The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-04-11
A Truce to Laughter.

If there be one thing that has enlivened the
Congressional debates more than another it
is those little parenthetical interpretations OF
the reporters indicating Daughter, ZAP
plause." Sensation Thus: "Mr. Smith OF
New York said that his honored colleague
and friend, if the honorable gentleman wou'u
hermit him to call him so, reminded nun VI
the animal in Scripture that was suddenly
o;,,ed with the power of speech (laughter)'
The reader may have noticed that there is al
WAYS an instantaneous response in the form
of appreciatve laughter, when any member
hits upon new and improved method OF
calling one of his associates an ass. Even If
the form in which that exquisitely humor-
Gus. novel and convincing retort is put should
be awkward and cumbrous, the encouraging
guffaw does not appear to be withheld. What
high incentive will there be benceforth to able
and ingenious members to launch this time
honored epithet upon an assailant? The
bald statement that the thing was done will
not have its due effect upon the constituent,
unless he is at the same time informed that
the House gave itself up to mirth. But the
bald statement is all that is now permit
ted by a tyrannous Speaker. The re-
porter may not brighten his lead
en- page with either the laughter, the ap-
plause or the sensation of the statesmen
Who sit below him and play their parts for
his amusement. This must be blow at
Gen. Butler, for it is to him that perhaps one
half of the annotations of this abbreviated
Greek chorus are due. It little boots him to
say 10 an obnoxious and troublesome oppo-
nent: 81 appreciate the motives of the hon.
orable gentleman from Kansas. He has no
popular synpathes-he cares not for the in
terests of the laboring classes. But I Under
" stand his aristocratic leanings well enough
he wishes to forget that his father once kept
peanut stand. I remember him well my
self, and a very honest and worthy man he
was ;"-lttle boots it, we say, for Gen. But
Ter to crush an interlocutor in this way if the
country is not to be assured that the language
was really witty and incisive by the informa-
ton that the House greeted it with Laughter
and applause The Speakers decision may
be counted upon with absolute certainty for
deducting at least fifty per cent from Gen.
Buffers notoriety. s' tti
The more the subject is considered the
more serious does it appear, and the more in
tilnately Go its various ramiications seem to
be bound up with the best feelings of the
Congressional nature. 1t is much to be fear
ed that no member will ever again rise to his
feet and shout in the old familiar style: 81
hur ri ho, II fbo mo a nd
mendacious insinuations with scorn and con-
tempt. 1 pronounce him here and now a
wilful and malicious liar, and for this language
hold myself responsible in any way that ac-
cords with the usage of gentlemen" This
'hurling back" business will be as dull and
fiat as church synod if the printed word
sensation" does not send dramatic thrill
throughout the land in unison with that
which sets the congressional heart throb-
bling.
buf The reason given for expunging these ex-
planatory and highly rhetorical substantives
is that they "only indicate that merns,ars have
violate the rules of the House." We can
not understand this. Men NAV laugh ana ap-
PLAID in Plymouth Church and Mr.. Beecher
says rs an excellent thing. May they not
do the same thing in the House without los
ing their innocence? 1t is curious to consid-
er what are the probable limitations of this
ruling. Would smile of that pronounced
description known as grin subject man to
the liability Of being called to order? Would
not that mechanical smile which takes
permanent possession of some faces,
with or without the consent Of the own
er, ultimately result in the expulsion
of the member afflicted by it, since he must
appear to be in state Of perpetual contdma
cious defiance of the ruless Would the
broadness OF smile bringing it within the
inhibited cachinnatory degrees be determined
by mechanical admeasurement or how? FL
nalIy, how is it possible to prevent .ssensa-
ton" and SO keep the House in due order
and obedience to its own self-imposed rules
The Indian brave, who is the perfection of a
nil adnirari philosopher, and the English
snob are the great models which it will be
necessary for members of the House to study
with diligence if they hope to become credi a.
bly, apathetic and Unconditional.