New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-24
CONGRESSIONAL ORATORY.


SOME PHILOSOPHICAL WESTERN OBSERVATIONS.
I'D ~ IN The Cincinnati Commercial Gazeue
Tho matter under consideration was the favorably
re ported bill to appropriate $4,000 to aid In an Aer
can exhibit at the forthcoming centenary al Mel,
the debate it was the general opinion that the British
lion will lie awake tonight with an aching tau III
Mr. Grain and the others Who opposed the approp
alton. MIR. Grain had yesterday read description
copy Of coItons Atlas and poked fun at that far oil
heather and benghted country.
To-day william Walter Phelps proceeded to give the
preSent, the real and amazing figures or wealth,
population and progress in those countries, and his
port ant Committee Foreign Affairs, was the manager
Of the bill, but he was utterly helpless.
1t is most pltlful sometimes to witness Mr.. Bel,
mont's weakness and embarrassing when any bill
from his committee comes before the House. He
hopeessness To-day Mr.. Phelps came over from
the Republican side and took seat beside Mr. Bel
and defending. 1t was a queer comment on tho In
telectual aspect of the Democratic side Of tho House
when the Chairman OF ono Of its most important
committees Is obliged to send for aRepubllcan to do
what is expected OF Chairman: 1t was complete
and unqualified Acknowledgement OF heplcssness
and Incapacty. Perry belmont, for his modest. un
assuming ways Is much liked npon both Sides of the
House and everybody tries TO make 1t for him
possible
Mr. Phelps's speech in support of the bill appropriat
Ing $4,000 Characteristic of tho He never
something TO say which he thinks Ia Of moment and
speaks for effect except effect upon the vote Of
the House and does not appear to care for or OBJ
serve tho existence OF the galleries. When he has
something to say when he thinks Is OF moment and
ought to DO said, he rises and says It in terse, pure
and vigOrOu English, and stops as he has
said II. Other members, and I'm this class many
could be named. OF wide and commanding repuia
ton will walt for hours to mako speech II the cor
res pondens' gallery Is not well represented even
nut of a speech forever rather than speak when
that gallery Is empty Those tho speeches that are
made for effect, for newspaper celebrity and inhu
ence upon the dear constituencies al homo.
Mr. Phelps pays no attention to the condition Of
the galleries lie speaks evenly and uenty, putting
things In the strongest and most direct manner posi-
lille He makes ges lures and no attempts at elecu
tonary effect trnstln oley for influence TO the plain
statement OF facts and the arguments based thereon
Is not this the true Of oatoiy IA least such
every othe legislator took the course IN
cool and calm, but not the less eloquent speech in de-
bate IL would certainly make great change for tho
better In tho work Of Congress What influence has
frantic gcsticnlations pounding OF desks glarng OF
ewes Of hands upon The auditors rather
heard But perhaps the Americans have not yet fully
grown out OF their Patrick Henry days OF the Columbian
orator and s enjoy little sOshing roundn by their
speakers.
John Sherman In his delivery. is good compro-
mise between the extremes lie makes very few ges-
lures but in their quick, nervous way they often
seem really to add emphasis and force to tho state
more Ike hm-Mr lIoar for instance, or Mr.. Evarts
are examples OF tho two extremes In Congressional
oratory represented, for inst 'nce by Mr. Phelps at
one extreme OF smOO htOngucd, earnest and I'M
pressve statement and argument, and such an ora
Tor for another instance, as Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois,
who will gyrafe gtStculate over n small matter,
and nearly Jump over a desk he reaches tho eli
max with a bang, snort and a howl But Mr.. Can
non Is a good strong man and an experienced legs
lalOr.