Los Angeles herald., 1890-03-23
FORTY RULES.
The Hon. w. S. Wilson's Re-
marks in Congress.
His Explanation of Parliament
ary Law.
The Powers of the Speaker Humor-
Ously Described.
The Members and Spectators Kept in a
Continuous Roar of Laughter for
Nearly an Hour.


spring sight in the eyes of all virtuous
and right-thinking men, none more full
of encouragement for youth, than when
hoary and notorious sinners, who have
long persisted in wicked ways, publicly
acknowledge their sins and transgres-
sions and promise in the sight of all men
to be virtuous, honest and righteous.
Laughter and applause on the Demo-
cratic side Oh, what scene, worthy
the admiration of gods and men, have
we been permitted to witness in this
House during the past few days, as the
leaders on the other side have arisen,
one after another, with such open con-
fession to the country
Sir, the fruits of repentance were first
disclosed to us when the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Cannon) announced his
own conversion. 1t was, to be sure, a
very energetic profession, for many and
grievous were the sins to his account,
and, having read in old Peter Cartwright
how, in days past, the spirit of true
penitence had thrown men into physical
agonies, feared that the entire Repub-
lican membership of this House would
soon be Jerking" in the visible spasms
of sorrow and conviction; but we were
soon relieved by finding that it was
simply another and improving illustra-
tion Of the Scripture, that "the kingdom
OF heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force. Laughter and
applause
More gently, but not less firmly and
vlrtuously, came my good friend Nc
radiant with his newborn ZEAL He,
tices on this floor, very Saul among
the filibusterers, but when he rose at
his desk and frankly confessed that dur
ing all the long years of his indulgence
in this sin he could not recall that he had
ever done so for ga high or noble or a
worthy purpose" his countenance shone
like that of Stephen when the crown of
martyrdOm was about to fall upon him,
and there was no man even on this side
OF the chamber who could doubt his re-
morse or call in question his solemn
promise that he would do so no more
forever. Laughter and applause on the
Democratic side. And last of all came
my not less distinguished friend from
Ohio (Mr. Butterworth). Oh, what
powerful preacher of righteousness was
he [renewed laughter and applause on
the Democratic side1 in the address
which he made TO the galleries [laugh-.
teri, confessing that he was the very
worst offender of them all, but that
henceforth his only object in life would
be to turn sinners to repentance! IRE
newed laughter and applause. Sir, it
may be very wrong in me, but l must be
pardoned if | express myself a little
doubtful of the genuineness and perma-
nence of his conversion. Laughter |
almost felt like exclaiming as did the
good old bishop when men came to him
at midnight to bring the glad tidings
that Brother Jones had again professed
conversion" and he cried out: "Shoot
him on the spot [great laughter] SO that
he may get the benefit of it before he
again falls from grace" Renewed
laughter.
But, Mr.. Speaker, all these edifying
professions on the floor of the House
were as nothing as compared to that
which came to us from your own chair.
Laughter on Democratic side.] True,
while they were sudden and uneX-
pected, we might have been somewhat
prepared lOT ulldI. lHc SeHllellldH lrOHl
Georgia (Mr. Turner) has since called
our attention to certain utterances of
the distinguished Speaker as early as
the 4th of July last-mingled with GER
tain illusions to Lord Nelson and the
did not exactly pprehend-which
clearly showed that he was already ex-
periencing change of heart. Laugh
teri
But, sir, can we imagine any spectacle
more edifying, more inspiring to the
youth of America than that of the
Speaker of this great House, standing
upon yonder high tribunal and calling
upon all the people to witness his
humble professions of penitence; nay,
even his grateful disclosure of the un-
worthy instruments of his conversion.
fRenewed laughter and applause on the
Democratic side.] How thankful should
we also be that before the rule OF "gen-
eral parliamentary law" made it i'm
proper to read printed books from the
Clerks desk, the Speaker caused to be
read to us the Psalm of David that first
put him on the stool of repentance.
IRenewed laughter.]
1t is OF no moment that the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Carlisle) immedi-
ately proved that the psalm was sung
by David himself to quite another tune
(laughter], or that the gentle voice from
Tennessee was prematurely ands rudely
hushed. Such things can not detract
from the merits of the Speakers con-
version. They but increase these merits,
for they show forth once again how the
world and the great men thereof may be
saved by the foolishness of preaching.
[Laughter.]
Sir, theologians are yet disputing
whether Balaam, the son OF Beor, was
finally saved; but no man doubts that
Balaam, the son of Beor, to say nothing
Of the lowly beast on which he rode
llaughter], was made the vehicle and
the instrumentality by which Gods
blessing was conveyed to Gods people.
Laughter
All, Mr.. Speaker, this new dispensa-
tion of general parliamentary law" has
come to us under auspices that have nc
counterpart in the history OF parliament
ary government. 1t can be likened
only to the preaching of Christianity to
the disciples at Damascus by the same
Saul who had set forth to persecute
them; to the gift of free trade to Eng
land by the very statesman who went
into Office to champion protection or to
the more common example of those who
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