The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-11


stump gave evidence that with him read
ing made full man, writing correct
man, and speaking the eloquent man,
Corwin was swarthy in complexion, and
In his congressional life much inclined
to obesity. In size and appearance he
resembled John NJ. Clayton, OF Della
ware, who would rather play the fiddle
at country party than spend his mid
might hours in composing the famous
Bulwer-Lytton treaty.
It's related of Corwin, who had the
simplicity which accompanies true
genius, that when asked at breakfast
table by a country lass whether Mr..
Corwin would take any "condiments"
in his coffee, he replied, without a
change OF countcnance:
"Yes, miss; much salt but little
flte great orator Of Ohio always con-
tended that his best speech in Congress
Was his reply to Isaac L. Crazy, q mem
Der Of Congress from Michigan, who on
February Il, 1910, had attacked Gen.
William Henry Harrison and the Cum
bertrand road, making GontelnptuoRs
reference 10 the number OF Indians who
fought in 1911 at the battle of Hppe-
canoe.
Corwin was ''loaded for bear" and
took hold OF General Crary's statement,
that he was "a militia general on q
peace establishment"
= Az. nl,1a unt1 nf
his own speech that 1t was a deep
source Of regretto himself that he had
driven go good q man as General Crary
out Of public life"
Corwin's speech was inimitable in
every sentence.
With graciouspess Of manner that
disarmed criticism aud left no room for
envy or bitterness, he said of the, Con-
gresham from Michigan (who hau Just
taken his seats,
1--WE ali in fancy now see the gentle
man from Michigan in that most dam
gerous and glorious event in the life Of
a militia General on the peace estab-
lishment-a parade day; the day for
which all the other days of his life seem
to have been made. We can see the
troops in motion, umbrellas, hoes, and
axe handles, and other like deadly inn
plements Of war, overshadowing all the
field, when lol the leader OF this host
approaches, I,
"Far Oft his coming shines:
his plume white, after the fashion OF
the great Bourbon, is Of ample length,
and made its doleful history In the be-
reayed neck and bosoms Of forty neigh
boring hen roosts
"Like the great Suwarrow, he seems
somewhat careless in forms and points
of dress; hence his epaulettes may be
on his shoulder, back, or side, but still
cleaning, gloriously cleaning in; the
SUM Mounted he is, too, let it not be
forgotten.
''Eeed describe to the colonels and
generals Of this honorable House the
steed which heroes bestride on such oc-.
casions? No. see the memory OF 9TH
er days is with you. You see before
YOU the gentleman from Michigan
mounted on his crop eared, bushYtailed
mare, the singular obiiqiity SofssRhose
hinder limbs Is described by that most
expressive phrase, sickle hams her
height Just fourteen hands. All told,2
yes, sir! Then you see his "steed that
laughs at the shaking of the speari'
that is, his war horse whose neck Is
clothed with thunder.
ht.Afr. Speaker, we have glowing de-
scriptions in history OF Alexander the
Great and his war horse Bucephalus at
the head OF the inyincibte Macedonian
phalanx; but, sir, such are the improve
ments OF modern times that everyone
must see that our militia general With
his crop-eared mare With bushy tail and
sickle. hams would literally frighten
OFF the battlefield q hundred Aexan-
Gers. But, sir, to the history OF the pa
rade day.
"The general, thus mounted and
equipped, Is in the field and ready for
action. On tho eve of some desperate
enterprise, such as giving the order to-
shoulder arms it may be, there occurs q
crisis, one Of the accidents OF war which
no sagacity could foresee or prevent. A
cloud rises and passes over the sun
Here an occasion occurs for Q display OF
that greatest OF all traits in the .charac-
ter OF commander, that tact which
enables him to seize upon and turn to
good account events unlocked for as
they arise. Now for; the caution where
with the Roman Fabius foiled the skill
and courage Of Hannibal. !,
"a retreat Is ordered, and troops and
General in q twinkling arc found safely
bivouacked in neighboring grocery.
Buteven here the General still has room
for the exhibition OF heroic. deeds. Hot
from the field and chafCd with the up-
toward events OF the day, your General
unsheaths his trenchant blade; eighteen
inches in length, as you vol remember,
and with an energy and remorsclcss
fury he slices the watermelons that lie
in heaps around him, and shares them
with %his surviving friends. Other
sinews of war arc not wanting here.
Whiskcy, Mr.. Speaker, that great lev.
eler OF modern times, is here also, and
the shells Of the watermelons are filed
to the brinl. Here again, MIR. Speaker,
is shown how the extremes ot.barbarisln
and civilization meet. As the Scandt-
navian heroes Of old, after the tatigues
OF battle, drank wine from the skulls OF
their slaughtered enemies in 0din's
Halls, SO now our militia General and
his forces, from the skulls OF melons
thus vanquished in copioIs draughts Of
whiskeyl assuage the heroic fire Of their
souls after the bloody scenes of apa-
RADIO day.
'.But. Mas for this short-lived race OF
ours, aii.thiugs will have an end, and so
even Is itwitR the glorious achievement
OF our militia General. Time is on the
wing and viii not stay his flight; the