The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-04-28

clever woman has to say of our Maine
Senators. Mrs. Clemmer is an impartial
| observer, and her portraits of Messrs
Frye and Hale are not only worthy of her
high literary reputation, but very tlatter-
ing to our State pride. Even those DO
litically opposed to Senators Hale and
Frye must be glad to know that the State
is so ably represented in the United
States Senate that its Senators are the
peers of any member Of that body, and
that the honor and dignity-as we'll as
the material nterests-of the State are
entrusted to such capable hands. Both
of these gentlemen had made national
regulations in the House of Representa-
tives, in which they had been recognized
leaders of their party; and Mr.. Frye, had
he retained his seat in the House, would
no doubt have been the next Speaker.
But the Senate is a somewhat different
and more difficult field in which to gain
honOrs. With a lesser membership and
a greater proportion of men of eminent
abilities than the House of Representa-
tiyeS, the new Senator though he NAV
have past experience in the House to aid
him. must be richly endowed and well
balanced to win his spurs even after years
OF faithful service. Mrs. Clemmer know
ing this has therefore written Of what
the future may bring in the way of Ser
atOrial honOrS to Names representatives.
But since her letter was written one of
them has seen his opportunity and grasp
ed it. and to-day he is the foremost figure
in our highest legislative body. This. at
all events, is the verdict Of the press Oh
Mr. Frye's maiden speech in the Senate,
delivered on the Goth inst. The Wash
ington correspondent Of the New York
Tribune says Of this speech: Mr.. Frye
amply demonstrated that Names repre-
sentation in the Senate lost nothing, in
debating strength at least, when he was
sent to fill the seat vacated by the pro
motion of Mr.. Blaine This may sound
like eXtravagant praise but it is desery-
ed The New York Times correspond
ent says OF this speech
Throughout the tedious debate which has occu
pied the time of the Senate since the committees
were organized one Republican Senator has sat
quietly III his seat without uttering word listen
of WORKOUT arguments. He had been the last of
the new Senators to take his place He was re-
cognlzed as man who had made his mark in the
House, and who would have become its speaker
If he had remained there. but lie seemed to be re-
strained by the unwrtten laws of Senatorial cour
tesY, and there were some who believed that be
cause of these laws he would remain silent Com
ing IN last he was forced to take the only unas
signed seat, an isolated in the rear OF all the
Others on his side To day he emerged from his
temporary ObScurlty, and contributed to the de
bate the most remarkable speech of the session
To night it is admitted that Mr. Blaine has left in
the Senate as his successor an orator eloquent
as himself debater who can hold his own with
any OF his peers. and a man better equipped in
some ways for the Senate than the man who is
now secretary OF state In the debate until to-
day, Republican Senators have been presenting
old evidence N relation to Intimidation and fraud
IN elections IN the Southern States, apparently for
getting that the recent election in that part OF the
haustbe mine of fresh testimony On this ac-
count the discussion has been for the most part
a dreary one With the record Of fraud and Mo
lence in 1850 so near that they had only to stretch
oHt their hands and take it. they seemed to RELY
wholly upon what occurred III the DAYS of recon.
sruction, or in the years previous to 1870 Mr.
Frye, thinking 1t was time that ancient history
should give place to modern, gathered from the
attorney generals office and elsewhere an astoupd-
ing collection Of facts concerning the election of
1850 and overwhelmed the Democratic side of the
Senate with them No trief summary can pre-
sent the real force and energy or the scope and
completeness OF Mr.. Frye's address Every sen
tence was full of life He was frequently inter
rupted, at first, by Democrats but, as the pile of
evidence grew higher, they Withdrew and listened
IN silence. MIR. George of Mississippi. one of the
originators of the Mississippi plan became excited
IN the early part of the address but, when the evi
dence brought down to his own county. he
discreetly RETAINED from Interruptions
The correspondent of the Philadelphia
Press thus describes the speech and it's
delivery
The greatest speech OF this speechmaking SEES
sion was delivered by the youngest Senator in the
body to day, Mr.. Frye Of Maine was the orator,
and upon his shoulders has fallen a mantle of clio
quence as ample i'll its folds as that which envei
oped his distinguished predecessor the secretary
of state Mr.. Fryes ability as a legislator was
That he could speak with force and eoquence was
acknowledged, but his speech in the Senate TO dav
marks an epoch IN his political career, placing him
at one bound head and shoulders above Senators
who have served long and well in the upper house
Of Congress The Senator from Maine Is not 4
frequent speaker. He listens remarkably waIl
and when the right opportunity offers submits
what he has to say with the effectiveness and force
OF tornado. His speech was crushingly severe
The galleries were filled with spectators. Almost
all the Senators present were in their seats some
listening from curiosity to observe the manner in
which the new Senator would make his debut .
others with the certainty that their time would be
exceedingly well spent, Mr. Frye's seat is behind
the outer row of desks on the Republican side of
the chamber. On either side is a vacant space up
and down which he passed while talking At the
beginning of his speech his voice accustomed TO
be heard above the din and roar in the chamber of
the House, was unnecessarily loud and somewhat
unpleasant Further along when he began his
terrible arrangement OF the Southern Democracy,
MS tones were IN exact cOnsOnance with the spirit
Of his language, and the voice gestures and words
OF the speaker blended together in perfect har
mony. The Democratic Senators appeared to be
chained to their seats. There was fascination in
the coSeness of his argument, Witchery in the
steel mail of his logic, intensity in the force of
his dennncation and warning which commanded
attention The speech Of the Senator from Maine
has created a profound sensation among the Dem
ocratS
The editorial comments of the leading
newspapers are equally complimentary
MIR. Frye appears to have not only over
Whelmed the Southern Senators with
facts, gathered from official sources but
to have poured upon them, to quote the
New York Times, "such a shower of de-
rlslon and sarcasm that even the most
toolhardy speedily took refuge in silence,
after few indiscreet interruptions He
told Senator Call, who had been deplor-
ing the condition of New England work
ingmen and women, and describing them
as ''hungry, starving serfs," that these
unfortunate people have enough money
in the savings banks of Massachusetts
alone to "buy up five such States as
Florida and then haVa = IN Dan nln Iof+ ;,