The National tribune., 1888-05-10
SHAME OF THE PAST.
Senator ingalls, Meets His Adversary
and Rolls Him in the Dust.

made upon him. and criticisms upon his
speech of March @, by Senator Voorhees,, sUf
feed 10 draw crowd TO the Capitol, such rs
has not damned the corridors of the Senate end
Of the great building for many years. As soon
as the doors of the galleries were opened, at
1850, they were filed 10 their utmost capacity.
Persons eager TO hear what the Senator from
Kansas would say had already waited in
crowds AT the doors for an hour in order TO Sc
cure place at the first opportunity for & seat.
il was well-lln0wn that they must wait two
hours after the opening Of the Senate before
Senator Ingalls, would begin 10 speak; but the
unpleasant prospect Of a dry interim to which
they must be subjected did not serve TO dampen
the interest manifested. Not only were the
galleries filed by people wedged into every
square inch Of space, occupying even the place
set apart for the diplomats. but the late corners
stood in a dense crowd outside cTaning their
nocks 10 catch a word through the open doors,
and ready to take the position Of the first person
who should be compelled to retire from the
coveted position within
During the morning hour Senator ingalls,
occupied the chair as usual, and the introduce
ton Of bills. resolutions and other formal bust
ness proceeded. The hum Of conversation was
50 uninterrupted that little could be heard of
what was going on below. At 1870 Senator
Stewart having the floor upon a resolution he
had introduced the day before, began long
speech upon the silver question. Senator
D8lph IN the meantime was called 10 the chair
by Senator ingalls,. who retired from the Cham
her The hum Of the thousands of voices above
was so marked that Senator DOlph several
times during the speech Of Senator Stewart
raped vigorously with his gavel, and threat
ened that if the conversation did not cease he
would order the galleries 10 be cleared. The
threat, however, only suficed to cause a mo-
mentary cessation, and it was manifest that
the interest of the audience could not be cen
tered upon this occasion on the silver question.
At go O'Clock Senator ingalls, stalked into
the Chamber, and Immediately there was the
most intense silence. As the big clock above
the main doo- pointed to ?, he rose in his place,
and securing unanimous consent for bill IN
which Senator Palmer Mich was interested
10 20 over informally, began his speech.
ia the meantime Members Of the House had
begun 10 arrive and take their places on the
floor Of the Senate Chamber the Democrats,
in the corner behind the Senators Of their
political complexion. and the Republicans
np0n the opposite side. A debate on the
tariff was OsUensibly proceeding in the House
Of Representative, but the fact was that a
quorum Of that body was all afternoon at the
Senate end CT the building. Senator ingalls,
was dressed in a suit of gray, closely buttoned
t0 the throat relieved by uecktie showing
small white stripe. He appeared very conf
dent and stood square upon his heels with a
manu- IG7tl44L Y pom E4tAt4 All anu began A4s
speech abruptly by reading letter with the
clear enumeration Tor which he is famous, writ
ten last January by Gen. FitzJOhn Porter, in
which he thanked some one fOr having sup
ported bis claim for restoration 10 the army.
and declared that although for time his hand
and head had been against them the Confed-
crates yet his heart was now and always had
been with him.
MCCLELLAN AND PORTER.
After alluding to the intimate connec-
ton. both before and since the war between
Fitz-Jehu Porter aud Gen. Mcclellan, Sena-
tor ingalls, proceeded TO explain his refer
ence - his previous speech 10 Mcclellan aud
Hancock. ia which he showed cOnclusively
that his illusions 10 them had simply been as
politicians as was well known, and had no
reference 10 their military services. Referring
% Gen. Mcclellan, Senator ingalls, spoke of
his education at West Point, OF his business
connection with BeauTegard, and Of his at
tempt 10 extend and continue human slavery
b. the acquisition of Cuba he spoke Of him
rs having begun his military career by disobey-
ing the orders Of Sea Scott; as having aband-
oned Pope al Centerviile; as having failed 10
pct the rebels 10 the sword al Antietam: IS
having refused % obey the orders Of the Presi-
dent and follow the rebels to Winchester, and
as having fatally controlled the destiny Of the
army until the battle Of Fredericksburg.
