The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-03-13
WILSON'S ORATORY.
Our Representative I'm Con.
gres Makes One of the
Most Eloquent Speech.
es ever Heard ON
the Floor of
the House.

the House.
Hon. William /. Wilson, our Rep
resentative in Congress, and former
ly President of the University, is
making an enviable reputation and
his praise is being sounded on every
hand. He is beyond question the
ablest Representative in Congress
from this State, and one of the ablest
in the House. On Tuesday of last
week he made a remarkable speech,
concerning which a telegram to the
Register says:
Congressman William L. Wilson,
of West Virginia, came to the front
to-day and surprised even his friends.
He made the most telling and effec-
tive speech that has so far been made
in the present Congress.
The bill under consideration was
the Pension Appropriation BIZ.
Much of Mr.. Wilson's speech was
in reply to the bloody shirt argu.
ment of Henderson, of Iowa, inflicted
on the House last week. Wilson
stood in the center of the Demo
cratic side, and almost every seat on
that side was occupied. 1t was an
impromptu effort, and indeed argu-
incentive.
As Mr.. Wilson became warmed W
the Republicans left their side Of
the chamber and came over to the
Democratic side and filled the area
in front of the Speakers chair and
the aisles adjoining Mr.. Wilson's
desk His word painting was sim
ply superb and his speech places the
young representative of the Second
West Virginia District in the front
rank as an orator, debater and q
rising leader. At the close of his
remarks he was the recipient of an
ovation seldom accorded any of the
older and experienced members.
The ovation lasted for fully one
half hour, men rushing from al
parts of the House to congratulate
the young West Virginian, who il
one hour had so electrified the body
and had won for himself national
reputation. In the galleries there
were hundreds of occupants whose
admiration had been won, and was
met with demonstrations of appre
citation.
Mr.. Wilson, of West Virginia, Wig
orously defended COMMISSIONS
Black from the criticisms of the gen
tleman from Iowa Mr.. Henderson,
and declared that the country hae
regarded his appointment by thu
President as an eminently wise anc
patriotic selection. Referring to thu
criticism that Commissioner Blacl
had kept Republican members o
Congress waiting in the ante-roon
while he was comforting with thu
Democratic members in regard tt
removals from his office, Mr. Wilson
said that the country would com
mend the Commissioner if he hello
those conferences little more Otter
and would commend his action t.
other officers. He regretted to heal
the gentleman from Maine, Mr.
Boutelle, criticising Southern people
because they had in one or TIVE
points raised modest memorials t.
their dead. The mourners arount
those monuments could appeal t.
the searcher of all hearts to testif,
that they cherish no thought, wisl
or aspirant that did not throb TO
the greatness and glory of American
institutions.
He had served in the Confederat
army as a private, but he felt tn
kindling of no feeling that did no
urge him to the position he occupied
to-day of doing his whole duty t.
the whole country. He saw in tn
war the stately stepping OF tina
providence which used the wrath o
men to work out it's beneficent pun
pose. 1t had abolished slavery
The war had secured the preserva
ton of the union, but it has secures
a result greater than the preserva
ton of the union in the extinction
of slavery and greater than the ex
tinction of slavery was the utter an
Inhalation Of any ground, cause o
excuse for further sectional preju
dice or sectional hate.
The Intelligencer's Washingto
correspondent telegraphed the fol
lowing:
Congressman Wilson, of West Vii
ginia, made the great speech of tn
session to-day during the debate o
the Pension Appropriation bill. Th
speech was an impromtu affair an
completely electrified the entil
body. Nothing can be heard tt
night ON all sides but expressions {
surprise and wonder at what
termed the greatest outburst of ell
quence which has been heard i
Congress for years.
Before the speech commenced fe
were in the hall, but as Mr.. Wilso
warmed up with his subject tt
House rapidly filled, and in shol
time nearly every Democrat was
his seat. The Republicans left the
seats and crowded the aisles an
areas on the Democratic side, in I'll
centre of which stood the orator.
At frequent intervals he was il
terrupted by tremendous applaus
which was, in several instance
!. ;;eeined in by the Republicans.
Members Of all parties pronoun
it one of the most impassioned, ell
quent and scholarly speeches ev
delivered on the floor of the Hous
On it's conclusion, a rush W
made toward Mr. Wilson and for
half hour he was overwhelmed wi
s congratulations. The speech h
:. undoubtedly placed him at the fro
8 of the orators of the House and h
Il won for him a place as a leader
: the Democratic side. His trium]
|, was a surprise to his friends and
u himself. He spoke in reply to N
IL Henderson, of Iowa, who spoke Ia
a week, aud although his speech W
q Of partisan character, it desery
e to be complimented as an oratorit
u effort.