The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-03

ing around WITHIN rev rect OF his
desk. He is very earnest talker, how
ever, and his great reputation as
statesman commands attention to his
speeches, even though they are not de-
liyered in an attractive manner.
Benton McMillin, of Tennessee, is
the most earnest and impassioned ora
tor on the democratic side of the house.
So energetic and earnest is he in dcliv-
ering political speech upon the floor
of the house, that the veins upon his
neck swell out, his face becomes red
and the bald place on top of his dome
of thought becomes fairly crimson as he
shouts his defiant opinions TO the other
side of the house, with arm appraised
and fist clenched. To hear McMillin
deliver speech one would suppose that
before the next sentence is delivered he
would pull revolver. AS q matter of
fact he is one Of the most warm-heart-
ed, lovable men in the house OF repre-
seatatives, but an intensely earnest
partisan. His oratory is very much
like that OF Col. Henderson, of Iowa.
Thomas Bracket Reed, of Maine, is
one of the very few men in the history
of the world who are strong enough,
brainy enough and learned enough to
be witty in their public speeches. Cen
orally witty man is not credited with
depth of thought; but the profundity
and depth OF scholarship of Mr.. Reed
arc SO thoroughly acknowledged that
he can afford to be witty. His speeches
are therefore enlivcned by brilliant sal
lies, nearly all of them replete with
satire of the keenest sort. His voice is
of rasping, penetrating quality
which can be heard throughout the
great hall Of representatives without
an effort on the part of the listener.
He is a tall and very heavy man, with
face as smooth, cheerful, pleasing and
innocent looking as that of a schoolboy.
In delivering speech he usually leans
upon a desk with his right hand great
portion of the time. But when in the
most earnest parts of his grafton, both
his hands and arms are used in appro-
pirate gestur ing to give emphasis to his
strong declarations.
Isador Rayrer, of Maryland, is
young man Of superior talent. He
rests both hands upon the desks on
either side of him while speaking. As
he grows more in earnest, the young
man shakes his head in manner pain
full to the beholder; for SO violently
does his head wiggle and weggle that it
seems as though it might fly off at a
tangent and ;eave his body standing
there acephalous.
John C. Tarsney, of Kansas City, is
the successor of Maj. William Warner,
late commander in chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic. Maj. Warner
was powerful republican orator in the
Fiftieth congress, and his successor in
the Fifty-frst and Fifty-second con-
crosses, Mr.. Tarsney, is well-nigh the
peer of any man on the democratic side
of the house. Tarsney was a brave
union soldier WHO was twice wounded
in battle and for some time prisoner
in Andersonville. He has never re-
ceived pension, nor asked for one.
He is violently opposed to granting a
pension to any soldier who can support
himself without one. Whatever John
Tarsney says on that subject is law and
gospel to his colleagues.
We will see and hear more of these
statesmen, and many others, as the days
and weeks go by; and the reader shall
see them as they are seen at close range.
SMITH D. FRY.