The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-20
SENATORIAL oRAToRY.
Pen Pictures Or Few of tlse =,
Whose Voices arc ggten EEaars

Rbtite IN the ll-cl states senate since
the death Of the W-hiC party and the
stirring times in1me5 atsly preceding the
civil war. 1t is true that there IS no indi-
vidual senator Of TO-DAY who is the peer
OF Clay. Webster OF Sumner. but taken in
the aggregate there IS quite as much elo-
quence in the Senate as there has been
at any time since the framing of the Con-
stitution
Among the few who can command gen
eral attention Is Senator Bayard Though
lacking in lung power and forcible de
livery, he has only to address the Presi-
dent and there is at once a general drop
ping Of papers letters are left unfinished,
while the writer's wheel around to face
the Delaware Senator. As he proceeds
his voice rises, though he seldom departs
from the conversational tone His
gestures are of the mildest kind. as he
evidently relies rather on the strength of
his arguments than on the muscular OF
declamatory mode of convincing. Learned.
polished, courteous, conservative. fertile
in ideas and with the literary ability to
express them in choice language Mr.
Bayard is pre-eminently the gentleman
and scholar of the Senate
1t is safe 20 assert that few persons
have attended three consecutive sessions
of the senate during this or the last Con-
gress without hearing from Senator Beck.
the horny-handed, big-brained member
from Kentucky I have heard it said
that by actual count his speeches occupy
as much space in the Record as those Of
any other five Senators cOmbined-alwavs
excepting Ingalls,, who talks for the sake
of talking. Mr.. Beck is not eiOluenr nor
IS there any considerable number of his
listeners who can be said to hang upon
his words; still his speeches bear the
impress Of n hardy intellect and wide
reading. When he rises to speak he al
ways has a fOrmidab BILE array of documents
in his hand, but as he seldom refers to
them it is said that his object is TO dis
hearten the enemy by eNhibinC his
strong fCrtj6catiOus. His voice is rather
, monotonous. and his only gesture is a
thing but impressive.
Senator Edmunds is confesseIIy the
ahlest civil lawyer in the Senate but fancy
that he would cut poor figure before n
jury. He lacks nearly every attribute of
elOQUcuce. His voice is So we.k that the
reporters can with difficulty catch his
words: his delivery resembles that Of a
sChOulboy. and the closest observer can
seldom detect a change i'm his immobiIe
face. no matter what may hc the tenor of
his remarks. The Vermont Senator's
words look well on paper but coming
from his lips have remarkably sOpOrific
influence.
1t is generally conceded that the two
most eloquent men in the higher branch
of Congress are Ingalls, and Vest
They are as different in person
as in their manners of elo-
quence. ingalls,, tall, angular. with
silvery voice, finely mCdul3ted and a
rare command of beautiful language.
pleaSeS the ear while he cOuVinces the
mind. Vest, short, with rounded shoul-
deTS. which are almost defOrmel lacks
the natural gifts of the Senator from Kan
&c nh ser Tr- IA. Ia
gestures awkward, his person uuprepos-
sessing, but his fiery eloquenee browns
these defects and carries the mind OF
listeners along in its torrent. ingalls, is
cold, polished. and seems to weigh the
effect Of each word before Uttering it
Vest, hot, impatient and careless of the
nice distinction Of words. makes language
only vent to his feelings. Ingalls, is the
Cicero OF the Senate. Vest the Demos
themes. Both are men of cultivated in
teliect, both somewhat of poets, and both
at times not at all practical in their ideas
OF legislation Senator HlWiey is calm,
buSine-S-like speaker. seldom grows eX-
cited, and shows eminently practical ideas
on the subjects he discusses. lie is a
ready bebater and Il bitter partisan
Senators Coke and Morgan. though
men of recognized ability, are famous for
their skill i'm emptyiuC the galleries and
causing q general stampede even from the
floor. Like Edmund Burke. they can
make able speeches. but they have not
the taste to adapt them to the mental
calibre of their hearers.
Senator Frye is the bitterest looking
man in the Senate. But, whatever his
faults and prejudices. ne Is certainly a
powerful talker. His mind Is as clear as
rock crystal, his dictIOn rough but strong
and his voice can be heard distinctly i'm
the remotest hooks of the lobby He
generally keeps his left hand in his
pocket while speaking and when very eN-
cited he has often been seen TO cram both
hands into the receptacles of his
breeches.' - Mr.. Frye's features wear a
continual scOwl. which deeFeus as he
grows warmer.
Senator Hoar is a master of good
English, though not at all forcible in ex-
pressing it. He is typical New
Eugiander Mr.. Pendleton. OhiO's Dem
ocratic Senator, is not much given to
talking. but he can be eloquent in mis- quiet
way. His words always excite interest on
the Democratic side on account OF his
long connection and prominence IN that
party but the Republicans affect perfect
indifference to his opinions. Mr.. Pcndie-
tons Republican colleague, Senator Sher-
man, would make slight impression on a
popular audience. In the Senate, how
ever, he has attentive listeners His sue
cesSful resumption of specie payments
and generally wise administration of the
Treasury Department while Secretary
makes him somewhat of an oricle on
questions of finance.
OF the Senatorial Toneses-twO at
present and three in prospect-the man
from Florida alone raises his voice in the
Capitol His nainesake OF Nevada Is too
much engaEedi in private speculation tOgIve
any time to public measures. The Senator
from the Land of Flowers affords a
laughable contrast between physical pro
portions and voice. He is fully six feet
tall and unquailiedly obese; vet a more
delicate feminine voice than his never
proceeded from the mouth Of the most
ethereal dude. When he takes the floor,
he throws back his shoulders. initiates his
chest and INDUCES in a commanding sur
vey of the Chamber. A stranger, eX-
pecting a laundering voice to proceed
from such an imposing presence, hears
only most atteuuated tenor.
Senator Jones IS, however, a man of
practical ideas, a hard student and Is ad-
mired for his intellectual attachments as
well as his rare mOdesty.
All that can Ge truthfully said of the
oratCrical efforts Of Senator Plumb, Of
Kansas, is that they are Invariably
directed to the accomplishment OF his
private ends. He hDs ability and eNceis
in defamation, aut the wei Informed al
ways see a job beneath his words when
he advocates or opposes q measure.
Senator Lamar is next TO Mr.. Bayard,
the Scion of the Democratic side. lie is
consulted by his associates Ou all inn
portaut questions, and no other mans
opinions have more weight.
Senator Jonas, of Louisiana, is q man of
few words but great practical legislative
ability. He Is a worker rather than
talker, man who can always be seen in
his seat and is more esteemed than many
of those who furnish the Senatorial noise.
These are the gentlemen whose voices
are oftenest heard IN the United states
senate. Among the others there are "a
few scrupulous workers, a few who have
not yet had time to show their abilities
and several brainlesS millOnaireS II Phil
0delphtd Times.