The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Debate In the Senats-Personal
Appearances of Blaine, Ransom,
Conkling, Herman, Lamar
and Others,
Personal Gossip About Senators.

Especial Correspondence OF the sentlnel.l
WAsHISGroS, d. c., Dec. 19.-Phe debate
in the senate on the Blaine resolution on
last Monday and Tuesday was one of intense
interest and excitement, not so much on ac-
count Of the subject under discussion as the
contestants engaged in it. 1t called out the
best talent OF that body, and reminded one
OF a war among the gods Blaine stood his
ground almost single handed, and entirely
so on the second day, and, although not at
all in sympathy with his undertaking, he
won my profound admiration by the skill
and courage with which he met each attack
and championed his cause, seemingly un
sustained, except in a lukewsrm fashion, by
his own party. 1t was grand to see HIM with
tense muscles aud fl lshing eyes spriDging to
meet and ward each fresh attack, and strik-
ing his sonorous word-stabs home. 1t was
almost like physical combat. When the
elegant Ransom, of North Carolina, forced f.
little too much light upon the intentions OF
the senator from Maine, he sprang like IL
ger towards him, rushing between the seats
unit; he confronted him face to face, and
with almost savage ferOcity, dealt words like
blows full between the eyes. General Ran
som, however, had the best OF the argument.
He made very fine point, in favor of the
amendment, that the committee should sit
With open doors showing how very anxious
Blaine had been to turn on the lights,
and now that the democrats were also
.nxious TO turn on the lights, AID have
the fullest and freest public invest cation,
he Is equally anxious to turn of the
lights" l. e., to investigate In secret, so that
be can turn the light only on such facts as
he may select for illumination.
General Ransom's speech was a telling one,
showing how anxious the south is for con-
Citation and peace, and how detrimental to
the interests of all concerned is an attempt
to arouse sectional feeling, which he con
sders is the tendency and object of this in
vesigation. The next morning | noticed u
magnificent bouquet gracing the senator 8
desk, doubtless presented In appreciation OF
his oratoricsl effort. He is tall, hne-look
ing man, with dark eyes and dark hair and
whiskers slreaked with gray is somewhat
bold.
General Butler, of South Carolipa, the
senator who made the motion 10 sit with
open doors, also gave n very strong argument
In favor o. his position. He is considered
one OF the bandsomest men in the senate,
having very arlstocrstlc and high bred a.
well as intellectual cast of countenarce-
lust our ideal of southern chivslry. He has
a wooden leg, gained in the confederate ser
vice, but walks with such elegance and ease
that one would not suspect 1t.
On Monday Conkling created good deal
of amusement by the adroit way IN which
he avoided mentioning Blaine when 1t be-
came necessary to refer to him in combating
the referring of the investigation to the lu-
dietary committee, OF which be is chairman
AS is we'll known, the two rival statesmen
have not spoken for IL years. In reference
TO something that Blaine had proposed he
said, "a suggeton has fallen on my ear"
and, again, las the senator from Ohio and
another senator have suggested OF the two
senators Blaine seems altogether the most
popular with his own party, in congress at
least. A certain hauteur and unapproacha-
beness of manner detrsct from Conkling' s
popularity, although it is said by his in l.
mates that they are more apparent than real,
and that those who penetrate his seeming re
serve find him a very GENIAL and pleasant
companion, and a very intelligent one as
well, as he is highly cultivated and versed
in all sorts of knowledge, and perfect mas
ter of language.
His colleague Senator Herman, is quite
another style OF man, equally high toned,
but with a cordial, courteous manner, which
makes one feel at home aud at ones best at
once. He is, however, near sighted, and
warns his friends not to be offended il he
knows his own vie il she changes her dress.
In persona, appearance he reminds one
of an Englishman or Scotcbman, with
his fringe of gray whiskers well
back on his cheeks and chin
He Is of rather spare build, but
well formed. Although not so prominently
before the public as his compeer. 10 is from
no lack of ability, either as a lawyer or states
man, in both of which capacities he holds
the first rank. He dealt some very heavy
blows in the debate on Monday, In favor OF
having the investigation proceed with open
| doors.
In his retort Blaine reused Lamar, of Mis-
sissippi. 1t was like Mars letting slip the
dogs Of war. Horse, foot and dragons de-
scended upon him; grape and canister, shot
| and she'll ratified about his devoted head
He attempted resistance, and sped one swift
shaft at his adversary, but it was instantly
returned, tipped with acrimony, and the
! champion, who had SO calamity withstood
the repeated attacks of fresh adversaries
apparently concluded that this was stroke
too much for even his Samsoniap strength,
aud so beat an orderly retreat, or at least
attempted no further defense. Lamar
remorsslessly smote him hip and
thigh with the Damascus blade OF
| his trenchant, with an sarcasm,
and hurled TN overwhelming mass of facts
| and solid arguments at his head. Routed,
but not snbdued, the gallant enemy retired
from the field, but only to renew the conflict
with fresh vigor on the morrow, while the
martial Lamar, satisfied with having proven
his proves as a champ ion, also retired TO
the ranks. While watching this conflict, I
mentally characterized Blaine as the tiger
! and Lamar as the lion, the closely cropped
iron gray whiskers and hair, well ex-
preston and motion, Of the former, aod the
| Rowing brown hair and beard of the latter,
bearing out the similtudes-
In talking with Senator Lamar afterward,
vas surprised, considering the virulence OF
his attack upon him, TO hear him say that
be was very fond OF Blaine, and, indeed, all
of his opponents took occasion, In the course
of their remarks, to bear witness to his abil-
ity, evidently feeling savage pleas
ure In jousting with q foeman whom
they are proud to acknowledge as worthy
OF their steel. In this re-pect the
democratic side OF the house is more chiysl.
rous than the opposition. Although in
dulging in vituperatioa OF men as we'll as
measures, they generally find place for some
graceful acknowledgment of this kind.
On the first day OF the debate on this same