The Portland daily press., 1890-03-18
HoNoRs TO THE DEAD.
Impressive Speeches In the House of
representatives.
Especial to the PRESS ]

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Occasions of
the House of Representatives which are, to
judge by the general absence of the mem
bers, of little interest to them, but
which are in many respects very Interesting
to the spectator are the memorial orations on
days set apart in honor of deceased members.
Several members of the 51st Congress have
died since election and several days have
been occupied in eulogies of them. Satur-
day was set apart to the memory of the late
William d. Kelley, who represented one of
the Philadelphia districts in Congress for Is
| successive years, and had the honor of serv-
ing longer time in the House than any 9TH
er statesman since the foundation of the gov
ernment. Common consent had given him
the title of "Father of the House years be-
fore his death and from members of both
political parties he was always the recipient
OF the respect which was due his experience,
out which might not have been accorded to
a man of less lovable personal qualities
Political prejudices. if not personal ami
mosities, are always laid aside upon these
occasions, and the time allowed for speak
ing is usually divided equally between the
members of the two political parties. The
eulogies of Judge Kelley were interesting
not only as coming, as is usual in such cases,
from political foes as well as political
friends, but also as coming from many vet
Grams nearly as old in the services of the
House of Representatives as the deceased.
The first eulogist to be recognized was Rep
resentative O'Neill, like Mr.. Kelley the rep
resentative of a Philadelphia district. His
associates call him "Charley" O'Neill.
though why the gray headed and sedate,
though short of stature, member who has
passed middle life already, should be known
by this juvenile prenomen, cannot be ex-
planned unless apon the grounds of his good
nature and popularity. Though his name is
young, Mr.. O'Neill is himself in fair way
to make his term of service as long as that
Of his departed colleague. He has been an
associate with Mr.. Kelley in the House many
years and his tribute to his departed friend
was the more touching because it came from
one whose manner of speaking is always
matter-of-fact. He told how Judge Kelley
had conided to him the first knowledge
solicitude of the statesman lest death might
come before the holidays and thereby de-
prive his family of their accustomed happi-
ness at that season.
MI. 1Oluldu OI lUQldld, ODleCLOr'' H0l-
man, followed Mr.. O'Neill, Mr.. Holman is
dull speaker, there being nothing either in
his rarsnnaf appearances. n,annor af snaak-
ing or mode of expression to hold attention.
Kelley, and would have been his senior in
service had he continued in Congress un-
interruptedly. Mr.. Holman's recollections
went back to the days of the Inauguration of
Lincoln and before that; and to the times of
another race Of public men.
But still older veteran was recognized
after Mr.. Holman. Gen. Banks has not
been in Congress previous to this term for
many years, but he entered the House before
either Mr.. Holman or Judge Kelley. and his
remembrance of the deceased extended back
beyond those days even. He first met Mr..
Kelley, he said Saturday, at a celebration at
Lexington, at one of Massachusetts patti
otlc et field days Of oratory in 1S4o. He paid to
manship and integrity.
After the old timers had concluded, time
was allotted to younger men who from their
prominence in Congress today were entitled
to speak In memory of so distinguished a
member. Mr.. Mckinley, for several recent
years Mr.. Kelley's associate on the ways
and means committee. delivered a brief
eulogy admirable for its simplicity and dis
eliminating praise of the abilities of the
deceased.
Mr.. Mills of Texas. who is usually one of
the most boisterous orators on the floor, be-
came for the occasion one of the gentlest and
very far from the least interesting of the
speakers. He remembered Judge Kelley
kindly for the latter's considerateness for the
feelings of Southern members in all the
hard parliamentary conflicts since the war.
Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who Is
called the silver-tongued, and who certainly
is the master of a style of oratory pleasing
for the first time, at any rate, was another
eulogist from the Democratic side. He re-
ferred to the devotion of Mr. Kelley to Phila-
delphia, and attributed no little Of the splen
dor of that city to the lifelong labors and de-
votion of members like Kelley, O'Neili and
Randall.
Mr.. Randall has not been in attendance on
the House since 1t assembled and he was
often referred to by the speakers.