The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-27
BLAINE ON THE FLOOR.
Graphic Picture Of the Republic
can Leader.

r q
washington Correspondence oi tie Boston Herald.
That James G. Blaine is truly one Of
the strongest men who ever sat in the
House OF Representatives everybody now
admits. The two qualities. which come
out in him 30 prominently and make him
40 superior to all around him are his
enormous physicalio force, and the electri.
cal rapidity OF his mental action. Talk OF
the gladiators Was there ever a man
who buckled on n shield and welded "a
sword with such confidence and power as
he has displayed on the floor Of the House
this week? There isn something about
him-T think il is this royal energy and
force-which makes him seem like q
giant in debate, and the men who are
pitted against him seem like pigmies:
Other members speak in their seats, or, II
the OCCASION be an unusual one, extend
their ''seizin' over pair OF desks and
kick the chairs out OF their way. But
Blaine takes the whole aisle for his
stamping.ground, and woe to the page or
anybody else who ventures TO pass
through it while he is on hisfeet! Butler
used to have a way Of filling the eyes of
the House by coming out into the area in
front Of the speakers desk and whirling
around occasionally to fling his fists ut
those who sat behind him. But Blaine
prances back and forth from the outer to
the inner row Of seats, gesticulating and
vocifcrating oil the time : 7Grsil
His fayorite method OF emphasizing n
statement is to hold D book in ,his left
hand, and 10 bring down his right
tremendous force upon the open page.
His long arms are like hails, and his
hand looks as big as page Of foolscap
when he brings it down. Mr.. Blaine's
strong points are in assertion and reioin-
der. He does not argue, but ut-liedeclares,
and demands, and reiterates, and llouts,
and sneers, and cries, "0h, my" when
anybody interrupts him with civil
question or remark. When he is speak
ing, the audience instantly divideA into
friends and foes, and while the sympa-
theiic force of one side goes with the
speaker, the combativeness that he cxcites
on the other makes men wish for club
with which to beat him back. sOfcourse
Blaine wastes n great deal Of his force.
There il nothing calm or judicial about
him. lie makes us much pOther about q
little point Of the Speakers ruling ~
about the grayest matter which Gould
come before the House for discussion.
When he asks question OF an opponent,
he never allows the other to finish, but
breaks in and answers what he thinks
his opponent is going to say before il il
said. He reminds one constantly ot 4
big boy who has whipped the school
master, got the poor. fellow. on his back,
and then proceeds to pound him. He
outdoes Uncle Benjamin himself in his
registering unfairness. He is n man who
ought never to be pitted against men
who are less powerful than he.
As 10 the merits OF what he has done,
this week, there can hardly be two opin-
ions. The moment that any one gets up
and makes fair, moderate and friendly
appeal 70. the House, all Bldnes noise
and emphasis fade ont Of, the air, Blaine
would convert Legislation into n grand
spectacular performance instead OF the
fair discussion and tinat-acqnieseenCe in
ascertaincd opinions, which 1t ought to
be. When he makes point Of order, or
turns some sudden somersauIt over a
rule, il is as II ali actor were performing
some difficult icdt dp6m the stage before 4
popular audience. Indeed, Blaine is
more Of an actor than an orator-a man
10 go before the footlights, rather tlian .
man to.rcprcscnt the public ~ Z