Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL SPEECH MINING
Who the PRINCIPAL Takers Are.

ous volumes of the Congressional Record are
fed = by small minority OF the members OF
Congress. in fact an examination viii show that
the speech-makeIs are only about one out OF ten
members.
SENATE DEB.rERS
For the Senate MeSSfS. Thurman and ElmundS
lead in the debates-that is speaking as 10 the
amount of space each usually takes up in
the official records Neither is pleasant 10
lSten TO, and neither affects any fine ora
tory, and yet both attract great attention
both from their colleagues on the floor
and the spectators in the gallery. because
in addressing the Senate it usually in eiucda-
ii IN If delicate and knOtty questions I'm conSti-
Iutional law. senator Hill, for the time since
hc has been member has done more talking
than any other member OF the body. There has
yet been no prOtracted debate in which he has
not had the floor for a set speech. He has
great deal Of natural eloquence, and his ad-
dress is rather captivating. For one TO hear
and not 10 see him, the impression would be
made that he had the rounded graces of Oratory
In gesture as well as voice. But he hasn't. He
lndulgeS In all manner of ungraceful attitudes;
his fayOritc position being with his right leg on
chair, his body drawn up. and his index finger
OF his right hand vibrating scornfully at his
auditors. Voorhees,, on the other hand, Is all
grace. lie makes but few speeches. except
those for which he makes ample preparation and
reheaTSeS 10 the minutest detail all his solid
points before delivering them. He is cool, self
possessed, has resonant powerful aud syrnpa-
thetic voice, and is always able to hold his audi
ence. His perorations are mastery and ncisive.
al vi
Senate, but mainly in the off-hand eXtempore
way. He seldom writes speech. His forte is
to detect weak point in the line Of an adyer-
sarys argument and expose it with lightning
celerity. No man is quicker to see a flaw of this
klnd and TO take prOmpter advantage OF il than
Mr.. Blaine. Though he affects none of the
graces OF oratory, he is a magnetic. agreea be
speaker, and holds every ear. Mr.. Conklng, on
the other hand seldom makes u speech of over
five minutes length. unless he has given the sub
lect deliberate study. A careful lawyer as lie
IN slS-a rTIln h.1
laWl which Is not Of the law. Herein is he
stronger than Blaine. The latter is no lawyer,
except being yerSed in what is after all the
fundamental principle OF all law-goOd sense.
Frequently he makes points which the law does
not cover. and nothing pleaseS Thurman, Ed
munds and the other great constitutional law
point that he is not lawyer. Conkling has strong
points as an impressive speaker. He speaks
after the manner OF one who believes In the
side he advocates is dignified In his mein:
voice fun and clear though not sympathetic.
lie speaks with too much precision. and Is never
lmpasSloned enough to be called eloquent.
Lamar takes up but little OF the Senate's time.
but when he speaks he is usually prepared.
His diction is the choicest of any heard In the
Senate. Howe. of Wisconsin, has a grating,
harsh VOICE unSeenly and awkward presence.
ard the most urcouth attitudes, yet he speaks
logically and is classed as a good debater.
Dawes leaves The impression of an affected
manner and Is not a pleasant speaker but is so
well Verscd in public matters that he commands
attention. Sargent has quick, ierky way of
expressing himself, and was never cut out for
Dem0StheneS though he usually speaks to the
purpose. MOrrill, OF Vermont, seldom makes
speech: his occupancy OF the floor being con-
fined principally 10 an explanation in his dry,
business, off-hand manner Of any bill he may
have reported from bis committee. Jones, OF
Nevada, has also the air Of business about him
when he speaks. He never made but one set
speech, ana that was on the silver bill, which
was considered master effort; indeed the best
IA q " lrd
usually eNpOunds constitutional law. He Is an
earnest, logical, but by no means captivating
orator. Herman is dry and unattractive, but
solid. Matthews is didactic, argumentative
and effective. kfrkwood addresses the Senate
as he would Il camp meeting. McCreery. Of
Kentucky. has but little TO say, but his speeches
brlstle with the keenest viii and satire; Hoar
Is not pleasant speaker. and though showing
power Oh big occasions, on a tame subject can
clear the galleries as quick as Eaton OF Con-
nencu aectleut. Barnum r III never makes speeches,
Sylyanla. Is more the ScheTner Of the democratic
party than its orator. He and Pinckney Whyte, ,of
Maryland. liz debate having political signin-
cance usually do the planning, and Thurman is
put forward To execute the plan. Cameron, of
Wisconsin. seldom speaks. and when he does
II Is after the manner Of a Sunday school super
1ntendent. Beck, OF Kentucky. is an aggreSSiy
deDater. quite bitter in paItiZan feeling. He ha
neither the gift Off1OWery language nor assumes
Oratory. and yet commands by reason of his
hot earnestneSS close attention Don Cameron
does not so far address the Senate oftener than
his father did, but like his father Is clear-headed
and has good knowledge OF the business be-
fore the body. Burnside speaks only AT long in
telrals.
