Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-03-06
sTAToRIAL oRAToRY.
Pen Piohres Of a Few OF the Men
who's Voices arc Onen Heard.


quence iuhe United States Senate since
the dealt of the Wing party and the
stirring tines Immediately preceding the
civil war. 1t is true that there is no indi-
Vidual Seator of to-day who Is the peer
of Clay, Webster or Sumner, but taken In
the aggregate there is quite as much elo-
quence II the Senate as there has been
at any tine since the framing OF the Con-
stituion
Amonghe few who can command gen
eral atteuion is Senator Bayard. Though
lacking il lung power and forcible de-
livery, he has only to address the Presi-
dent and here is at once general drop
ping of ppers: letters are left unfinished,
while thewriters 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 rifles rather on the strength OF
his arguments than on the muscular or
declamatoy modeUf convincing. Learned,
polished, courteous, conservative, fertile
IN ideas and with the literary ability to
express item in choice language. Mr..
Bayard Is pre-eminently the gentleman
and scholar of the Senate.
It is safe to 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. l 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-always
executing ingalls,, who talks for the sake
of talking Mr. Beck is not elo1uent, nor
is there Dry considerable numb of his
llsteuerS~fsSlo cuh be said to hing upon
his words; still his speeches bear the
impress of a hardy intellect and wide
reading. When he rises to speak he al
ways has a formidable array Of documents
in his hand, but as he seldom refers to
them 1t is said that his object is to dis
hearten the enemy by exhibiting his
strong Notifications. His voice is rather
monotonoIs, and his only gesture is a
swinging, left-ha!ded one, which is any
thing but impressive.
Senator ,Kdmunds is Confessedly the
ablest civil lawyer in the Senate, but fancy
VI
jury. lie lacks nearly every attribute of
eloquence. His voice Is so weak that the
reporters can with difficulty catch his
words his delivery resembles that of q
schoolbOy, and the closest observer can
seldom detect change in his immchile
face, no matter what may be the tenor OF
his remarks. The Vermont Senator's
words lcok well on paper, but coming
from his lips have remarkably soporiaC
influence.
1t is generally conceded that the two
most eloquent men in the higher branch
OF Congress are ingalls, and Ve4t.
They are rs different in person
as in their manners of elo-
quence. ingalls,, tall, angular. with
silYOry voice, cflnely modulGted, and a
rer9 command OF beautiful language,
pleases the ear while he convinoes the
mind. Vest, short, with rounded shonI-
ders, which are almost Geformed, lacks
the natural gifts Of the Senator from Kan
sas. His voice is ludiorOusly thin, his
gestures awkward. his person unpropos-
seasng; but his fiery e1oquenee browns
these defects and carries the mind OF
listeners along in its torrent Ingalls, Is
cod, polished, and seems TO weigh the
effect of each word before uttcr!ng it.
Vest, hot, impatient and careless OF the
nice distinction OF words, makes language
only vent TO his feelings. ingalls, IL the
Cicero of the Senate, Vest the Demos
themes. Both are men Of cultivated in
tellect, both somewhat OF poets, and both
Mt times not at all practical in their ideas
of legislation. Senator Hawley is a calm.
busiEe's-likc speaker, seldom grows ex-
cited, and shows eminently practical ideas
On the subjects he discusses. He isl
ready bebater and bitter partisan.
Senator'S Coke ard Morgan, though
men of recognized ability, are famous Tor
their skill Ia emptying tho 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-lookina
man in the Senate. But, whatever his
faults and prejudIces, he is certainly q
powerful taIk-r. His mind Is as clear as
rick crystal, his diction rough but strong
and his voice can be heard distinctly in
the remoteJt hooks of tho lobby. He
generally keeps his left hand In his
pocket while speaking and when very ex-
hands into the receptacles of his
brooches" Mr.. Frye's features wear q
continual scowl. which deepens as he
grows warmer.
Senator Hoar Is master of good
English, though not at all forcible in ex-
pressing 1t. He is typical New
Mr.. pendleton, Ohios Dem
ocSatic Senator is net much given to
talking, but he can be eloquent in his quiet
way, His words always excite interest on
the Democratic side on account of his
long connectian and prominence in that
party, but the Republicans affect perfect
Indifference to his opinions. Mr.. Pendle-
toms Republican colleague, Senator Sher-
man, would make slight impression on a
popular audience In the Senate, how |
ever, he has attentive listeners His sue
and generally wise administration of the
Treasury Department while Secretary
makes him somewhat of an oricle on |
questions OF finance
OF the Senatorial Joneses-two at
present and three in prospect-the man |
rom Florida alone raises his voice In the |
Capitol His namssake of Nevada is too |
much engaged in speculation togive |
my time to public measures The Senator |
rom the Land Of Flowers affords a
aughable contrast between physical pro- |
portions and voice, He il fully six feet |
oil and unqualifledly obese; yet more |
ielicatc feminine voice than his never |
proceeded from the mouth of the most |
Ethereal dude. When he takes the floor |
lie throws back his shoulders, initiates his |
hest and INDUCES in commanding sur |
roy vi tile CluIlDcf. "A stranger, OK |
,ecting q laundering voice to proceed |
rom such an imposing presence, hears
,ply n most atteIiuated tenor.
Senator Jones Is, however, man of
practical ideas, hard student and Is ad- |
nired for his intellectual attachments as
well as his rare modesty
All that can be truthfully said Of the
oratorical efforts Of Senator Plumb, Of |
Kansas, Is that they are invariably I
directed to the accomplishment of his
private ends. He has ability and oxcels
N defamation. but the well-informed al
ways see u JOB beneath his words when
ne advocates or opposes measure.
Senator Lamar Is next, to Mr.. Bayard,
,he SCION of the Democratic side. ne is
by his associates on all i'm
,ortant questions, and no other mans
opinions have more weight
Senator Jonas, of Louisiana, is a man of
'ew words but great practical legislative
ability. He is a worker rather than d
,alker u man who can always be seen In
lis sent and is more esteen1Nd thnn Innny L