New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20
CHAMPIONS IN DEBATE.
A BRILLIANT END OF THE TARIFF DISCUS
SION IN THE HOUSE.

A BRILLIANT END or THE TARIFF DISCUS
SION in THE HOUSE.
REEDS MAGNIFICENT PLEA FOR AMERICAN M
DUsTRIEs-CARLIsLE SPEAKS FOR FREHs
TRADEr-A SPIRITED LASHING OF BREoK-
INRIDGE BY AN OLD KENTUCKIAN.
TBr TELEGRAPH TO TINE rRrsUys.
WASHINGTON. May 19.-The last day Of tho
tarih debate drew an immense crowd Of people
to the Capitol Before o'clock visitors began
to pour into the galleries and two hours later not
an inch Of standing-room was unoccupied, while
the corridors were packed with people, who vainiy
sought admission. Among the thousands thus
excluded the families Of members Of the
House, who were subsequently admitted to tho
floor by unanimous consent asked by 5. s. Cox.
The anxiety to hear the speeches OF Mr. Reed, tho
Republican leader, and Speaker Carlisle, who had
consented to throw himself into the breach and
attempt to stem the tide Of Republican arguments,
which badc fair to overwhelm the Free Trade
host, pervadcd all classes and conditions Of people.
The champions of the day were on hand early.
Mr. Reed was to deliver the first :" set speech OF
his Congressional life and he seemed TO- realize
the novelty Of his situation. Some Of his friends
felt more nervous than he did, for knowing his
strength In clear, logical statement and condensed
argument they thought he might disappoint them
in the elaboration Of his views. They were hap
PLY disappointed later in the day. Speaker Car
Isle was pale and nervous and appeared to be
anxious lest he should disappoint the expectations
of his friends and dash the last hopes OF the Free
Traders. He had not appeared on the, floor 70
speak for nearly six years, and although he had
spent many days in the preparation OF his speech.
he seemed to feel misgivngs as to the probable
result
audience enjoyed o performance which was
wholly unexpected by them. In his speech yester-
day Breclinrfdge, Of Kentucky, declared that thai
brave and true man." Morrison. had been de-
feated by corrupt used by the agents OF pro-
tected industries.
MR. BAKER USES SOME HISTORIC PHRASES.
Now Morrisons successor is the venerable and
quaint but fiery Jehu Baker, Kentucxian. who
was born near the home of Henry Clay. in the dis
trict now represented by Breckenridge. lie was on
the ground early this morning with blood in his
eye prepared to resent the charge against himself
and his constituents. lie is man Of od-fashioncd
manners and dress, and made striking appear
ance he stood erect as grenadier, facing tho
Democratic side and garng at the uneasy ken-
tucsan on the opposite side of the Chamber
The Democrats were at first disposed to guy
the old man as he began with deliberate utterance
and tremendous emphasis to repel what he de-
nounced as the outrageous attack upon his
honor and the honor Of his district In part he
said:
hurl back the words and denouncc the imputaon
grossly untrue. 1 hurl them back into the face and
teeth Of gentleman from Kentucky with direct and
unmitlgated defiance To use an expressive and MS
expression, from the South can come here
and crack his black snake whip over my shoulders IL
attempts no may find the weapon playing upon his
person. II II be distinction to be Kentuckian,
l. too, / born within the shadow OF
Ashlsnd where lived the great Henry Clay who repre-
seDed that district in this House. HIS scat sas ~
worse than vacant He was man OF might; his
words uttered still live. The speeches OF his sue
cessor sarlands Of flowers without leaves Oh
| fruit" nt only for my lady's bower
THIS extract gives one fair idea OF Mr.. Bakers
quality and he had not proceeded lar before tne he
| tubicaps were aroused and the Democrats became
silent. Breckinrdge grew more and more uneasy;
| and held whispered conferences with Carlisle and
| other leaders Baker called attention to the fact
that he represents six times as many ballots as
| Breckinridge.
"No voice except this one" said he, has been
aSsd to Sv Ry in nv Set has
been presented here protesting that / waOnot
fairly and honestly elected This allnson e.ts, 70
Carlisc's smirched title made the atters face flush
and provoked hearty applause on the Republican
side Baker then went on to show that the defeat
OF Morrison victory for the purity OF the bal
lot over fraud and intimidation.
MoRRIsoNs CHAMPION MISSES THE MARK.
When Baker sat down, Breckenridge arose to re-
ply Mills was not on hand to object, but many
Republicans and some Democrats cried for the
regular order Reed, who was entitled to the aoor
yielded it upon Bakers request. Perhaps the
| latter knew that Breckenridge would hang
| himself il he got rope enough. At any rate he
did so. His speech was Apologize not TO say
| humble but he essayed to support his charge by
causing to be read two letters written by John
Jarrett during the campaign to worlungman In
Morrison's district. Neither Of the letters con-
tained word or suggestion that any improper
means were to be used to compass Morrisons de-
| feat In fact they showed that the workingmcn
depended wholly upon legitimate effort and wero
barely able to pay the travelling and other neces
sary expenses Of the speakers among the miners
and artisans. The reading Of the letters brought
round after round OF applause from the Republic
cans, who felt that Breckenridge had fashioned an
| excellent campaign document for their use in tho
| coming contest. Bakers response to the apology
| Of Breckenridge was that the Kentucky mountain
had labored and brought forth most ridiculous
mouse Probably Colonel Morrison will feel that
he also has been made ridiculous by his volunteer
champion and eulO3ist.
A MAsTERTUL SPEECH BY CONGRESSMAN REED
Mr. Reed spoke for about two hours and from
first to last held the close attention OF the House
and the immense audience which filed every place
from which lie could be seen or heard. Every
seat on the floor was occupied and the Democrats
seemed as eager. as the Republicans to hear what
the speaker had TO say. " 1t was great speech,
was the universal verdict. 1t a marvel Of
ccarncss and pungency in statement. So abba
discussion or the principles upon which tho
protective system is based, has been seldom heard
in either branch Of Congress. His statement Of
the policy and aims Of the free traders WAS
so clear and so fair that none of them could call
it unfair, although they WINGED under his keen
SARCASM.
Mr.. Reed did not stop to discuss the details
Of the bill, and only once to expose the absurdty
of Mills, but the speech, while scholarly and dig.
nfed in tone, was replete with Apostle illus
trations which elected repeated and hearty ap-
plause on the floor and In the galleries. Mr..
Reeds powers Of wit and sarcasm were never
exhibited to, greater advantage, and even Car.
Isle and other frec-trade Democrats were repeat
edly moved to laughter, little they rclished the
keen thrusts dealt by the Republican leader
Thus, when he applied the old fable Of the con-
tented dog with the shoulder OF succulent NUT
ton in his mouth which he dropped when he
looked into the stream, and discovered the
markets Of the world and dove for themn scores
of Democrats Joined in the shout of laughter
and some of them with difficulty restrained them.
selves from Joining in the thunders of applause
which fairly shook the building Mills was not