THE TALkERS IN THE HOUSE.
There are scores of debaters in the House
The proceedings, however are not marked
at the other end OF the building. When the
bear garden Is We'll aroused some OF the most
effective speeches are those made on the spur
OF the moment, in which blows are given with
Nkf q 10 e.rBfi xyfi
show that some ten or twelve members mOnopo-
lie nearly all the space. Hale, of Maine, prob
ably does more talking than any other MEM
Der OF tfe body. just stalt political debate
or a controversy OF any kind involving the
movement Of either party for the mastery of
position, and Hale will be found at the front
Cox. OF New York, also fills volumes with his
quick wit, ready repaItee and play OF fancy
Aud lot less frequent is he on his feet to de
nver speech, showing thought and study.
COnSer of Michigan, ALWAYS on the alert Tor
party position, and the best taciticlan ON the
floor. is also a ready and frequent debater His
sarcasm Is keeD and he seldom takes off his
amor a. Ill political contest second best. Judge
helIty OF late years has confined himself 10
deba1e on financial questions, which TO most
listeners are an OverwOrked field, and he does
not attract the attention of Old. although he
coStiS considerable space in the official records
Gen. Banks speaks but little, and more to
knotty and delicate Questions OF parliamentary
law, that on great national subjects: blackburn
is not one who rushes madly TO debate, but is
usually to the front when his section is as
sailed. He has deep rich bass voice. good
gesticulation, aud ranks as one OF the most
pleasing speakers in the House Gabriel Bouck
OF Wisconsin. has the credit Of being an orator.
nut as yet he has never addressed himself To
MS country men except to respond to roll call.
Cen Butler is always on hand when there is an
aggressive debate and usually delights in pre-
c1pltatlnS IL. he has an earnest manner, a
FOubie flow OF language, which he knows how
10 weave INTO singing sentences, and is always
Id h'S element when there is a flavor Of person
allty in the debate. Beverly Douglass is one OF
the quiet members, and seldom attracts the at
tentloh OF either the House or galleries, but
when be does the effect is explosive Durham
OF Kentucky, can get Off about 10 words min
ute. He has good deal to say explanatory OF
the appropriation bills, but seldom touches on
general subjects. Eden. of Illinois. creates a
power OF trouble by his little speeches. which
are covered in the words :" object" He would
feioSe TO vote for a new horn for the angel
Gabllel, even II such nlisnap would prevent
the expected bugle blast on Judgment day
Ewing, OF OHIO, is fine orator. wrapped up in
finance and the problem to ameliOrate the
condition OF suffering people. He speaks with
an earneStneSS which If not born OF conviction
SO closely assimilateS it, as to pass current As
an OIL hand speaker he is not formidable. his
best Efforts being made With bundle OF man.
uscf1pt before him we'll committed to memory.
feltOn, OF Georgia, ieaped into national repu-
tallon, as an orator and logician by fifteen
minute speech IN reply TO Chittenden, OF New
YORK, VINO opposed the repeal OF the reSump-
tl0n act. He has good voice and speaks with
Out effort. He fQrmprlx m tttnpranI