Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-12-07
Combines DAYBREAK ELOQUENCE

In the Sun for Nov % we have very vivid
account of the scene presented by the Senate
during the famous all-night session which pre-
coded the final vote on the admission of But
Ter and Kellogg The following sketch of
Conkling's part in those proceedings exhibits
in strong light that Senator's power of ora
tory and strength of statement: FThe Senate
lapsed to WEAKNESS. The Clerk read monoto-
nously from page to page. Wadleigh STUN
bled along through his clumsy sentences and
clumsier jokes. At the low table which runs
below the Clerks well-lighted desk Conkling
had sat unnoticed, turning the thick volumes
of evidence around which the debate had gath
cred. The Senator from New York is never
out of his seat by day, never long out of it by
night. He was not long at this low table, sit
ting with back bent to the sleepy stir of the
Senate. By some magic he caught from the
pages he had turned the thread of a great
speech. With some elaboration he straight
ened himself, turned and walked to his seat,
sat there the only man in all the chamber who
still kept the air and the dignity of the Senate.
1t was long past l. The benches above were
emptied. The last belated sight seers were
gone. Below the room was str9wn with sleep
ing men, Around the door of one cloak room
was the uneasy stir of sick room. At the
door of another men lounged, easy, unbut-
toned, smoking. The pages, tired past boys
endurance, were curled on the platform stairs
asleep, One of them, his legs dangling, was
doubled over the arm of chair at Conklings
side asleep Utter dreariness came over the
Senate. Men were tired past remark. Old
men showed their years Humans head
dropped on his breast, Edmunds stretched
himself at ease. The Senate began to take
the air of disorderly bedroom. The faces
around took the set look that comes of long
watching The air was foul and drowsy. The
even light above shone clear and undimraed.
Conkling rose. There was no stir. Men were
past interest. He had neither the aid nor the
excitement of great audience and of listen
ing men. The chamber slept He continued.
Out of this hasty turning of leaf and volume
at midnight he wove at 2 his deft argument.
All this afternoon Conkling has been turning
the sheets on which he was correcting his
speech in the dark and early morning. He
would have better served his reputation if he
had let the hot sentences stand as he spoke
them. Men who heard them will carry them
as they heard them, not as the Record gives
them tomorrow As he went on the Senate |
woke. Men crowded closer to him. In
sense few men have ever chance or power to |
receive, he had created his audience The |
Senate listened. A space around him cleared |
Is he moved backward and forward, his meas
1red sentences shaping his plea for inquiry |
INTO this great mass of evidence from which |
lie had so hastily gathered, and he closed, as
t was fitting that the last speech of the new
Republican minority should close, in this
,reat case with single long resounding SEN
ence, putting the blood of all the PerrYs and
Buffers of American history at naught by the
ide of the sober story of poor man wronged
Three o'clock applause is of the rarest. Conk-
ing had it the floor over