The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-12
SOME NOTABLE SPEECHES
PRESIDENT HARRIsON'5 FIRST EFF
FORT IN TIE SENATE.


T. C. Cratoford in Youths Companion.
a first speech in congress very seldom
counts for much 10 making a man known.
Before one reaches a seat in congress he has
generally made his reputation as a public
speaker. He has probably taken part in
many campaigns, and demonstrated his
ability.
The majority of senators and members
come from the legal profession. Therefore,
in addition to their political experiences,
they commonly have the knowledge and
dexterity acquired In presenting arguments
in the courts.
1t il not conside red good form" for a
senator or a member to speak much during
his first year in Congress. Regulations
there are built more solidly. Members
begin first with the obscure labor in the
committee rooms. Then, through knOwl-
edge Of the rules gained there, they acquire
a skill with which they may make for
themselves position in the debates.
The confusion and lack of system which
now exists in congress is very much
against the cultivation Of oratOry
IL Is only the practical business" talks
which have any effect.
| A notable impression In a first speech was
made by MIR. Phelps, our present minister
70 Berlin. Mr.. Phelps attracted some at
| tention in the House when he first came
! there on account Of his youthful appearance
| and the neatuess and carefulness Of his
dress, which at that time wes rather Unusual
in congress. On account of this care some
Of the estern and southern members re-
| garded Mr.. Phelps as society man" rather
than a statesman.
| he took no part in the debates for a long
time giving no sign, therefore, that he was
likely TO become one of the leading debaters
in the House. Yet there was no one who
was more observant, aud no one who more
| fully appreciat ed what was going on.
One day when a bill relating to national
elections was up for consideration Mr..
| Blaine, who was then speaker, turned and
| said in grave Tones Tho gentleman from
New Jersey has the floor" The members all
wheeled around at once, and looked at MIR.
| Phelps, who had addressed the speaker.
| Their curiosity was aroused by the fact that
up to that time he had never uttered
word, even of Interrogation, in the debates.
The New jersey member adjusted his
| eyeglasses with the most serene compOsure,
| and with a pause which intensified the
attention concentrated upon him, began to
| speak.
He showed no Sign Of embarrassment.
| His language was well chosen and deliber-
ate, and his knowledge Of current affairs
| was at once shown to be vastly superior to
that Of the average member. Within ten
minutes he had gained the admiration of the
| House.
Then he passed on to deal with the dam
gerous weapon of satire, and criticised so
| sharply and wittily the position of his oppo-
| nents that the thrills Of surprise at his
audacity gave way to delighted amuse-
| ment, and In half an hours time the older
members learned that keen and intelligent
mind may be concealed under a mask of
| Indifference, and that a man of energy aud
| character may choose to dress in the hight
of the fashion.
Another most notable maiden speech, and
one that made a profound impression, was
delivered by Robert Elliott, colored mem
| Der from South Carolina. The civil rights
bill was pending-a measure to secure the
negroes the rights granted them by the
constitutional amendments.
Elliott was a coal-black negro, and
| possessed the intensity of temperament
| characteristic of his race. He had received
an excellent education In England-at a
London school and at Elton College, of
| which he was a graduate.
lie was the leader of the colored people in
his state, and had high aspirations for the
Independence of his race. Great curiosity
| had been felt concerning him.
| Whenever before this negro had spoken
| well in congress, his ability was credited to
some strain OF white blood in his veins; but
| here was negro Of pure blood who was
announced to speak upon the civil rights
| bill. His powers as au orator was absolutely
unknown; yet there had been an expectancy
of something unusual. which packed the
galleries, and caused every member to be in
his seat at the time designated for Elliotts
speech.
| never have Witnessed moro remarkable
| sight. Elliott was a man of medium hight.
He was very black. with long, oval
shaped head. His features were essentially
| those of a pure negro. His face was smooth
shaved, and his eyes deep set.
He had very peculiar voice-musical
and very clear and penetrating in its
| character. There were deep notes in it
which thrilled one, quite apart from the
meaning of his words. All the fire and the
fury of his ambition, all the intensity Of his
individuality, burst forth in his speech.
Elliott received quite as much attention
from the democrats as from the republ-
cans Never in my recollection had any
orator held an audience 80 rapt and breath-
less. For the two hours during which he
spoke without break no one stirred in his
seat, and no one ventured TO interrupt the
flow of his fiery eloquence. When he closed
a throng Of members left their seats and
crowded around this negro, and nearly half
an hour had passed before they could finish
their compliments and congratulations.
The maiden speech of Bruce, one of the
colored men who have represented Missis
sippl in the Senate, was also made in con-
nection with the civil rights bill. Bruce
labored, at first, under great excitement.
His face was bathed in persplration and his
form shook as he rose, with a carefully
prepared speech, to address the Senate
To rise from the position of a slave to
that of a well-to-do planter and senator
of the United States. involved chaupe
almost as great as any described in the
Arabian Nights" tales. He felt the re-
sponsibility of his new situation. AS a
pioneer of his race he knew that unusual
attention would be given TO everything he
said. His success, therefore, was more inn
portant to him than any mere personal one.
1t was, however, very marked. While
he did not have the eloduence Of Elliott. he
had clearness and directness OF state
ment and a common-sense way Of present.
ing the claims Of his race which were well
fitted for the character of the Senate de-
bates.
President Harrison was an object of IN
usual attention when he came TO the Senate.
lie was known as an eminent lawyer. and
as an officer distinguished for his courage
during the war. The brilliancY of his cam-
paign for the governorship in Indiana had
attracted unusual attention. Moreover
people were curious because of his descent
from line of great men. When he came
to his seat in the Senate, after taking the
oath, ne was earnestly scrutinized by the
galleries.
lie was then, as new, very pale and re-
served. He did not have the facility of
I vN,ua HI l.