New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-28
IfEE PENCE

We do not for n moment doubt that Mr.. Lafe
Pence has his uses Nor that somewhere in the
economy o. Nature he has his place In the
judgment Of scientists and philosophers pretty
much everything has, though there are things
for which either a use or a place can only he
discovered after long search and with Ut
most difficulty. But, having made this conces-
sion 10 science and philosophy We unhesitat-
ingly avow our conviction that the Congress
Of the United States is not Mr. LATE Fences
appropriate place nor the function of lawmak-
ing his proper use. At the time OF his election
the State OF Colorado seems TO have been swept
with a delusion that everything could be done
by the mere exertion of wind power that wind
was wisdom and the wisest government was
that which was kept In operation by inhatus.
1t was generally believed TO be quite within
the range Of possibility 10 blow dollars worth
Of value into fifty cents worth Of silver, if only
a sufficient number OF leatherlunged statesmen
with ample vocabularies and the gift OF con-
tinuance could be got into Congress to blow
the wheels in motion. They elected a Gov
ernor, under that delusion, whose chief merit
was that he could OUTFLOW Boreas, and make
the winds Of all quarters ashamed of them
selves for softness, and who has so exercised
his gifts as TO make his mouth proverb. Had
wind been anything but wind, the Colorado
statesmen would have been a success, and
great many people who are now thin and lanky
would be getting fat on ii.
Mr.. Lafe Pence blew into Congress on the
strength Of that delusion. He seems to be q
person Of not only uncommon fuency but I'M
commonly low-down fuency. His chin is loose
hung and his tongue timber, and when they are
in how 10 tor nd
foe alike with language that, however forcbe
and appropriate in a Denver dive, is quite I'M
usual in legislative bodies; even in the present
United States Congress. We have seen Mr..
Pence described somewhere as the young
Colorado orator., and we infer that the tl-
multuous fux Of speech in which he INDUCED
in the House on Monday is what they call
oratory or eloquence in Colorado. 1t seems not
to have been so considered by his audience, for
sixty Of his hearers out Of total Of ninety
voted that he should stop it. One Of his bits OF
eloquence was, as originally reported, that the
gentleman from Nebraska is fuller Of beer than
of comprehension Of my IDEAS This report he
corrected yesterday. According to this correc-
ton what he said was, The gentleman from
Nebraska is fuller Of beard than OF comprehen-
sion of my IDEAS the point being that the
Nebraska member referred to wears a long full
beard The correction does not appear TO be
important, though Mr.. Pence apparently thinks
it is Colorado wit and humor are, we presume,
n trife rank in comparison with what passes
for such east Of the Missouri but We hardly
think ihat anywhere above the level OF the low
est Denver dive Mr.. Pence's sally, whether he
said beer" or beard would provoke pro-
longed merriment.
Judged by the ordinary standards which OBJ
tain even in society not oyerpolite, Mr.. LATE
Pence seems 10 be a blackguard-a sort of
promscuous, all-round blackguard, who, when
geared up and in rapid operation, is dangerous
to friend and foe alike. This Congress has fur
nished several competitors in his peculiar line
but up 10 date he stands very near the head OF
the list. AS a legislator, or even as Il poll
tician, it would take ut least two and Il half
Of him to rise to the dignity of a symbol Of
almost utter worthlessness.