Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-30
SARCASTIC SENATOR'S.
statesmen Who Can Make Scathing Re
marks When They Choose.
Boston Herald.

Sarcastic speechmaking has become
near an established profession at Wash
ington. Senator Ingalls, is recognized
proficient in it, and the public expects
something sharp and biting from his
tongue whenever he rises in debate Sena-
tor Edmuuds has much the same tenden-
cy, and falls into that manner OF discus
sion very frequently in his public work
This method is amusing to the reporters.
and it has the advantage of being sent out
to the country at times when argument of
more solid value is neglected Senator
Vest, on the democratic side, has consid-
cradle capacity in the same direction and
says smart things with less apparent pre-
paration than Ingalls,. Senator Vance has
more humor than any of the Others and
can make fun, or even incite ridicule that
mas not very much sting in it. The pro-
fesslonal sheer in the Senate came in with
Conkling. The gibe and the bitter thrust
have always been employed in that body,
Dut they were not recognized as Il high
class of weapon, or frequently used in
earlier days. Webster was severe upon
an opponent when thought severity was
merlted, but he caStgated with dignity.
Clay was apt to be oVerbearing, ana his
attacks often left smalt behind them
IN the anti slavery days, Mr.. Seward never
made personal attacks on others, and he
submitted with meekness to frequent as.
saults upon himself Mr.. Sumner was
ponderous in invective he was TOO much
IN earnest to indulge in any less direct
form OF attack, never used ridicule him
self, and did not more than half under
stand 1t in the hands of an opponent. Sen
ator feSsenden, in the war and the recon
structlon period, was impatient of Mr.
sumner S extreme ground and StrOup self
assertion, and said some biting things in
remonStrance. Mr. Coukling had been in
the senate some years before he curled
his up into an habltual sneer Mr. Ed
munds manner is rather that of badiu-
age, but he says much that rankles in the
breasts OF opponents toward whom it is
directed. Mr. ingalls, falls almost more
INTO the habit Of posing than did Mr.
Conkllng lie appears to prepare his
speeches carefully, and with full appre-
cation of the rhetorical power that he
has among his resources. The sarcastic
style OF speech Is useful at times, but that
1t Is wise to employ il in habitual eXer-
else Is open to question. There is a higher
aspiration for the statesmen, and no man
has attained the highest reputation who
relied constantly upon personal attack or
rldlcule. John Randolph is the most con
splcuous example of its development. and
John Randolph is remembered for eccen-
trlclty rather than for any important
achievement. Mr. Edmunds's reputation
rests on something better than his power
10 confuse an opponent by the use of IRONY
and, indeed, tins tendency on his part can
hardly be said TO improve the effect Of his
speeches. Mr., ingalls, takes the field of
sarcasm more to himself than any other
member or the present Senate, and evil
dently enjoys the reputation it has made
Tor MN, but he will never gain the high
est senatorial lame by its exercise