The Republican journal., 1884-02-21

RECoLLEClIoNs or TIE DEBATE on THE GEN
EVA AWARD.

RECoLLEC lIo\S OF TIE DEBATE ON TIE GEN
EVA AN ARD.
Mr.. Blaine the other evening, gave some in
terestlng information about his habits of work
Ing. Before entering public life he was a train
ed writer. In Congress he acquired great skill
a an orator, and developed an extraordinary
aoi.ily for expressing himself in the best posi-
Bile manner upon the very shortest notice.
OF all the debates in which Mr.. Blaine has
taken Il conspicuous part The one in which he
takes the most pride is the Geneva award de-
bate. He made an eX haustive study of all the
documents bearing upon this ease, and looked
up clearly all the law points bearing upon the
same. Nothing shows more thoroughly the
versatile powers of his mind than his ability to
master all the legal tcchnicaties Of this ntri-
cate ease. Most of the lawyers in the Senate
had given the subject but casual attention Mr.
Blaine had thoroughly equipped himself for the
very purpose of having a bout with the great
Senate lawyers. He specially desired a bout
with Thurman, Edmunds, Conklng and David
DAVIS. But the keen-Witted lawyers of the SEN
ate soon saw that Blaine was well armed. and
so they assumed "A position of lofty contempt.
not condescending to argue legal points with
non-protessional. Matt Carpenter and Thur
man, however, were drawn into the debate.
David Davis, to avoid Blaine, fled to the cloak
rooms
Matt Carpenter, a trained legal athlete was
set up to administer a lesson to Blaine, but as
Carpenter afterward said, he had all he wanted
10 DO TO hold his own. Carpenter said that
Blalne's impudence in assuming a superior
knowledge of the law in that case was so over
whelming that he could hardly meet him. Car
penter did more, however, than any other Sch
ator could have done. He maintained through
out the most thorough good-nature and self
possession. He even laughed outright with
genuine amusement, where almost any other
man would have boiled over with INDIGNATION
at Blane'S assumptions.
Blaines great object in the debate. however,
was to draw out Conkling, his ancient enemy.
If ne could have succeeded in that he would
have been perfectly satisfied.
COnkling all that day sat at his desk, appar-
emily engaged in writing. lie rarely, if ever,
lifted his head. Some of the time when Blaine
was speaking he was not over two feet away
from Conkling. Blaine's oratory volleyed to
the right and left of the New York Senator
without producing the slightest impression
General Garfield came in from the House dur
ing the discussion and took seat directly be-
hind Conkng. He noticed that he was writ
ing very steady. He wheeled his chair in such
position that he could look over Conking's
shoulder lie was curious to know if Conkling
was really writing. He leaned over, apparent
y to reach for paper, and in so doing took
good look at Conkling's manuscript He found
that he was not really writing word, and the
neat manuscript piled up on the desk to use a
stage expression, was mere property" writing.
Yet Conkling kept up this fine bit of acting all
day. AT one stage of the episode Thurman
came over and tried to get Conkling to Ego for
that fellow" as he designated Blaine. Conk-
ling declined, saying that he could not on ac-
count of his peculiar situation.