The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-18
LODGE AND HEMPHIl.I.
Pen Pictures of the Leaders In tho Elec.
tioDs Bill Contest.


Pen Pictures of the Leaders I'm tho EIec-
tioDs Bill Contest.
There is u striking contrast be-
tween Mr.. Lodge, the leader of the
Republican forces in the contest over
the federal election bill, and Mr.
Hemphill, who by virtue of his posi-
tion on the committee on the election
OF President and Vias President, is
at the head of the opposition. Mr..
Lodge has more contradictory traits
OF character than any man / know of
In the House. He is q curious COM
bination of liberal reformer and dema-
gogue; Of broad intelligence and bit
ter partisanship. In his character as
partisan he is admired by his col
leagues and has q considerable fol-
lowing. AS reformerhe has scarcely
any following in the House and is
sneered at by those who are his as
sociates and admirers in his other
character. His associates are of two
classes. Those who follow his lead
on the federal election question call
him political dude when he talks
civil service reform. When he ap-
pears as reformer of political meth
ods he is superb but ineffective, but
in party intrigue he will go further
than some of his less intellectual and
less enlightened associates. He is
clever however, in the assumption Of
high motive in his partisan action,
and is too shrewd to use denunciation
instead of argument. The best pre-
10 &c IL @f L1 EnIo
election question that has been made,
and the best that can be made, was
that which was made in his opening
argument. He is not an orator ana
never rises to the point of eloquence.
His speeches are finished literary pro-
ductions, and he delivers them with
an appearance of earnestness. He is
a fair representative of the intelligent
but bigoted young Republicans of
New England, still retaining the
strain of Puritan blood.
MIR. Hemphill is a good represen-
tative of the progressive young men
of the South. If Mr.. Reed, in a
spirit of mdgnanimity, had so de-
signed it, he could not have done bet
ter for the Democrats than he did in
the appointment of Mr.. Hemphill to
the head of the minority committee
which was to consider this bill. He
is not a fire eater. He is calm, dis
passionate, logical and a good lawyer.
1t would be much easier to throw
Mr.. Reed, Mr.. Lodge or any other
cold-blooded New Englander into a
passion than to provoke an indiscre-
tion on the part of this young South
Carolinian. He is fair and frank.
His speech is slow and somewhat
halting at first. There is never any
thing in his manner to provoke an
tagonism; he never forgets to be
courteous to his opponent, however
bitter that opponent may be. He is
not as graceful writer as is Mr.
Lodge, his periods may not be quite
rs well rounded, he does not attempt
as much effect with his voice, but as
he advances with his argument, feel
ing what he says, as he did on open
ing the case for the South in this dis
cussion, he becomes eloquent without
effort and without knowing it. There
is a frank earnestness in what he says
which impressess his hearers. His
~oioe, hia roannar-- and hia speech ap-
peal for fair play, and give promise of
fair play in return. His speeches are
the work of n lawyer rather than a
literary man, but he is scholarly
and as able as is the young statesman
from Massachusetts. The contrast
between the two men is such as to
make them suitable antagonists.
Neither side could have been repre-
sented by any one who could present
the case at opening better than the
men selected
An expression of arrogance is
stamped on Mr.. Lodges face, and
one naturally expects some bitterness
in his speech. But he is never dis
courteous either in language or man
ner. He maintains On air of superb
ority, however, which is sometimes
offensive. Mr.. Hemphill is extremely
modest and is one of the most amiable
men in the House. During the eight
OF ten years I have known him 1 have
never soon hi,n lo.o his temper IN
debate.