Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-02-03
SENATOR SPOONER',S FIRST
APPEARANCE.

Senator J. G.. Spconer addressed the
senate for the first time Tuesday of last
week, pronouncing eulogy on the late
vice president, T. A. Hendricks, and bis
maiden effort won golden opinions from
both sides of the senate chamber The
Washington correspondent of the Chicago
Times says it was "unquestionably the
speech of the day. In the fuency and
facility of expression, in the grace of his
delivery, the smo0thness and fexiblity
of his voice, and in the force of his ideas
and the clearness of his conceptious-in
all, IN short, that constitutes an orator
the young man from Wisconsin stood head
and shoul 1ers above any of his COL
leagues" To appreciate the extent of
this compliment, it must be remembered
that Evarts, Sherman, VOORHEES, and Har-
rison were among the other speakers. The
Tribune's correspondent praises his
"clean-cut, incisive sentences and
graceful oratory." The Inter Oceans
correspondent says:
Aside from being a scholarly and elo-
quent production, it had the merit of
originality, which is rarely found in
funeral orations, and Mr.. Spoouer's treat
ment of the life and record of Mr. Hen
bricks created quite sensation His
commentator of the late vice PRESIDENT
strongest characteristics. which were his
thorough convictions and jealous part;-
sanship, was not Only heartily approved
by the Republicans, but by the Democrats
also, and members of both parties crowded
around him at the conclusion of his
remarks to tender their congratulations.
In commenting upon the honesty and
candor of the late vice president, Mr..
Spooner made some indirect reference TO
the hypocrisy of the president, which was
thoroughly and generally appreciated
Coming from Republican, and man
who represents the coming generation Of
that party. fresh from the people, his
words fell upon his listeners with unusual
force, and the sentences were 40 delicately
and gracefully framed that, while thew
could give no offense. their meaning
could not be mistaken.
During the delivery there was decided
sensation On both sides, The Republicans
listened without motion, but among the
Democrats there was q stir and quiet
manifestations OF approval Senators
voorhees, and German sat side by side
and exchanged remarks, as did Senators
Cockrell and Harris. and when Mr.
Spooner declared that from the teachings
IF Christ to the better impulses. of the
present day, honest partisanship was
recognized az necessary to the human
race, one of the Democratic senators. who
could not conceal bis approval, exclaimed,
''that's true" in tone that was plainly
audible in the galleries.
After the adjournment of the senate
nothing was talked about but Spooner's
speech, ia the galleries and on the floors
and there was only one sentiment, that
Of admiration aud approval. Some of
the older senator's, from whom commenda
ton is rare. and who would have ssnrpris
ed no one by ohjecting to the tone'of Mr.
Spooner's remarks, were loud and positive
in their compliments, and hastened to
congratulate the young senator. : In a
ten minutes speech Mr.. Spoonef made q
national reputation, something ne eiher
senator has done within memory