The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-06

HON. JOHN J. u0ALIS, PRHsIDINr OF
TIE uNuID STATES SENATE.
The Presidency Of the United States
Senate, which devolvs upon the Vice
President as an ex-oDscio duty, has
within the past eeven years been occu.
pied almost exclusively by a senator
elected by his fellows. When Garfield
died Arthur had only presided over
the Senate during the brief extra ses-
sion succeeding March S, 1881. There
after, until the election Of Cleveland
and Hendricks, there was no Vice
Preaident.
It was the fate Of the country to lose
the newly elected Vice President, Hen
dricks,.a fortnight before the opening o.
the FOrty.ninth Congress.
Sherman was chosen for presiding
ofhcer but reeie ned. Logan could have
had the position had he given . nod
before the selection Of Sherman, but
with that rugged pride which was one
Of his prominent characteristics, he
refused to become in this way the act
ing Vice Presidento Of the United States
when q year before he had been defeat
ed for the Vice Presidency at the
polls.
A few months Of service and certain
unforeseen political contingencies
caused Sherman to resign. He was an
svowed presidential candidate, but in
the chair he had no opportunity to
discuss public questions and he d esired
to be again located on the floor.
James Ingalls,, Of Kansas, the present
incumbent. Doubtless it came to him
unexpectedly-certainly unsought-
for In his merciless addresses he had
given his fellow Senators far more gall
than honey. Unfortunately for the
delectation of the galleries and the
illumination Of the Congressional
Record his elevation to the chair took
from the floor the greatest wit upon
it.
Senator ingalls, is best known to the
public for his vigor a. debater. His
delivery carries perfectly the sting o.
sharp sarcasm and incisive wit with
which his remarks are pointed. He
can trim . sentence with . row OF
adjectives like the teeth on . cross
cut saw. His enunciation is the most
distinct of any member Of this body.
He attempts no gestures, and confines
the acknowledgements playinciden'
to speech making to rapidly twirline
. pair Of gold-rimmed !clinchers by the
cord which retains them.
In debate he is all thorns. He has 8
facility Of expression that is wonder
full, and his figures are never trite
Ha napier-like thruSts have left many
sore wound, aud he has lost friend'
in the Senate more than once owing
to the ungloved way in which he has
attacked opinion or statements.
The metaphors (which the Senator
uses, and which abound freely in hit
speeches, are amusing and telling. 1r
his famous speech directed against the
mugwumps he compared them to thu
prehistoric bird-lizard the pleosaurIus
which could crawl In slime and again
soar to the empyrean. It is in sucf
odd figures Of speech as this that hi
satire finds it, most effective play.
Senator ingalls, has been suggested
by friendly journals As an available
republican candidate for the Vice
Presidency. He has also, but with les
frequency. been mentioned for the heat
of the ticket. Nearly every native
born American in the Senate aspire
to become some day President Of tn
United States. Whatever ambition
Senator ingalls, may have in thi
direction he has kept 1t to himself. Tn
Vice Presidency would bring to hin
only the empty honor of the title. HI
lat present performs the duties, receives
the salary, and enjoys the precedence
accorded the Office. The only I'D
VI ntage the Vice Presidency woul'