Telegram-herald., 1891-03-21
STATESMEN ORATORS.
mgnBERS or TIE LATE FiFTY-TRsT
CONGRESS uF1o SPOKE VEL
nolmsa, the freas4ry's watch Dog
Bossslls and his ben- Like Voice.
askis.-y aud His DigGity- BrseAia-
ridge. the silver Haired
$50 Corresupn.iepoel

Especial CorrespondeDcel
WASHINGTON, March l2.-The person
in search u az example If the true Del
sartian grace in or2tory would scarcely
look for IL II the house Of Representatives.
Even IL be would De content with a
proper Observance Of the ordinary rules
Of speech making laid down by those
who profess 10 teach the art. II Is prob
able that he would be sadly Disappointed
If he were 10 expect 70 see them prac-
tieed by the members Of the national
legislature. The average member Of
congress SAYS what he has 10 say as well
"a he can and then sits down, troubling
himself very little about the manner Of
his saying il 50 long as his words are
parliamentary. There is not one who
would dare 10 expose himself 10 the ridi-
cUle of his colleagues on the floor 10y
adopting anv set Of rules for his guild
ance as 10 the manner Of delivering a
speech, even if he had the time 10 pre-
pare himself in that way. for the mem
bers are very quick 10 see and make fun
of IaannerisIns in debate. Nevertheless
there We're orators OF no mean ability III
the house of representatives whose ses-
sion has just closed and every one Of
them has u characteristic mannerism by
which he is as easily recognized as by
his Voice or face.
There is Judge Holman, for instance.
Had it not been for tho failure of his
voice he would have been one of the most
powerful debaters, as be is one Of the
most interesting Of takers. Always well
up on the subjects coming before the
house, experienced in procedure. strong
in argument. II his voice WAS more effect
i've he would be powerful ally on the
side Of any measure. Unfortunately. il
is with difficulty that the house can catch
what ne has 20 say When he talks YOU
may be sure that he will have the fore
finger of his right hand pointed in the
direction of some member whose atten-
ton he particularly wishes To attract.
and his arm viii be going up and down
in n faithful imitation of 4 pump handle,
emphasizing every other word. He has
only one variation 10 this method. and
that is when. in his capacity of watch
dog Of the treasury" he feels called
upon to object TO some pending measure.
Then lie jumps up from his seat, sticks
out that forehnger of his ut consider
able elevation over his head, but directed
nj the speaker, and CALCULATES Il object"
That usually settles the matter, for Mr..
Holman is a logged fighter, and is not
easily persuaded 10 withdraw an objec-
ton once made.
Boutelle is an entirely different kind
of an orator from Mr. Holman. With a
clear, strong voice. resonant as bell, he
is heard without difficulty in all parts Of
the house, and in tumult his loud tones
can be distinguished above all the shout-
ing and confusion. Instead of pointing
out one finger, Boutelle finds it necessary-
TO use his whole fist for emphasis. and
with clinched hand he bangs the air or
his desk, as the case may be, as though
he was repelling boarders on his old
ship rs in days of yore. lie has the eye
and the disposition of the hawk, and no
swoops down on unwary members with
out mercy. He is very fond of inter
rlpting Democratic speakers to make
some sarcastic allusion to the past, and
he rubs the pepper of reconstruction into
the old wounds of the Confederate veter-
ans at every opportunity.
Another distinct type of oratory is that
which characterizes Mckinley. Suare,
calm and digniied, he never gets ex-
cited. He is impressive in debate and
the words roll from his lips in well
rounded sentences. His voice is clear
and well nodulated He has habit
when making n particularly pointed re-
mark of stretching out his forefingers
ard thumbs TO the widest extent. allow
ing the other three fingers Of both hands
to lie passive on the palms.
Probably the member who uses gest-
ures the least is silver haired Breckin-
ridge, OF Kentucky. Standing in the
middle of an aisle. he rests his hands on
two desks, and his voice. at first husky,
gradually becomes as clear as a flutes
notes. He il model of courtesy. and
many Of his speeches are masterpieces of
eloquence. Ia debate his face has a
roseate flush, and his pale blue eyes flash
with intelligence. Greenhalge, cf Massa-
chusetts, is another fine orator whose
gestures are few but well chosen. re
speaks calmly and without passion. but
an antagonist should not feel reassured
by his engaging air, for Greenhalge's
arguments are strung with sarcasm Bit
ter and biting. and bis thrusts are keen
and .lashing. He made his reputation
By a speech on a contested election case.
and since then there arc few who have
had the temerity to interrupt him in de-
bate
The greatest orator Of them all in tho
opinion Of many ia Mr.. Butterworth. Of
Ohio. His speeches are delivered with
all the FIRE AID vim Of a man greatly in
earnest, and that, according 10 Dan
Doagherty. is the test Of all others Of an
orator Buttrworth Is wit. AMI his
speeches always sparkle with humorous
sasies at the expense II his fellow mem
bers-or, rather. at the expense 81 their
argument. for he Is never personal
and with gooi stories to illustrate his
points. His gestures are graceful and
more varied than tho~e cf any other
speaker on the eoor Now he will
take on confidential air AMI es-
tend his forsfpgs ia oroci. ss
though he were busionholinE tho whole