New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-26
A CROWD PRESENT IN THE SENATE.

subject of discussion.
CROWD PRESENT IN THE SENATE.
AN ABLE PRODUCTION But NOT EQUALLY
STRONG THROUGHOUT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRmUSEl
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The well advertised
speech of Senator Howe was delivered to-day to q
full and attentive audience. Nearly every Senator
was in his place, and the galleries were crowded
during the latter part of his address. which was
nearly three hours long.
There are various opinions tonight as TO the wis
dom of the speech and in regard it's effect on the
two great political parties but II is generally con-
coded that 1t was able in its treatment of the SUBJ
ject and adroit in its preparation. Dir. Howe is
master of sarcasm and relentless in its use
and the Senate probably never listened to
O severer attack on a public man than
the Wisconsin Senator delivered to-day on
the present Secretary of the Interior. The justice
of it is another thing, which each one may decide
for himself if he familiar with the facts. but for
deliberate and severe invective the denun-
citation of Mr.. Schurz will long he remem-
bered by those who listened to it. The
speech was prepared with:the greatest care and pa
thence. II bore the marks of deliberation and every
word in it was weighed. There was nothing in it
Of impulse or sudden resentment In its attacks on
Mr. Schurz it did not even show provocation but it
seemed to strike the popular chord in the Senate
and every word of it was relishod with unusual
zest. Mr.. Schurz is not popular among
Senators, rs the votes all questions ia which he
has been interested have already clearly shown;
but there were still many who heard hiln denounced
to-day who wished that he had been present with
the privilege OF defending himself as on former oc-
casions in that chamber.
The speech, although prepared with such care,
and able throughout. was, nevertheless, unequal III
IT'S strength. Ii seemed to have been gotten up
with the orc view Of attacking the President, and.
although there was much sound argument in il,
there was also something about II which seemed
natural and forced. 1t produced the feeling that it
was the result Of determination to do a certain
thing, but not from an impulse based ca conyic-
tion Of duty.
After the speaker had got both sides of the Senate
into good humOr by his wit and cleverness IN abus-
ing Mr. Schurz. he proceeded TO review the history
of the South and Its relations to the Republican
party, for the purpose of showing how con-
tcmptible, in his estimation, had been all
efforts at Cancellation. He made the points
that Mr.. Hayes had displayed the most pitiful
surrender of principle that had been seen since the
contest WIN lAc SitNt power s-cuttpl
showed great genius in telling the old stories of the
South the experience OF Hoar in SOnth Carolina,
the assault on sumner the debates in Congress. and
many incidents old in years bat fresh in memory,
and dressed them mp to give them freshness and ap
plication in the present epoch.
He dwelt at considerable length on Louisiana af-
fairs but had little TO say about Judge Whitaker.
the subject of his resolution. He frequently and in
every conceivable forn, called attention to the fact
that Mr.. Packard was Governor of Louisiana, else
HAYES was not President of the United States
The speech was full Of witty and forcible meta
phors, and the speaker was particularly happy in
his address to the Democrats, who were to be
in a majority in that chamber. He was also foIc-
bic in his illustrations of the Presidents procvies
for appointing Democrats TO Office. He spoke of
the complaints of the President that the party did
not surround him, and said that no shepherd could
keep flock around bun without salt. He believed
that the dog ought TO wag the TAIL not the tail wag
the dog.
He was frequently greeted with laughter. and
once or twice during the delivery of his speech he
was applauded.
Take il all in all, it was probably the most notice.
able speech of the session, because 1t frank out
spoken and unmistakable. Mr.. Howe treated the
questions abruptly and not by indircction, and a
work of art or composition, the speech was worthy
of note. Ii was delivered in the quiet dldactIc
STYLE 50 peculiar 10 the speaker but it lost none Of
its force by delivery
1t is generally believed that long debate will
not follow, although il Is impossible to say posi-
lively. The Democrats will certainly nor answer
it. if tho Judgment of some of the leaders is any in
,iex They say it will do the Republicans more
harm than good and that 1t was simply brutal in
Mr. Howe to refer TO the old days Of slavery. They
say that the South has been punished for its slns
and that it is not gallant TO KNOCK an enemy down
and then kick him for falling.