Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-21
ELOQUENCE IN THE SENATE.
Members of the Upper House and Their
Manner Of Speaking.

4 /.
Manner Of Speaking.
SENATORS WHO ARE PLAIN, PRACTICAL SPEAKERS,
MAKING No PRETENsE TO oRAToKY-xES WHO
4 SOMETIMES RISE TO HIGH FLAMES OF ELoQUENcE-
| THE GREAT LEADERS AND THEIK FORENSIC POWERS.
IL Is common saying that the days OF oratory
In Congress are past; that high-sounding rhetoric
! and beautifuIy-turned sentences no longer sway
minds and change votes; that eloquence Is
[ at a discount In Congress, and no more orators
/ are sent 10 represent the people there But It Is
quite probable that this comparison OF the present
with the past, to the disparagement OF the former
/ Is a. deiusive as many other retrospects. II Is
likely that eOquence In the good Old days OF the past
/ was Just as inpOtent to make votes or change
votes IL is now. for the subjects that call forth
| eloquent speeches In Congress are usually OF a
/ political nature, and men who are sent to Con-
gress 70 represent political principles are not given
/ TO shifting convictions because OF rhetorical
bTeezes. No more We're they in the days or Web
ster, Clay. and Calhoun Then. as now, the real
work was done In committee and the eloquence
was for outside effect; perhaps just as now, more
for the purpose OF procuring the reelection or the
J orator than anything else. III genuine COMPARE
Son were Instituted with the past 1t
would no doubt show larger number
OF able and entertaining speakers In Congress
much prated OF as testifying 70 the glory Of Con-
grcSs. There is certainly great deal more for a
Congressman TO DO now than In those days OF the
long past. The Congressman VINO does his duty
cannot AFFORD TO d"vOte weeks TO the preparation
OF bis greatest effort. In the Senate OF to-day
there are able debaJers pleasing takers, and some
VINO seem 10 talk more TO please themselves than
anyb body else. Perhaps the latter class Is not
tirely modern. Possibly Webster and Clay were in
the habit Of occasionally taking refuge in the
Cloak rooms 10 escape a certain kind or
senatorial eloquence that still exists. There
are several senators either or whom
can draw crowded house by announcing
that he viii ask the Senate to hear him on a GER
TAIN day, ana by accompanying this announcement
with an intImatl0n that he intends 10 pitch into
somtthlng OF somebody; AMI II he makes the init
nation quite sharp, thus a1fOrdng ground for
6eeI that ne Will be pitched into also. pubic In
JcreSt In the event VIII be largely increased and
the galleries are certain to be crowded. Ladies'
can't with any sort OF propriety, go to see prize
nSht, but there Is nothing 10 FORBID their listening
TO two senators abuse each other, and when due
notice IS given Of such setto the fair sex turns
out well.
SENATOR EDNUNDs.
Senator EdmupdS, the leader OF the majority in
the Senate, does not attach much weight to set
speeches and long arguments. His speeches are
as rule very brief and altogether tmpromptu.
But then he Is coCk-Sure OF reelection as long as
he wants to remain in the Senate and does not
need 10 talk for home consumption. His delivery
Is methodlcal and impressive. He never gets eX-
cited, but he Is quite ster In the use OF cutting
sarcasm when he finds ii necessary.
SENATOR MORGAN.
Senator Morgan is one OF the most fluent public
men OF the day. He is any easy, graceful talKer,
with wonderful command OF language. He Is
one OF the fastest takers in the Senate though
every word Is distinctly uttered, because he has
never To stop for instant for words TO express
his IDEAS lie is lucid too He renders his subject
clear aud intelligiole as he prOcee!S.
THE MASSACHUSETTS SENATORS.
Senator HOar is deliberate and scholarly In his
efforts. His speeches usually read better. than
they sound, because his voice, when raised to the
tone necessary in public speaking. becomes harsh.
He l. not much given TO gestures, but when eX-
cited he has Il way OF drawing his mouth even
While speaking, that means good deal In the way
OF rery energy and earnestneSS.
