Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-25
OUR NATIONS Crisis
Address Of Hon. Sydney Dean q
Elks' Hall Last Night.
PICTURES OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE
The Great Leaders OF the NsthesAi re-
ttieAi Factions Previous TO ths War
OF the 6sbeiiion-Thsir 8snsei
and Moral Charaetertsttcs.

The Hon. Sydney Dean of Warren, Il.
l., delivered his lecture upon the sub
ject, IAN Hour in Congress at the
Crisis of our National History at
Elk's Hall last evening. 1t WAS an IN
terestlng address as well rs graphic
description OF. the two national Con-
gressional bodies At . time OF intense
political excitement. In substance his
speech was as follows: ''our republic
is little over a century and decade
old. The historians, who shall in the
future write the history OF the first
hundred years. will find among others
the following themes: The combat OF
political aud moral principles, the
preparation and appeal to arms, the
overthrow OF tho traitors and revolu-
tionsts and after the overthrow of the
rebellion, the return of peace. ot
these l shall take the combat of po!iti-
cal and moral principles for my theme.
The Heart of the Nation.
The capitol is the hear. Of our nation,
therefore 90 with me to the legislative
halls. The date is December ), 1853,
and IN the rear Of the vice-presdent,
and from Il partisan view we see 3 one
sided senate. Ii represents thirty
states with four vacancies. Conspicuous
among the fret Lewis Cass, of Michi-
gan, perfectly at home in the senate, a
man respected by the body but an IN
tense partisan. He is an honest man,
asserting his love of country above that
of party. At his left sits fuil-chested
John Mason, insulting in the lowering
Of his brow and the speech of his lips.
STEPPED in treason he is true example
of a rebel. That old man whose face is
Drowned by the sun lie Andrew p. Butler
of South Carolina. In the excitement
of the debate he becomes wild and
creates din by his suffering.
Arch Traitor Toombs.
Robt. Toombs, of Georgia, has .
pleasant face. but when aroused is like
a lion. He is aristocratic and demo-
cratic IN his views and does the heroics
of his SIDE to perfection.
That little man sitting near the GEN.
ter of the senate is judah p. Benjamin,
of Virginia. He is the silver t0ngued
orator of the Senate, and oil is not as
smooth as his tones. He left the coun-
try traitor, established himself IN
London and there carried on q law
practice with wonderful success.
John SlIdell and Clay are also there,
but he who commands the attention OF
all is the "Li.tle Glan" Stephen A. Doug
lass, of Illinois, who has more real
brain power than any one in the Sem
ate. Should he live 1000 years he
would not make statesman, but in an
instant he Is true politician. He is
gifted with Websterian eye, and it is
tremendous brain that rests on that
small frame, and gives him the title,
"Little Gia mt"
The Conservative Leaders.
The conservative list on the slavery
question embraces the following: John
j. Brltton of Kentucky who is patriotic,
a gentleman and true friend; John NJ.
Clayton of Delaware. and Sam Houston
of Texas surrounded by WRITINGS.
Although apparently inattentive he
hears everything about him, while in
debate he whites till the close. He is
careful but fearless. Charles Sumner
is both statesman and scholar, cut
from n puritan quarry and is chiseled
and polished by education. He Is pos.
sessed of q moral bravery equalled by
few in the body. VIM. Seward and
Benjamin Wade are also stalwart lead
ers, while John p. Hale of New Hamp.
shire is the most jolly of any of the
body. Henry Wilson and Trumbull of
Ill. command the respect of all"
Taking this historic assembly Mr..
Dean after giving the characteristics
of tho members spoke for some
time upon the slavery question,
representing the conflicting principle
of factions existing 1t the time. This
part of his discourse was purely of s
historical and political nature. Speak.
ing of the Kansas and Nebraska bill. he
quoted from speech which he had
made as follows: "You, my neiGhbors
may interpret as you please, but will
sleep behind the CRATES before shall
obey the law" In conclusion he took
up the House of Representatives in the
same manner as the Senate, describing
the following members: John w. For
ney. Alexander Stevens, Etherldge
Rich, William Richardson, James l.,
Orr and John A. CrIpman.