The Penn's Grove record., 1893-09-01
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.
A BATTLE OF The ORAT0RICAL
GIANTS IN THE HOUSE.
ON THE GREAT SILVER 0UES-
TON.
IT WILL RANK WITH ANY THAT EVER TOOK
PLACE In CONGRESS.
THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE.
When the House was called to Or
der Mr.. Reed was not in his seat. His
absence was plainly a disappointment to
the people in the galleries, and when
Mr.. Clarke, of Alabama, was assigned
the floor, there was a movement among
the auditors which indicated impa-
thence and disappointment. This, how,
ever, did not continue long. Before
Mr.. Clarke had proceeded far Mr.. Reed
entered the hall, and, proceeding to his
seat, surveyed the well filled galleries
with evident satisfaction. When MIR.
Clarke concluded his remarks the
Sneaker announced 'the gentleman
from Maine" and, as that parsonage
arose, every eye in the vast assembly
was fixed upon him. Mr.. Reed seemed
to be at his best. Always confident of
his power, and strengthened and en-
boldened by the knowledge that he is
prepared for the work before him he
had additional inspiration recently
that from a great national occasion,
free from the petty influences of a mar
row partizanship, and the encourage
ment of one of the most distinguished
audiences that has even been gathered
in the House of Representatives. The
hum which swept over the hall from
the galleries when the ~ex-Speaker adj
dressed the Chair, passed away before the
close of his first sentence, and a quiet
prevailed which is attained in the House
only upon occasions of great interest,
and when the floor is occupied by one
who is acknowledged as an intellectual
as well as partisan leader. Mr.. Reed
made a strong speech for repeal, but
could not refrain from INDUCING in a
broadside at the Democrats towards the
close of his remarks. He spoke with
out notes, and held the floor for an
hour, which is an unusually long
period for Mr.. Reed to speak continu-
ously. The speech was carefully pre-
pared and committed, and delivered
with a greater degree of oratorical force
and gracefulness than is rarely dis
played by him. The p%eroration vas
very effective. Turning his back upon
the Democratic side he addressed his
party colleagues, reminding them that
they belonged to a party which had al
ways stood for sound principles of
finance; hat had always resisted efforts
to fasten a deprecated currency upon
the people. "What we were in our
days of victory" exclaimed Mr.. Reed,
with great earnestness, 1--WE are in u
days of defeat, champions of true and
solid finance. And when the day comes,
as it surely will come, for US to lead
this land back to the paths of prosper
ity and fame, which were trodden I'M
der Republican rule for so many years,
we shall take back with us our ancient
glory, undimmed by adversely, our an
Gent homer unsullied by defeat" Mr..
Reed was greeted with generous APP
plause when he concluded, (which the
Democratic side very generally joined.
The time intervening between the
close o Reed's speech and the beginning
of Cockran's was occupied by Mr.. VIII
liams, of Illinois, and Mr.. Allen, of
Mississippi, the humorist of the House.
Both of these gentlemen advocate free
coinage. Mr.. Aliens speech was char
aeteristic, but between his flashes of
humor he managed to give his political
associates who have proclaimed for re-
peal, and who have heretofore been adj
vocates of free coinage, some pretty
hard hits.
Bourke Cochran occupied his seat on
the Democratic side during the delivery
of Mr. Aliens remarks, and seemed to
enjoy the humor of the Mississippian.
The House was in a fit of hilarity over
Il humorous saying of Allen when Cock
ran rose to speak. The Speaker had
no trouble in securing perfect order.
After an allusion to the levity of the
proceeding speaker Mr. Cochran proceed
eddirectly with his speech, and for nine
tyminutes he heldthe audiencein aspell
with the strength of his logic, the elo-
quence of his language, the e~arnestness
of his manner, and the grace of his
movements. The speech was largely
extemporaneous. Mr.. Cochran never
prepares a speech, although his best
efforts show that he prepares to speak.
Upon his desk were arranged a number
of books from which he quoted and
which were used to sustain an argument
or illustrate q fact. / have heard all
the great orators and speeches made in
Congress during the last 20 years, and
do not recall any equal to that of
Bourke Cochran for strength of ar
gument, clearness of statement, ele-
gance of diction, and force and elo-
quence in delivery. Throughout it was
a clean-cut argument for sound money,
based upon fundamental principles and