New-York tribune., 1882-04-28
THE COMMITTEE DISGRA CED BY THE CON
DUCT OF A MEMBER.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l

DUCT OF A MEMBER
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
washington, April 27.-Mr. Perry Belmont has
reached the goal of his ambition. lie has achieved
q reputation at least for day. AS to the klnd Oh
reputatlon-that is quite another matter.
There is probably type of man SO httle
worthy of respect as the young man who Is
insoent to his elders. There is an Old Testament
principle which rules TO this day, even III
Congressional committee rooms Mr.. Blame
is bv no means old enough yet to be called vener-
able and no one who has heard his testimony DUR
ing the past two days would expect to hear him or
his friends plead old age against his enemies but
Mr. Blaine's head has grown gray in public service
lasting a quarter of a century, ard he enjoys inc
honor and respect and even the Affection OF large
number of the American people He appeared be-
fore the Foreign Affairs Committee as an eX-Secre-
tary of State Here were reasons enough apparently
why ne should receive respectful treatment from
man more than twenty years younger. But Mr. Bel
mont apparently from the lack both OF
native courtesy and public experience, dld
not see this If he had been q gentleman,
either by instinct or cultivation, he Woulu
have observed all the forms of politeness toward
such man. whatever his personal opinion OF him or
personal feelings toward HIM may have been IT
he had experience in public life, he would have
known that parliamentary battles, no matter how
sharp, are always conducted by men OF discretion
within the bounds of parliamentary decorum and
without violations of the ordinary rules of good
breeding.
II is not anv exaQgeration to say that Mr.. Bel
monts manner was insulting to Mr.. Blaine from the
start. If Mr. Blaine had been criminal
on the stand in his defence, and
Mr. Belmont had been the prosecuting attor-
ney, his manner could not have been more
offensive. He, apparently, began the examination
with the idea that there a great wickedness
concealed somewhere, and with the other idea that
Mr. blaine was bold, bad man. Instead of an ex-
aminer asking questions he was prosecutor as
suming the guilt of the accused, and Mr.. Blame
was trial i'll police court.
The rontine reports, for obvious REASONS, do not
give any adequate report of Mr. Bemonts manner
There is no shorthand sign for sneer. or for
tauntiDg tone of the voice, or for an mpudent ges-
;ure and so there can be no way of reproducing
his demeanor except by general description. For
tunately he drew his own portrait to-day before
the day was over in colOrs that will not wear ont
30 long as he stays in Congress After eXhaustlng
the patience of the committee, not only by the
vulgar disrespectfulness of his manner but by the
insane reiteration of his questions. so that
every member present but one entered his protest,
and one who showed that his patience was ex-
hausted left the room, Mr.. Belmont wound up the
day with a grand corruscaton of Bemontism, ac-
cused Mr. Blame of falsehoo1"; and. standing in
his ace and shaking his hand at the distinguished
statesman with the utmost insolence of expression,
called him bully" and coward" and would
probably have gone to things if the men-
bers of the committee who were aghast at this had
not interposed. In short, Mr. Perry Belmont wrote
himself down to-day as an offensive little black
guard. This may to be violent language 1t
undoubtedly is, but is not half vole ot as ,lr.
BelmOnts vulgarty was and if the statement
SHOULD be omitted here that Mr. Belmont did to-day
write himself down an offensive little blackguard,
history-so far as 1t will deal with Mr.. Belmont at
all-wOud be inaccurate and incomplete.
At the very opening there was extraordinary
exhibition from Mr.. Belmont. Mr.. Blaine i'll an en-
tirely parliamentary manner, called attention to
the fact that the examination of yesterday con-
sisted largely of repetitions. and was apparently
attempt on the part of Mr. Belmont to justify the
two Interpretations he had made from Mr.. Blaine's
dispatches lie suggested that Mr.. Belmont was
under oblig ligations to admit frankly that he made
these Interpretations Mr. Belmont jumped up and.
shaking long penhoder at Mr.. Blaine with an in
soent expression, said with his habitual sneer that
MIR Blaines object plain enough to avoid t he
direct issue"
What issue 7" said Mr. Blaine.
81 shall not answer a single question that you
ask from this time on" replied Mr. Belmont, with his
upper lip we'll raised, and general air like that OF
aman-there are such men-who ostentatlously
scoids restaurant waiter lie went say that Mr.
Blaine had relieved him of the consideration which
ke had intended 20 observe to a who had once
been Secretary of State This was said i'll manner
which implied that something very dreadful wOuld
immediately happen TO Mr.. Blaine. AS the dialogue
went on Mr.. Belmont went TO still greater lengths.
Mr. Blaine has had experience on Congressional
committees" said he in a sncering, tauntng tone
shaking the long penholder which has pointed
almost every insult he has offered to Mr.. Blaine in
these two days. Mr. Blaine has had experience
on committees" he repeated, evidently alluding to
'"o iSc' Ihat MI Blaine, being man of great posi-
'neneSs ana many enemies has had occasion more
.n"n ooe 70 defend himself against charges. "Mr.
Dia'he mas threatened commttees but he has done
At for the last time"
MY Dia'neS Inauguration was naturally great
"Mr. Chairman" he said, bringing down on tbe
table with taud the book he held in bis hand
this is intolerable: the insolence of this vopn
man is intolerabe." But the young man was NOT
dismayed- Waving his hand. lie cried and renea,ed
1t: "You brought 1t Oh yourself This
with an air worthy of SIN Tannortit
whom Mr.. Belmont resembles a good deal
both in physique and general department. The
members of the committee looked their disgust Mr..
Wilson uttered a protest, and the excitement sub
siding, the examination went on. IL was not long
before it was interrupted by Mr.. Dunnell, of Min
nesota. who intmated pretty plainly his entire
disapprobation Of the way 1t was being conducted.
If his language left any doubt as
to whether it was Mr.. Belmonts manner
In part at which Mr. Dunnell was indignant the
way in which he looked at Mr.. Belmont. and the
nnOar xrtcihf -,