History had pronounced its verdict upon him
lMcCe -iaul as soldier. and the Senator from In
diana would not be able 10 place him Ia tac cate
cory with Napoleon. Hannibal and Cesar. lie
tlug3lls dealt WITH him as politician and said no
one could read is letter 10 President Lincoln after
tlle disastrous seven days lighting on the PENN
sula aud before ltIcli5nond without coming 10 tie
conclusion that Mcclellan was not fully and act
3Fely 90 sympathy with the forces the ideas and
tie sentiments which were then controlling the
American people
HANCOCK.
As 70 Gen Hancock. he also Senator ingalls,
eald one 81 The military leaders WHO were true
70 tlIe Democracy. His martial career was one Of
The iuipeTi-lable heIilalcs Of American glory. He
marched and irIumphcd; flied the abyss Of fame
with names which would be eterLally luminous
the Peninsula, Antietam, Gettysburg, ChanceIIo tors
vile, Cold Har3or aud Petersburg. Had he been
soldier under Napoleon he would have been q
Priace aud Marshal Of tbe Empire. lie had been
wei called Hancock tLe superb
bar after ilc war closed he (like Mcclellan had
become tainted with le fatal virus 81 ambition for
tie Presidential nomination, but notwithstanding
his magnificent and uuapproaciable career the
American people recognized Lls hostility 20 the
reconstruction measures. and iu the Presidential
election ~ leoJ hc carried but three Northern
states. Nillllornia, Nevada and New Jersey, and
the first ao q them bad been stolen by the for
gerry aud fraud Of tLe MOTcy letter Issued by Dem
ocrauc politicians. lie had also received the l28
electoral votes % the solid south which had peen
promises him in bats speech ~ Cincinnati by the
Senator from South Carolina .3Ir Hampton
Senator ingalls, then leyeled that battery Of
Irony and sarcasm Of which be is perhaps the
greatest living master on the American forum
to-day against the mock indignation and SYM
pathy Of tic Senators from Kentucky and In
diana a. what they bad chosen to interpret as
BIS sighting illusions u Hancock and McClel-
ian ia bis previous speech. lie exclaimed that
y they did not know that he had spoken Of
these Union Generals not as soldiers. bat As
politicians and a. Democratic Caud idates forthe
Presidency, they were duh, stupid and iguo-
rant indeed. and f they did know il and per
sisted ln their assertions they were disingcn-
nous, and hc suspected that 10 were possible
they were both. At this sally there was a roar
o. laughter and enthusiasm In the galleries
upon which Senator Dolph arose and declared
that - i1e next sign Of applause or disorder he
Wouid clear the galleries. Senator ingalls, also
stated that be WAS Speaking under o physical
disadvantage aud that be would REGARD II as q
favor il perfect order and quiet were main
tanned
CorPEKHEADs AND KNIGHTS OF TIE GOLDEN
CIRCLE.
Continuing he said:
Ar president. from the impassioncd eulogy. from
tae rhapsody of appreciation tilat flowed from ~.
Senator fFoU Indiana "a the great ruiIitar, elIi,y
rneuts u Mcclellan aud Hancock began 10 have
some doubt who % WAS that really pul down fbr
rebellion. WAS driven cur5Ousiy 10 5nGuirc sylaf
WAS Use attitude oi the Democratic party iu Tie
Nofth aha ~ iEc senator from Indiana a. one Of
De great leaders iu ls52 when hfctleIcu the idea
Democrat. was fighting tAc battle Of Aulietarn il,
so1 ai1 oi-il4g The scattered scuadrJus Of the Con-
teoeracy ras really for tie moment AIr Presi-
cent lClIlca 20 bg.ieyc that the Democratic flFty
q TIC Noftii- ite senator from ludisua and those