The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-13
SENATORIAL ORATORY.
Pen Pictures of Few of the Men Whose
Voices are Often Heard-Scnators Who
Attract Art4nfiou


Attract Attention.
Much has been said of the decay @
eloquence in the United States senat
since the death of the whig party an,
the stirring times Immediately preced
ing the civil war, writes Washington
correspondent of The Philadeiphi,
Times. 1t is true that there is no in
dividual senator of to-day who is tn,
peer of Clay, Webster or Sumner, Blu
taken in the aggregation there il
quite as much eloquence in the sen
ate as there has been at any time since
the framing of the constitution. Sena
torial blockheads have always been 8
feature of the north end of the capitol
and If they are more numerous than
formerly their increase is only proper
tionate to the increased representation.
fancy, however. that senatorial cour-
tesy has declined. While the average
senator crates his associates make it a
point to be deeply engaged in reading
newspapers, writing letters, or smok-
ing in the lobby.
Among the few who can command
general attention is Senator Bayard.
Though lacking in lung power and for
chile delivery, he has only to address
the president and there is at once a
general dropping of papers; letters are
left unfinished, while the writer's wheel
around to face the Delaware senator.
Even the lobby smokers resign their
Havanas and seek seats near him. AS
he proceeds his voice rises, though he
seldom departs from the converse
tional tone. His gestures are of the
mildest kind, as he evidently relies
rather on the depth of his arguments
than on the muscular or declamatory
mode of convincing. Unlike many of
his associates, he never poses for gal
lery admiration and never seeks ap-
plause by the tricks of the stump
speaker. Learned, polished, courte-
Gus, conservative, fertile in ideas, and
with the literary ability to express
them in choice language, Mr.. Bayard
is prominently the gentleman and
scholar of the senate. One side of the
house looks up to HIM as its leader,
while the other side can not help ad- |
miring him.
1t is safe to assert that few persons
have attended three consecutive ses-
sions of the senate during this or the
last congress without hearing from
Senator Beck, the horny handed, big
Drained member from Kentucky. 1
have heard it said that by actual count
his speeches occupy as much space in
The Record as those of any other five
senator's combined-always excepting
ingalls,, who talks for the sake of talk
ing. Mr.. Beck IS not eloquent, 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 hardy intellect and
wide reading. When he rises to speak
ne always has formidable array of
documents in his hand, but as he sell
tom refers to them it is said that his
object is to dishearten the enemy by
exhibiting his strong Notifications.
His voice is rather mOnotonous. and
lis only gesture is swinging, left
landed one, which is anything but i'm ;;
3ressive. !
Senator Edmunds is confessedly the I
.blest civil lawyer in the senate, but '
fancy that he would cut a poor figure a
efore jury. He lacks nearly every b
tribute of eloquence. His voice is 50 c
yeak that the reporters can with diff a
ulty catch his words; his delivery re- ii
embles that of schoolboy, and the t,
losest observer can seldom detect o
hange in his immobile face, no mat
Or what may be the tenor of his re- >,
larks. The Vermont senator's words +,
,ok well on paper, but coming from v,
is lips have remarkably soporifc in N
uence. 1t is impossible to induce .,
i'm to engage in debate, for the rea- II,
IN, as many think. that he considers r.
mself so vastly superior to his as or
'ciates. The standard authority on q,
questions is Senator Gar -,
nd. With grace of person, brain 20
III of ideas, a clear, ringing voice and cd
rcible gestures, the senator from Ar 70
insas ranks among the first speakers he
the senate. Il.
1t is generally conceded that the two ~; ~,
ost eloquent men in the higher or
anch OF congress are Ingalls, and Vest NJ,
,ey are as different in person as in on
cir manners of eloquence. Ingalls,, 70,
II, angular, with silvery voice, finely ro,
pleases the ear while he ~, ru
nvinces the mind. Vest, short, with ~,
unded shoulders which are almost
formed, lacks the natural gifts of pr
9 senator from Kansas. His voice is au
iicrously thin, his gestures awkward, lne
person unprepossessing, but his D.
ry eloquence browns these defects D ,,
d carries the mind of listeners along siu
its torrent. ingalls, is cold. polished, On on
d seems to weigh the effect of each OIL
nd before uttering it. Vest, hot, i'm we
tent and careless of the nice dis
ction of words, makes language sue
" vent to his feelings. Ingalls, is COZ
Cicero of the senate, Vest the De- is
sthenes. Both are men of cultivated pra
elect. both somewhat of poets, and wo
IA at times not at all practical in wh
ir ideas Legislation. Senator Haw- a am
is calm, business-like speaker, 'ho
iom grows excited, and shows emf )
lily practical ideas on the subjects pas
discusses. He is reaoy de6ater bad
bitter partisan. any
he most miserable looking man in con
senate is Allison, of Iowa, on
ose face is always observable look Soi'
nDui or discomfort. When ne first ota
le to Washington as senator he had enel
reputation o. being a brilliant and Iew