The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-07-17
LODGE AND HEMPHIl.L.
ION fictores OF tho Leaders in tho EIce
tions Biil Contest

|
| tions BIZ Contest.
There is u striking contrast be-
tween MIR. Lodge, the leader of the
Republican forces in the contest over
the federal election bill, and Mr..
Hemphill, who by virtue of his posi-
ton on the committee on the election
of President and Vice President, is
ut the head of the opposition. MIR.
Lodge has more contradictory traits
OF character than any man [ know of
in the House. He is a curious com
bmatlon of liberal formcrand dema
gogue; OF broad intelligence and bit
ter craftsmanship. In his character as
partisan he is admired by MS col
leagues and has considerable fol-
loving. AS q reformer he has scarcely
any following in the House and is
sneered at by those who are his as
soclates and admirers in his other
character. His associates ore of two
classes. Those who follow his lead
ON the federal election question call
hlm political dude when he talks
civil service reform. When he ap-
pears as Il reformer of political meth
DDS he is superb but Ineffective. but
III party intrigue he will so further
than some Of his less intellectual and
less enlightened associates. He is
clever however, in the assumption of
high motive i'll his partisan action,
and is too shrewd to use dcnunciation
instead Of argument. The best pre-
sentation of his side of the Federal
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.
Ills speeches are finished literary pro
ductions, and he delivers them with
an appearance Of earncstncss. He is
Il far representative Of the intelligent
but bigoted young Republicans OF
New England, still retaining the
strain of Puritan blood.
Mr.. Hemphill is good reprcsen-
tntlve OF the progressive young men
OF the South. If Mr. Reed, in q
spirit OF magnanimity, had SO dc,
signed it, he could not have done bet
ter for the Democrats than he did in
the appointment of Mr. Hemphill tc
the head Of the minority committee
which was to consider this bill. He
IS not fire eater. He is calm, dis.
passionate, logical and q good lawyer
1t would be much easier to throw
MIR. Reed, Mr.. Lodge OF any othel
old-blooded New Englander into q
passion than to provoke IN indiscrc
ton 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 i'll his manner to provoke an
tagonlsm; he never forgets to be
courteous to his opponent, however
bitter that opponent may be. He is
not as graceful Il writer as is Mr.
Lodge, his periods may not be quite
as we'll rounded, he does not attempt
as much effect with his voice, but as
he advances with his argument, feel
ing what he says, as NC did on open
ing the case for the South in this dis
cussion, he becomes eloquent without
effort and without knowing it. There
Is frank earnestness in what he says
which impressess his hearers. His
, voice, his manner and his speech ap
peal Tor fair play, and give promise o1
fair play i'll return. His speeches are
the work of lawyer rather than a
literary man, but he is q scholarly
and as able us 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-
sentcd by any one who could present
the case ut 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 an air of superi-
orlty, however, which is sometimes
offensive. Mr.. Hemphill is extremely
modest and is one of the most amiable
men IN the House. During the eight
or ten years [ have known him have
never seen him lose his temper in
debate.