The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-11-09

the stump and know how to hold their own
in the face of all Corners 1t does not al
ways follow, however, that a statesman
who is good in debate will achieve fame by
uttering phrase that becomes popular.
To go back to the beginning of con-
gressional history is to discover many
phrases uttered in congress which are still
current 1t was as far back as 1920, for
instance, that Felix Walker, member of
the North Carolina district which included
Buncombe county, apologized for the
emptiness of his remarks by stating that he
had to make a speech lust for Bun
combe This is a saying which has come
down through the years as byword.
Liberty and union one and inseparable,
now and forever, was uttered by Webster
in his famous reply to Hayne. Lincoln 5
with malice toward none and charity to-
ward all was first heard in the halls Of
congress when his second inaugural address
was read to the assembled representatives.
In later years Senator ingalls, contributed
number of epigrammatic sentences, the
best known of which perhaps was uttered
in his wordy duel with Senator Brown Of
Georgia The latter had habit of rubb
ING his hands together as he talked and
ingalls,. with bitter emphasis, described
him as washing his hands with invisible
soap in imperceptible water : Another
remark by Ingalls, was much quoted at the
time. He was discussing the oleomar-
garine bill and said regarding certain dairy
products that he stood in awe at their
strength and reverence for their antiquity
In Proctor Knott widely copied Duluth
speech occurs that phrase, the zenith city
of the unsaited seas, title which Duluth
has always proudly kept
Blaine and Conkling, with all their
greatness. left no single phrase as a legacy
of their participation in congressional de
bates. Burn these letters was often
quoted after the Mulligan affair but this
sentence was not first uttered in congress.
The famous debate between the two men.
which estranged their whole lives occurred
in April 1866. over very trivial mat
ter-the continuance of the bureau ul the
provost marshal general. 1t gave Blaine,
however. a chance to satirize fonklmg III
single sentence An article written by
Theodore Tilton had appeared III which
Conkling had been iikened /" Winter
Davis. The resemblance is great, cX
claimed Blaine. with prln@ent satire. lit
i striking Hyperion TO a >atNr Their
sizes to Hercules. mud to marble. ii dung
hill to ii diamond .inged cat TO a Bengal
tiger whining puppy to roaring hon.
Another debate III which tonklng.
then in the senate was Il conspicuous
figure rc.ultcd in Il sentence which has
not been forgotten. Senator Lamar "i
Mississippi had resented lis IA falSeho"d
charge Of broken faith made by Nlr. Conk-
linz. and the latter retorted that Lamar
was Il coward blackguard and liar.
The Mississippi senator, who had never
been accused of cowar,lice looked over to
his opponent and sarcastically apologized
for hi, first remark 1t was one. he
said. such as 10 good man would deserve
and no brave man would wear. Then
he waited for Conklin@ to rep l,y. but the
New York senator was silent.
Many of the sharp things said in con
gress are left out "i' The Record Cobb :
Where wa> at p does not appear Ill
official print. and Senator Wolcntt squota-
ton of the Spanish proEerb to Senator
Carey. 1t is Il waste OF lather t" shave
an ass. has also been cut out y few
famous sentences came very near having
their origin in congress. Davy Crockett.
the author Of BE sure you re right. then
90 ahead. was IA member of the house of
representatives for two years. bat it does
not appear that this oft quoted advice was
originated with him there, Henry Clay
Il would rather be right than president
was said to some friends at the capitol.
but not in public debate Senator Sher-
man. too. is the author Of the intending
fences phrase, although he waited until
he was at his home in Mansfield before he
uttered it, While Hayes was still presi
dent and Mr.. Sherman was secretary OF
the treasury he entertained hopes of Il
presidential nomination. just before the
Republican national convention met he
went to Mansfield. and while there was
called upon for a speech. In the course
of his remarks Mr. Sherman denied having
travelled to Ohio to promote his preslden-
tal aspirations II have simply come.
he said to mend my fences. which are
greatly in need Of repair.