Senator Dawes does not deliver many set
speeches. but he has good deal 10 say in the
nIns debates, particularly II there Is an Indian
question involved. His voice is anything but mu-
seal II has grating sound, that would COM
pletely upset nervous person. senator Dawes
has habit while talking in the Senate OF contin-
u2lly scanning the galleries. He gestures by
throwing his arms straight out to the front vigor
ously.
SENATOR MANDERSoN.
senator Henderson, without any attempt at
oraiorcal effect in an easy, pleasing, and natural
manner, Is always entertaining and instructive.
There Is an air or candOr and sincerity about min
that commands respectful attention His voice
possesses pleasing sOrtness that Is entirely mas
culine, and h can always count upon command
Ing the attention OF his associates.
SENATOR STEWART
Senator stewart Is like the re ady letter-writer In
one respect-he Is always ready TO talk. No mat
ter what the subject may be, he wants TO be heard
His seat is in the last row on the republican side
but he rarely ever begins speech there. When a
debate opens he Is on the alert Tor opening and
he gradually moves forward until he gets near the
central aisle. Then, when he can obtain recogni-
ton, he starts in loud tone, and with both arms
swinging In the air like the arms OF windmill.
He rarely ever stops until entirely run down.
THE ORATOR FROM DELAWARE.
On the democratic side one OF the Senators who
is most relied upon in debates OF national import
ance is senator Gray, OF Delaware. In the debate
on the Blair educational bill he demonstrated his
right TO leadership. IL was generally conceded
that his argument against that bill served to kill
IL in the House. Senator Gray has a resonant
voice and an easy method OF delivery. AS vet he
is a compar atively young Senator, but Is destined
II he lives to take front rank among the orators OF
that body.
SENATOR PLUMB.
On the republican side OF the chamber Senator
Plumb is one of the most effective Speakers He
talks fast, disdlining all the studied effects Of
oratory, but he always speaks TO the point and II
he were engaging IN Encyclopaedia In the wild
prairtes OF X ansis II could be properly said of
hin that he hits the bUllS-eye every time He is
In nOwiSe choice about words when he waits to
condemn and abuse. He Strikes S.edge-hanmer
blows, and when he means TO depict anything as
black he says black. Ee talks very fast SO fast
that the best slelographers Of the Senate can
scarcely keep pace with him. because he says VII at
he Ineans or, TO use prZe-rfng phrase he strikes
right from the shoulder There are no fanciful
fr1lls about his speeches. They are made up of
straightforward Western logic, and II anyboSy
does not understand senator PLUMB IL Is because
he is Ignorant OF forcible English.
AR. HARRIS STYLE.
Senator Harris now one OF the most Influential
democratic leaders, is vigorous talker He never
engages in debate unless he considers the subject
OF Importance. He has PLAIN practical method
OF submitting MS views and opinions that inyari
ably commands attention lie is earnest even to
the appearance OF being excited; has a clear ring
Ing voice and marks his periods by bringing down
his right hand. He IS conceded to be- by both
SIDES OF the chamber the best parliamentarian OF
the body and rarely fails to succeed la Obtaining
votes enough 10 pass any measure he takes charge
Of his eiOlUence, whether eXerted In public or In
private, Is usually potent enough to procure all the
votes necessary.
INFLUENTIAL WITHOUT ELoQCENCE.
senator Don Cameron rarely essays TO sspeak In
public on the stage" and he would escape these
few exhibitions II, like school boy he could play
I "hookey." He has no confidence In his oratory:
admits that he was not cut out for pubiic
speaker. Now and then he feels IL TO be impera.
tive 10 make speech, but he invariably reads
from manuscript, and In a tone so low that the
OnlciaI reporter cannot hear him But when ne
wants votes for any bill he can get them on bot h
SIDES OF the chamber, which goes TO show that elo-
quence Is not an essential qualification Of our pub
lie men.
INSPIRED BY THE SILVER QUESTION.
senator Bowen, OF Colorado, whose constituents
all call him "Iom," even llcluding those for
whom he has procured appointments here and he
says he would not recognize them II they were any
more formal in addressing him, does NOT take
much stock IN elOquence an element OF con-
Sresslonal duty. Now and then when the silver
question Is uppermOSt he unrollS lot OF MANU.
script, but nothing less commanding than silver
can unlock his eIOquence. Even In dealing win
y laIf