
prepared. The galleries were crowded
with sympathizing friends. The opposi-
ton Press massed their whole reportorial
force to magnify this great day of the ses-
sion when their champion should sound
the charge and the battle should begin.
Full on the breath of mighty winds
Right royalty he rode,'
and entering the lists, bore himself proud
ly and grandly enough. His effort surpass-
ed expectation even, and in the low murmur
ofapplause which ran round the galleries as
he rose to some sublime height of elo-
quence, he received ample assurance of the
prevailing sympathy with his fierce and
powerful assault upon the administration.
ut was the greatest speech Schurz ever
made" said one newspaper man near us.
"What master of the English tongue"
said another. ''He is too much for Conk-
ling" said a third. "What triumph
chimes fourth. And well satisfied with
hearing one side, the crowd rose to go to carry
the fame of their champion to their friends,
and flash his brilliant falsehoods. and fall
lacies over the wire, to bewilder and
mislead the people. AS a simple intel
lectual effort it acas very fine. We are
free to confess our admiration of its SPLEEN
did rhetoric. But it was destitute of
truth and so fell barren and fruitless
but what good came of it at lastfn
Quoth little Pc terkin
why, that cannot tell,' said he,
But twas glorious victory" 49,
Schurz rides tilt with all his might
against the friends of Gen. Grant in the
Senate, who oppose investigating alleged
corruptions. But 10! it is proved that all
of Gen. Grants supporters in the Senate
are IN .Japor of thoroughly investigating al
legged corruptions.
Schurz pours out torrents of inyectiye to
drown and wash away utterly the Senators
who oppose investigating the sale of arms.
But, behold! no Republican Senator makes
such opposition. So the grandest speech Of
the great German orator is made upon an
issue purely fictitious. The case is not
without parallel, for coming away from
the debate, we instantly recalled a story of
S. S. Prentiss, of Mississippi, who was as
renowned for his eloquence thirty years ago
as the Missouri Senator is to-day.
Mr.. Prentiss made the greatest speech of
his life upon the trial of n flea in his bed
room at a country tavern. 1t was the GUS
tom in those days for court and lawyers to
travel in company, and from all accounts
there were frequent occasions, as Mark
Tapley would say, to be jolly under difficult
ties. While travelling on professional duty
Prentiss was, one night, put in room
where the teas tormentcd him beyond en-
durance. Lighting his lamphe commenced
dscharging his pistols into the bed. This
soon reused the household and brought the
whole crowd, including the landlord, the
judge and his brother barristers, to see what
was the matter.
They found Prentss actively engaged in
hunting feas in the folds of the bedding.
After much labor he succeeded in catching
one of the offending insects, and securing it
under glass, demanded that it be put on
trial for its life. The Judge was seated in
the only chair, court improyised, counsel
assigned, the prisoner arraigned and trial
begun in due form, to which the unhappy
landlord was compelled to listen all night.
Those who heard Prentiss that night. de-
clare that he surpassed every other forensic
effort of his life.
The sale of arms to the French has
proved to Mr.. Schurz an inspiration quite
as potent as the flea did to Prentiss. and
we are certain that in objective importance
the flea had greatly the advantage. The
flea had poSiirs existence, but 10 explo-
sions OF eloquence, or vigilant guest with
the best maeniiers, will discover in this
sale of arms even a microscopic animalcule
Of fraud.