The Progress., 1893-10-14

/ to useful statesmanship, and too much
speaking may interfere with the business
of legislation. as rule one likes to feel
that his senator or representative in con
gress is able to get up and acquit himself
handsomely If called upon.
Genuine Orators.
OF the three hundred and fifty odd men,
bers of the house, suppose fully one-half
are able to make pretty good speeches, with
or without preparation. A dozen or n score
of them are entitled to rank as genuine
orators. IL ] were called upon to name the
10 best speechmakers in the house the 10
orators of our house of commons | would
make up list something like the follow
ing:
Bourke Cochran of New York.
John X. Fellows of New York.
John G.. Black of Illinois.
Thomas B. Reed of Maine.
w. j. Bryan of Nebraska.
w. &. L. Breckinridge of Kentucky
Charles A. Boutelle of Maine.
Jonathan Il. Dolliver of Iowa.
Julius Caesar Burrows of Michigan.
Amos Cummings of New York
Bourke Cochran is without much doubt
the finest orator in the house today
Though what is known as n natural ora
tor, with native gifts of uncommon bril-
liancy, he has not been content with these
For years Cochran has been most earnest
student Though for long time identified
with Tammany Hall in New York city and
exceedingly active i'm the politics of that
organization, he has ways made good use
of his time. His evenings he has spent at
home in efforts TO perfect himself for
public career. Hundreds of books on his
tory. political economy and philosophy
have passed in review before his eager eyes.
Moreover, he used to take lessons in elOcu-
tion from one of the best teachers i'm New
York and by these means has polished and
perfected those gifts with which nature so
lavishly endowed him. The result is an
orator who stands without n peer In the
American congress. In my humble judg-
ment, there Is not another man, either in
the house or senate, who compares with
him in this respect. This is "A pretty proud
position for a man to occupy who Is not yet
10 years old, and who was born n poor boy
In Ireland
Cochran is intensely ambitious His hope
is to occupy seat in the United States
senate and there tn make n great name for
himself. He had hoped to be elected to
the senate last winter when Mr.. Murphy
was chosen, and quarreled with Grand Sa-
chem Croker of Tammany because the or
ganization would not make him its cand-
date. But Mr.. Croker had given his word
to Mr. Murphy and could not withdraw IT,
Men are curious to know what will be the
effect of this quarrel upon Mr. Cockran's
political future. If he does not patch up
his differences with Croker, it is assumed
he will not be returned to congress, and his
public career may come to an uptimely
end.
IL this should be the result, It will he re-
GREETED by all who know him, for such or.
ators are not to be spared even from n body
rs rich in eloquence as our house of repre-
sentatives. Mr.. Cochran and his accom-
plished wife are social leaders at the capi-
tai, too, where they have handsome house
and entertain literally. Cochran made
enough money during his practice Of law
in New York to make him independent so
far IA income is concerned, and he had
settled down to public career with zest
and accomplishments for it which are rare
ly met with.
Tammany Eloquence.
II is somewhat remarkable that three of
our best orators should come from Tam
many Hall. Many Of my readers may be
prejudiced against this organization and
its methods, a. / confess / was till had
an opportunity to learn more of it's men,
but it must be said in justice to Tammany
that as rule it sends pretty strong and
able men to the house. In the opinion Of
many people. John X. Fellows is the finest
orator in the house. He, too, is a natural
orator and to his natural gifts has added
great deal of study and polish.
Cochran has one advantage of Fellows,
and that Is In voice. He also has a some
what better presence, being a giant in size
and manly in bearing, while Mr.. Fellows
is n little man, not much bigger than Billy
Malone, who is said to be no larger than
pint of cider. While Cockran's voice is ro-
bust and virile. Fellows is soft and pleas
ing Their methods are different. Cock
ran knows and practices the art Of modu-
lation. Like Henry Ward Beecher and In
gersoll, he has a register of great compass.
He uses the well known but always effect
i've arts of following a torrent of words
with deliberate periods and exclamations.
Fellows, ON the other hand runs straight
along He is stream which flows without
breaks or eddies. without whirlpools or
rocks ia its pathway. But he is magnif-
cent. He never fails to touch the spot
Every time he rises in the house, even if it