The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-06
SENATOR woLcoTT OF COLORADO,

ward Wolcott of Colorado. OF course there
are many senators who talk we'll, forcibly,
entertainingly md now and then with
touches of eloquence and magnetism, but q
few bright flashes do not make an orator.
Wolcott, on the other hand, never speaks for
the mere sake of speaking. When he stalks,
which is rarely, 1t is with finished effect,
gravely studied subject matter, and with a
display Of all the arts Of oratory, the more
charming in his case because always per
fectly natural.
Next to Wolcott I suppose Joe Black
burn Of Kentucky is entitled to rank as an
orator. Blackburn much resembles VOL
colt in the easy and rapid flow of his Ian
guage. Like Wolcott, too, he uses a very
simple vocabulary. But Blackburn is
rarely heard. Perhaps he is too lazy to
study n too sure of his position and Of
the affections of his devoted followers in
his native state to feel the necessity Of be-
stirring himself. Once in five or eight years,
or some such matter, Blackburn makes
what we call a set speech and then re-
lapses into almost continuous silence for
another long period, breaking forth now
and then in a few simple remarks which
serve only to remind us of those attractive
qualities which might, il more often exer-
cised, win a great fame.
1t is rather odd that the men whom ma
ture has endowed with greater or less gifts
of eloquence, and who, If they chose, could
speak to full floors and crowded galleries,
are rarely seen upon their feet, while men
who speak most drearily and tediously wish
to talk all the time. If the fates would
only be kind enough to reverse this order
of things, We u~nfOrtunates who are COM
PEELED to haunt the halls Of legislation
would ever be grateful to them. For in
stance, there is Mr.. Stewart, the patriarch
from Nevada. Mr.. Stewart is a delightful
conversational and a charming old man
who has had a wonderful career. He is a
pleasant man to sitopposite at dinner or over
a small bottle at Cham5erlain's. If he in
vites you to drive with him in the suburbs
of the capital behind his pair of feet west
ern ponies. Ec will bring you back to town
with your clothing splashed with mud, but
with your soul refreshed with his tales of
pioneer life and mining adventures in the
far west.
Now, il Mr.. Stewart would only talk once
in five years., and a man like Mr.. Gray Of
Delaware would speak with Mr.. Stewards
well known and apparently continuous fire.
quency. we should be in great luck. SEN
ator Gray, while not a natural orator, is a
great logician, and. besides, he is one Of
those men whose solidity of BODY and
strength of mind, clearncss OF perceptions
and forcible methods of expressing them
selves always command our attention and
respect. Senator Gray is one of the ablest
men in our house of lords, but he seems to
be difident, not law. lie is ALWAYS at
understanding, reading, inauiring, but
precious little does he contribute to that
daily journal of which he is supposed to be
one of the Joint editors-The Congressional
Record,
Senator White of Louisiana comes very
near being an orator. He is as forcib!e and
as logical n, Gray and has inst "A little
moro dash and fire in his delivery. but he.
too, is heard from very rarely. He has not
been long in the senate. however and we
NAV hone manv things of him in the future.
He made his reputation with one speech.
but should not he content to rest there
Senator Hawjev of Connecticut could he
m orator IL he tried.a little. He has orent
natural gifts in this direction mn casv now
of language. n good i'm and n
method of delivery which il very HEARTY
convincing and attractive Int liIe MANI
men whose fame and nosition ore wall 60.
cured Le makes few efforts to nlease his
hearers in the senate or attract the atten.
ton of his constituents at home.
Much like him is Senator Monderson nj
Nohr.sto proh,hlv n u,oro orn,,f,, 81