The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-26
SUCCESSORS CICERO,
Congress as a Field for ell
opment of GreA y
Orators.
New Men Whom the Fifty-frst
Congress Has Brought to
the Front.
Greenhalge's Rapier and Spinola's Butcher
knife-Several Now Meteors Flash
Athwart the Orntorical Heay ems.

AtnW0rt the OrNtOriCal Heay ems.
Especial Correspondence Of THE INDEpENDENT.1
WASHINGTON, May 22-The Fiftieth con-
gress developed some fine orators and other
wise. Among them were Henry Cabot
Lodge, William Bourke Cochran, General
Spinola, Isador Rayner, Benjamin F.
Shively, Asher G. Caruth, Stephen V. White,
NJ. NJ. Boothman, Ashbel P. Fitch, Mel
bourn H. Ford, Robert P. Kennedy and
Marion Biggs. Messrs. Cochran and White
refused a denomination. Ford and Rayner
were defeated. The others were reelected.
The Fifty. first congress is doing full as
we'll in the development of orators as its
predecessor. In the Fiftieth congress
Cochran and Rayner won the palm on the
democratic side. Lodge was the most
prominent orator brought to light among
the republicans. In this congress the
situation is reversed. The republicans
have produced more new orators and other
wise than the, democrats. There are many
modest men, however, among the latter.
and no one can tell when new oratorical
star will appear in the legislative frma
ment.
The first to blaze in the republican galaxy
was Frederick L. Greenhage, of Massa-
chusetts. He is of English bilth, and will
be 48 years old next July. He has clear
voice and an engaging air. His gestures
are few and we'll chosen. He speaks calmly
and dispassionately: His arguments are
strung upon threads of sarcasm. Deadly
thrusts are given with grace that would
do credit to French fencing master. Few
have the temerity to interrupt him in de-
bate. He is picturesque and thrilling in
his illu -trations. When driven into a cor
ner he can change front in twinkling.
In parry and thrust he has no rival. There
will be great time if he ever encounters
General Spinola. Such combat would
probably provoke more interest than any
that has been witnessed in the house of
representatives for years. Greenhalge uses
| the rapier and Spinola the butcher knife.
Mr.. Greenhalge is man of middle stature.
with light complexion, small blue eyes and
forehead that ends at his bump of phil
oprogenitiveness. He is frequently mis-
taken by his comrades for that shrewd Law
yer and bright speaker. Hon. Jacob Gels
senhainer, OF New Jersey.
An orstorical meteor has recently ap-
peared in the Iowa delegation. He is Hon.
Jonathan p. Dolliver, OF Fort Dodge. Dol
liver was born in Virginia thirty two years
ago: Ae is graduate 1ads OF West Virginia
orators in the Fifty-frst congress in the de-
bate upon the pension appropriation bill.
More eloquent words have not been heard
in the house for years. He has his double
in appearance on the democratic side in
the person of Hon. John D. Anderson, of
West Virginia. He advertises himself in
the congressional directory as unmarried.
The Granite state has also sent new
orator to the national councils. He is Hon.
Orrin G. Moore, of Nashua. Moore is tall
and thin, but carries his fifty years as
spectacles and beard and has curly iron
gray hair. He is a printer and an editor.
New Hampshire lost an old-time orator
at the last congressional election. He was
Rev. Luther F. Mckinney, tariff reform
democrat. It would be we'll worth days
troversy.
Another orator among the republicans is
Hon. John Raines, of Canadaigua, N. Y.
He is brother of George Raines, we'll
known democratic orator in New York state.
George presided at the state democratic
yet appeared at his best in congress-. He
took dash at the Worlds Fair business
and had little skirmish with Gen. Spinola
in pension debate.
st. Louis has turned out fair orator in
Hon. Nathan Frank. He has thin features
and his words we'll chosen. He gracefully
upheld the banner of his city in the debate
over the Worlds Fair bill. His speeches
are short and to the point.
Other new congressman who have dis
tinguished themselves in debate on the re-
publican side of the house are Hon. Fred
Lansing, of Watertown, n. Y; Hon. John
F. Lacey, of Oskaloosa, Ia: another Vir-
ginian, and Hon. Charles Augustus Hill, of
Joliet, Ill. Hill is man of independent
thought and action. He voted against the
unseating of Cate, an Arkansas democrat,
majority. Fearing his eloquence, the re-
publicans called the previous question and
shut him out of the debate. Lacey is
member of the committee on elections and
has made the opening speeches in two
election cases. Lansing has aired his elo-
was a gallant soldier in the army, and is as
handsome as he was brave. A good talker
among the republicans is Hon. William 4.
Simonds, of Connecticut, the successor of
Hon. Robert S. Vance. Simonds very ap-
propriately landed on the committee on
patents. ak
The quaintest of the republican orators
is the Hon. Frederick G. Neidringhaus, of
ST. Louis. He scatters like an old musket,
and his gun kicks numerically. The shot
bers more than they hurt them. His
Worlds Fair speech produced unbounded
merriment. Members laughed till the tears
ran down their cheeks. The only really
stolid man on the floor was Neidringhaus
himself.
W. ACW AACAAOCAS, odA0 w NC 1CpuDllCdu
orators, have thus far maintained digni-
fed silence. They are the Hon. Alfred A.
TAYLOR, of Tennessee, and II. p. Cheat
ham, of North Carolina. The latter is the
only colored congressman upon the floor.
The former was participant in the great
campaign in Tennessee some years ago
when his brother Bob fiddled his way into
the governors chair.
Thus far no really brilliant orator has
made his appearance among the new mem
bers on the democratic side of the house.
The most serviceable appears to be the Hon.
John G. Tarsney, of Kansas City. Tarsney
is deep-chested and oad-shouldered He
has Celtic face and the Celtic glibness of
tongue.
Next to Tarsney in point of ability seems
to be Hon. James r. Williams, of Illinois.
Mr.. Williams was elected to fill the va
cancy caused by the death of Hen. Richard
w. Townshend. He has made three or four
able speeches. They were delivered with
out any attempt at effect, and they came
hot from his heart, but tempered with judg-
ment. He is a thin, narrow-chested gen
tleman, with sunken eyes and high cheek
bones. His long. black hair droops over
his forehead as he talks. His voice is clear
aud his oratory fervid and attractive.
Despite his modesty he is sure to become a
prominent member of the house.
One of the brightest of the new demo-
cratic orators keeps his light hid under a
bushel. He is the Hon. Charles j. Boatner,
of Louisiana. Boatner made a speech in
caucus one night that stirred the heart OF
every man who heard it. A similar speech