Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-10-30
FINE SPEAKERS.
Bright Minds Behind Silver
tongues in the House.
Burke Cochran Stands at the Head
With John R. Fellows Next.
Ex-speakss Rssd and c. 4. Bsstslis d Maine
are o. The List.

WARRINGTON, Oct. 29.-(Special. y
have had an opportunity of testing the
merit of large number Of orators in the
| house of representatives. The house is full
| Of orators. IL has ten times as many ef-
| fective speakers as the senate, with only a
| little more than four times as many MEM
| bers. The explanation Of this is not diff
| cult to find The house is the body that
| stands closest to the people. A large pro
portion OF the members OF the house are
chosen every two years on their record for
| ability and usefulness or on account Of the
manner in which they please their people
at home with public speeches On the other
hand, senators are too often chosen for their
wealth. Many men reach the senate with
| out having ever made public speech. and
while public speeches are not Indispensable
TO useful craftsmanship, and too much
speaking may interfere with the lIsiness
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 mem
bers Of the house, suppose fully one-half
are able TO make pretty good speeches, with
or without preparation. \ dozen or a score
of them are entitled to rank as genuine
orators. II / were called upon to name the
10 best speechmakers In the house, the 10
orators of our house of commons, l would
make up a list something like the follow
ing:
Bourke Cochran of New York.
John r. Fellows of New York.
John c. Black of Illinois.
Thomas b. Reed of Maine.
W. J. Bryan of Nebraska.
W. c. p. Breckinridge of Kentucky.
Charles A. Boutelle Of Maine.
Jonathan p Dolliver of Iowa.
Julius Cesar 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 natural ora
tor, with native gifts of uncommon bril-
liancy, he has not been content with these
For years Cochran has been a most earnest
student Though for long time identified
with Tammany Hall in New York city and
exceedingly active in the politics of that
organization, he has always made good use
Of his time His evenings he has spent at
home in efforts to perfect himself for a
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 in 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 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 pretty proud
position for man to occupy who is not yet
40 years old, and who was born poor boy
In Ireland.
Cochran is intensely ambitious. His hope
is TO occupy seat in the Untitled State
senate and there to make a great name foi
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 Tanmany because the or
ganization would not make him its candi
date But Mr.. Croker had given his Wort
20 Mr. Murphy and could not withdraw 1t,
Men are curious to know what will be the
effect of this quarrel upon Mr.. Cochran
political future. If he does not patch NJ
his differences with Croker, it is assumed
public career may come to an untimely
end.
If this should be the result, it will he re-
gretted by all who know him, for such or
ators are not TO be spared even from a bod
as 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
\ tlnr ran
enough money during his practice of law
in New York to make him independent st
far as income Is concerned, and he had
settled do.n to public career with zesi
and accom- olishments for it which are rare
ly met vita.
fammany EloqueDce.
1t Is somewhat remarkable that three OF
our best orators should come from Tam
many Hall. Many of my readers may bt
preiudced against this organization and
its methods. AZ confess was till | lad
an opportunity to learn more of its men,
but it must be said in justice TO Tammany
that as rule 1t 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 O
great deal Of study and polish.
Cochran has one advantage of Fellows,
and that is in voice. He also has some
what better presence, being giant IN size
and manly ia bearing while Mr.. Fellows
is a little man. not much bigger than Biiiy
Malone, who is said to be no larger than a
pint of cider While Cockran's voice is 70
bust and virile, Fellows is soft aud pleas
ing Their methods are different. Cock
ran knows and practices the art of modu-
lation. Like Henry Ward Beecher aud In.
gersoll. he has 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 a stream which flows without
breaks or eddies, without whiripools oil
rocks in its pathway. But be is magnifi
cent. He uevrv fails to touch the spot
Every time he rises in the house, even ii Il
is but to say a few simple words, he In
stantiy commands the attention OF every
person in the hail. He can make the sim
plest and most commonplace OF topics
alisten with the reflected light of his di-
vine Gift Of eloqneace. The marvel is how
be- manages always to employ such perfect
| selection Of words how he eontrives always
| to turn iil% sentences WIN SUCH NftpfostIu'
| able neatness and grace. But he does it.
| and it is not possible for human soul to sit
within sound Of his voice and escape his
! subtle fascination.
Amos Cnmmings' Gem Speech.
Perhaps this IA the first time Amos Cum
nings was ever accused Of being great
| orator As rule. he does not rise to this
| hei.ht, but have heard Amos make a
! number Of the bsst and most efTectiveshort
! speeches that were ever delivered in the
| house Of representatives. II he makes
| long g'speech, 4 carefully prepared speech. IT
| is likely to he something rather prosAic-
| Where he il at his best, where every man
| il at his best. If be only knew it, is in rush
| ing In, without generalization, without
| preparation, and dashing off few burning
| sentences that coTne right from the heart,
and which are sure TO reach the spot for
| which they were intended.
| remember an occasion in which the
| house bad speut aa hour or Two discussing
| something or other. forget what but the
| Yrlsrs men talked the more confused every
1 one appeared tn be. They only managed
| to ill the air with fog. They had editorial