Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-24
Saturday Morning, April 24, 1880.

DELEGATE DOWNEY,S ARGUMENT. The use made of the Congregational Record
 by Stephen W. Downey, delegate from Wyo-
 ming Territory. was quite 6 surprise to the
 House, which gave him the usual permission to print an argument in support of his bill.
 This bill, which he introduced the other day,
 was remarkable one. The preamble recited the Apostles Creed and asserted that the peo- pie of the United States firmly believed it to be true. The bill provided "That the sum of 1 $500, ,0OO, or so much thereof az may be nsc- essary, be, and the same is hereby, appro- 1 priated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be expended under 1 the direction of the Architect of the Capitol, to commemorate in suitable paintings by the 1 great living artists of this century upon the walls of the National Capitol the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, as told in the four gospels of Matthew, ] Mark, Luke and John." The argument in support of this bill which Mir. Downey was given permission to print appeared in the Record of Thursday. It Is in the shape of blank verse and hlls fifteen pages of the Record, in double columns The poem is entitled ''Ths IH,mortals," and with fine satire is dedicated to the Congress of the Unitsd States. It is copyrighted by the author and ali rights arc reserved, It pre- sents queer appearance in the Record, but as poem it is not bad, and is quite as sensi- bls and much more readable than much of the prose which members get leave to print. It is kind Of vision of the universe, and shows muchrsadinR of Homer, Vergil, Dante, Para disc Lost. Pollocks Course of Time, etc. aud considerable imagination. The folio wing is q specimen of It's quality:
 Then through all Paradise rssouuding ross Entraucing strains of melody; first low, Then higher, with interesting swell, until From New Jerusalem, with mighty waves To mingle with the music ot the spheres. Then following, when . prelude ends, Uato tn im0ortal harmony Aituned, myriad angsls and archsngels raisrd %1th cherubim and seraphirn, in full Accord, tho Te Deurn LaudRmus.
 ''we praise thse, o God acknowledge thee to be All tho earth doth worship thss the FAthsr ererast qs sFaaais of M .wsst With Air and words harmoniaualy blent; Now rising like the btllowy ocesns swell And then recsding like its ebbing tide; ExpaIliug from the chambers of the soul All lurking ghos,s of Heu-begot desirss; subdqing all the passions Of the man. Rebukins the rerturbed spirit with A.auaging grace of pr@ternatural peace, The mind ennobling, making strong the he<, Iill each, who he rd the aoul;entr.ncing strains,
 
 Ger all the scene z mighty curtain fell, This curtain rnsasureless in breadth and height, Trailing the shores of immortality, AthwGrt ths boundess universe ot space Depends betwxt etaTnfty and time. High-arched upon its aiming field appeared An azure dome, studded with stars, whore shono The glorious in golden splendor, and In argent softness the rehecting moon. The golden sun, ths moon, and twinkiing stars |. Were only scintillattons flashing from The Great White Throne whsrson Jehovah reisns.
 There is no argument for the bill disoovera- ble in the poem, but that is not surprising. Many speeches are printed by permission In the Record that contain no argument, nor anything else to speak of, gave words. Dele gate Downey's great argument" doesn't iook exactly like the prose arguments of soms oth CTS who seek fame in the Record, but it Is just as valuable and es much to the point. StjL we are glad to perceive diaposition :among the members of Congress to discourage the printing of poems in the Record. Tho line must be drawn somewhere. If 1t is rot we shall soon have contemplating patent medicine men in Congress getting leave to print in the Record powerful arguments" upon bills in the shape of advertisements of their wares.