The Progress., 1893-10-14

is but to say n few simple words, he in
stantly commands the attention Of every
person in the hall He can make the sim
pest and most commonplace Of topics
gisten with the reflected light of his di-
vine git Of cloquence. The marvel is how
he manages always to employ such perfect
selection of words, how he contrives always
to turn his sentences with such irreproach-
able ncatuess 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 Cummings Gem speech.
Perhaps this is the first time Amos Cum
mings was ever ascuscd of being great
orator. As rule, he does not rise to this
height. but | have heard Amos make u
number of thc best and most effective short
speeches that were ever delivered in the
house of representatives II he makes u
long speech "A carefully prepared speech, it
is likely to he something rather proSaic
Where he is at his best, where every man
is Mt his best, if lac only knew it, is in rush
ing in, without premclitatiou, without
preparation, and dashing off n few burning
sentences that come right from the heart
ard which are sure 20 reach the spot for
which they were intended.
| remember an occasion in which the
house had spent an hour or two discussing
something or other, ! forget what, but the
more men talked the more confused every
one appeared to be. They only managed
to fill the air with fog. They had editorial
ized. and from my perch in the press gal
lery saw that Amos was anxious To get
into the arena with a paragraph. Present
" he found his chance and sailed in. He
spoke about two minutes But every word
was gem. Every sentence had lightning
i'm il. In these two minutes he cleared
away the mist and fog He went right To
the heart of the whole business. and when
he had finished there was nothing more To
be said. The house voted, and voted the
way Amos wanted it to vote. His para
graph had beaten all the editorials Ii had
been an italicized paragraph, and it won
the day. This two minute speech was an
Grafton, and better OratiOns are not often
heard in our halls of congress.
Tom Reeds Idea.
Some people may say | am wrong in put
ting Tom Reed in my list of great orators.
In truth, IL Is difficult to tell whether Reed
is an orator or debater. In my opinion.
he is both. That he is the greatest debater
alive there can be no doubt. He has not
his equal in the house or the senate nor in
the British house of commons or the French
chamber of deputies. lie is always de
batter, but in the process of debating he
often strikes note that entities him to
rank also as an orator. OF late, however.
Reed il falling into an unfortunate habit
Of giving attention to but "A single idea
Parliamentary law and the rules of the
house may be fine topics with which to i'm
press his ability and his learning upon
those who hear him, but he cannot make u
great national reputation in that way. The
people want something besides quibbling
on technicalties or "A lawyers sparring for
courtroom advantages. 1t is high time for
Mr. Reed to drop his one idea role and use
his magnificent talents in battling for some
thing higher and nearer the hearts of the
people.
II Reed has any rivals as a debater in the
present house. they are Cochran and Bur.
rows. The former needs few more years
Of experience, and then he will be at leas:
the equal of any man save Reed Burrows
is great debater, and when he is stirred to
action. which unfortunately is but infre.
= ~
tor of himself He aud Reed are rivals for
leadership on the Republican side, and IL
the Republicans ever gain control of the
house again you will see pretty fight be
tween them over the speakership. A great
er debater and much greater orator than
either Of them was LOOT to the Republican
side when Ben ButteA AScrth retired to pri.
vate life He is n remarkable man. and
it is pity Ohio doesn't send him to con
gress again.
A silver Tongue.
Another remarkable orator is w. G. i.
Brec ckinridge, or willy" Breckenridge. as
his friends call him to distinguish him
from his cousin, Clifton Breckenridge, rom
Arkansas lie is justly called the silver
haired and silver tongued orator In soft
and pleasing voice. with graceful gestures
and his white head noddng like the plum
age of lily, he produces n flow and
rhythm such rs no other man in the Amer
lean congress can approach. His speeches
are poetry. He is Kentucky song bird.
| remember one speech of his in which he
pictured the harmony that should exist
always between the two sections of the
north and the southland in
which he spoke Of the horrors of war as
things that he hoped would never again
be seen in this country Many of his listen I
ers were in tears.
Wholly different is Boutelle of Maine. .
He is sharpshooter. Sometimes he moro
resembles gatling gun. One of the most .
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