The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-24
senator Frye,s speech.

Special to Cleveland Leador.
The speech of Senator Frye, of Maine, which
was the last of the day, was one of the finest
ever heard in legislative or any other chamber.
He had not interrupted the other speakers to
any extent, and no one supposed he had much of
anything to say. He said that early in the pres
emit case he had been in favor of an investiga-
tion. When tho two branches of the Legislature
Of the great State of Ohio asked for an investiga
ton he was ready to vote for it, no matter if
none of the requests which came from other and
high quarters had eyer beer received. He
thought the request of the Legislature
itself sufficient to guide him in his
action. He spoke of the growing belief
in the country that the Senate of the
United States was becoming body of rich men,
the inference being that its members bought
their seats. The necessity, therefore, was great
that the least faint the seat of a Senator
should be examined, that the people of the coun-
try might learn to know that its greatest legs-
lative body was still inspired by honesty and the
laws of conscience. Bitterly did he denounce
the Standard Oil Company, which he pronounced
the greatest monopoly in the land, which was
making itself felt In every part OF this great
country. and seeking to control national as well
as State and local conventions. He mentioned
names and dealt with persons without gloves.
He arraigned the Cowgirl committee also. and said
that it had come far short of the mark it had
aimed at He quoted from the testimony inn
plcating people whom the committee never tried
TO summon before them He thought that the
ability displayed in the examination of witnesses
was far short of what it should have been. The
climax of his speech was, when very near the
close, he turned to Senator Payne, who was sit
ting in his seat in the back row. and but a few
yards away, comparatively alone In feeling
manner Mr. Frye alluded to their service togeth-
er in the House of Representatives and in the
Senate. He had ever respected Mr.. Payne. and
had been pleased to call him friend Until the
present, nothing, he said, had ever shaken his
confidence in the Senator from Ohio or. lessened
his respect for him, bnt his silence now was
something he could not understand. Had
Mr.. Payne, when these demands for an
investigation came from so many and
such respectable sourches, arisen in his seat and
asked that his honor be vindicated and his title
cleared of the doubt that clouded it, such an act
would have made him even more respected than
he had ever been before. but his silence at the
present time could not but shake the confidence
of those who would rather that it were other
wise Three times he repeated this statement.
each time in different words, and with greater
emphasis and remarkable dramatic effect Lam
guage can hardly describe the scene when he
thus turned to Mr.. Payne and wondered that he
had not, in vindicaticn of his own honor, de-
manded an Investigation. There was perfect
stiffness in the chamber. Mr.. Payne himself sat
with his hand to his face, which seemed to grow
paler and more serious, and it was relief to
everybody when Mr.. Frye sat down, and the try
ing scene came to an end.