Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-19

Senator McCounell Of Idaho Gets the r1oor
and Improves HE Chances.
IL generally takes Senator from one 20 two
years Of acclimstion before he il able IN arise
in his place and address the dist yuished
audience which ought to be in his immediate
vicinity, but which Is frequently absent To
this unvritten rule there are occasional ex-
ceptions and one Of them was apparent when
Senator Mcconnell of Idaho caught the
Vice Presidential eye and proceeded TO dis
cuss q bill which authorizes the government
to take possession Of the Union and Central
Pacific railroads and then lease them. With
Mr.. Mcconnell il was what is popularity termed
"a grounding case" His term expires with
the close Of this Congress and il he desired 20
make speech 1t had TO be done before March
menced:
MR. President. Standing here in this cham
Der, IN and around which 90 many memories
cluster; standing in the presence Of the Sem
veal or woe control the destinies of this nation
a stranger representative from an infant state;
standing not only in your presence but in the
presence OF 60 600 600 weary, patient and for
bearing people, 1 am deeply impressed with
the magnitude Of the task assume"
SLIGHT INTERRUPTION.
Just at this moment page, prompted doubt
less by some corporation attorney, placed a
glass OF water on the corner Of the desk nearest
Mr.. McConnell's right hand, to the temporary
discomnture OF the orator. No one had ex-
pected anything very fowery from Idaho and
there was general surprise-almost as great rs
Mr.. McConnells when he first saw the water
when the Senator went on: For more than half
o century the voices Of patriots. whose names
grateful country will ever hold in reverential
yC mat at..,. = Al a l.
notes Of warning, while link after link was be-
ing forged to the chain which finally held in
bondage 1000 600 of people; deprecating hands
and voices were raised in admonition to silence
the temerity of those God-like humanitarians
lest senatorial courtesy should be vio-
lated; lest the property rights of some in
dividual should be disturbed. Year after
year. session after session, Senators sat in this
chamber and allowed the Shiny cobra Of slavery
to extend its fatal coils over one state after an
other of this fair republic until fifteen Of
the sisterhood made the very name of free
dom and liberty in these United States a scoff
and shame IN every quarter Of the civilized
globe"
soNoRoUs SENTENCES.
After referring to the fact that human slavery
In this country was finally abolished, Mr..
Mcconnell continued: THE right to sell the
daughter from her parents the wife from her
husband no longer exists, but there is another
species of bondage under which the master
does not feed and clothe his servants but rather
deprives them of food and raiment. Mr..
President, i refer to the bondage of those col
lossal railroad corporations and trusts that are
fappirg the hfe-blood from every industry
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Under the
Old regime of slavery the strong arm of the ma
ton was invoked and the poor fleeing fugitive
was hunted down and returned TO the lash I;
under the new regime the vaults OF the ma
tonal treasury have been opened and the tri-
butte of honest trusting toll has been diverted
to forge the chains that are soon to make us a
nation OF slaves"
PICTURE OF WESTERN GRANDEUR.
Reference was made to the fact that the fran
chises for the Union and Central Pacific roads
were given to poor men. land" said Mr.. Nc
Connell, Judging by the bill which is now be-
fore Congress asking an extension of time in
which to pay their just debt to the government,
they are poor yet. MIR. President. il
you should conclude to take a trip to
San Francisco. as take the liberty OF advising
you to do, after Congress adjourns in March,
yol Will arrive at the Oakland Pier early in the
morn. and. stepping aboard the powerful ferry
boat, you will soon be out on the harbor where
the morning breeze will bear TO your
delighted nostrils the fragrance of orange
blossoms from the orchards in the
south. As you stand in rapture and in awe,
admlring the beautiful panorama which is pass
ing Delore you, your gaze Will De attracted TO
the oriental mnguifcence and splendor of the
effect of the rising sun upon the ahodes Of
humble but virtuous poverty on Mob Hill.
1T will repay You. Mr.. President, later in
the day. to take q closer look at those modest
residences. There you viii see the effect Of
careful investment Of government funds; YOU
will admire the beautiful granite brought from
the banks and braes of bonnie Scotland, the
lovely marble from the quarries Of Italy.
"You will return to your hotel, Mr.. Presi-
dent, impressed with the majesty of poverty
and perhaps, may wish that you too were
poor. Go visit the shores of the
Pacific. or the watering places Of the Atlantic;
inquire who are the owners of the more
than regal palaces you see there, and
you will be told they belong to
some one of the poor fellows who are
partners with the United States governm INT in
the Union and Central Pacific roads. while
every wave that whispers to its fellows, or.
laughing. filings its spray high up on rocky
cliffs, will seem TO murmur OF the forbearance
and gullibiity of the American people"