Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-18

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14-Except for
the night sessions, which are attracting
little or no attention, the general debate
on the tariff bill ended in the House Of
Representatives Yesterday. Ii ended,
too, with signaltriumph for the Demo.
Gratis in the enthusiastic applause with
which the speech of Representative w.
Bourke Cochran was received. Not in
years has such q scene been witnessed in
the House The speech formed a climax
in the debate, and members on the floor
and the crowds in the gallery, realizing
this, gave free vent to their emotions,
needless of the chairman's attempt to
restore order.
No speech yet delivered during the
debate has created so profound an i'm
preston. From the moment the speaker |
began until he ceased the listeners sat |
spellbound by his wonderful oratory. |
Even when he had concluded they re- |
manned quiet for several moments, like
persons awakening from a dream. AS |
one after another recovered possession |
of his faculties they began to applaud
slowly at first, but gradually gaining in
force until the feeling, which the orator
had stirred to their utmost depths, found
expression not in ordinary cheers, but
in shrieks of delight.
hopping his brow with his handlker-
chief, but otherwise showing no out
ward effect of the physical or mental
strain lie had undergone, Mr.. Cochran
stood by his desk, apparently uncon-
ecious of the effect he had produced.
He was permitted to remain alone only
for few seconds, however, for his
Democratic associates were climbing
over each other to grasp his hand. The
next moment he was surrounded and
was borne first one way, then another,
by his enthusiastic friends. All the
time the enthusiasm in the galleries was
becoming more intense. Every man
and woman in the House was standing
and all were straining TO catch glimpse
OF the orator, now the centre Of dense
crowd on the floor. When there was
lull in the storm Of congratulations with
which he was being greeted by his fell
low-members, SO that he could be seen
by those in the gallery, the cheering
broke out with increasing enthusiasm.
Men on the floor, forgetting propriety
and dignity, Joined in the shouting.
The excitement became intense, and
but for Mr.. Cockran's Disappearance
into one of the cloak rooms it is difficult
to tell to what extent it might have been
carried. When the crowds tired of
cheering the enthusiasm broke out
afresh in cries of "Vote r. "Votep In
vain did the chairman, Mr.. Richardson
of Tennessee, pound his desk. No one
paid the slightest attention. Indeed,
Mr. Richardson himself appeared to be
in sympathy with the people who were
disturbing the propriety of the proceed
ings, and though he reminded those in
the gallery that disorder was permitted
only on the floor, he laughed at his own
joke and was not in the least put out
because no one for the moment recog-
nized his authority. Mr.. Cockran's dis
appearance was the signal of departure
for members and spectators alike. Good
speeches followed, but the crowds dis.
appeared quickly. The members on
both sides of the House fled from the
chamber. The power of appreciation
had been taxed to its utmost limit, and
people rushed from the Capitol as
though fearful of having their impress
sions destroyed.
MAsTERLY ARGUMENT.
To those who read the speech in typ,
this scene will probably be inexplicable
IL may even be possible to find faul
with the construction of the speech o.
some of the sentiments expressed, bu
there was no criticism possible for thcs
who heard it.
The speaker and the speech cannot
however, be separated. The man be
came d part of the eloquence. Hi
presence, his easy and graceful gestures
his deep and resonant voice, his bold
ness in attack and his confidence in tn
Truth of the principles he was calle
upon to defend, all added to the effeC
of his utterances and produced an il
resistible charm upon those who listened
HIS argument was mastery and NOR
convincing because he challenged th
opposition to deny his assertions. Ii
stead of avoiding Interruptions b
courted them. He was so thorough
master of his subject that he appeale
to Republicans to point out any defect
they might perceive in his argument, i
order that he might strengthen it frol
his abundant sources of knowledge. i
did this with such an evident desire
treat his opponents views with respec
full fairness that the discussion lost f,
the time all semblance of partisan cha
acter.
Mr.. Cochran treated the subject as {
economic question, which both sid
ticial to the whole people.
The fallacious reasonings of the pr
tectionists, however, he refuted wi
evident scorn for their weaknesses, al
presented the Democratic belief in
manner that could only convince /
hearers of the truth upon which it
based. With telling force he compar
the faiths of the two parties, and
leading his auditors to the conclusi
which, he said, must inevitably be
lance upon God Almighty rather tn
upon William Mckinley, he produced
contrast of the opposing theories OF tar
that could not fail to be effective.
Mr.. Cochran had few words
admonition for his Democratic C
leagues who oppose the bill viii
brought out all the latent patriot
they are capable OF. He held up as
example for them TO emulate
courage and devotion to principle
Chairman Wilson, of the ways a
means committee, and urged them b
nothing short of the loyalty Of th
consciences would satisfy the PEG
they are serving.
DEMOCRATS GAIN BY THE DEBATE
Another remarkably strong spe,
was made at night by Representa-
Bryan of Nebraska, which serves
emphasize what has been apparent fr
the beginning of the debate-that
Democrats throughout have gainet
decided advantage over their polit
opponents. Ii the general debate
for the DurDOse of creating Gamma