The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-05

space in front of the speakers plat
form. A fight was imminent, and the
entire assembly was in confusion.
Suddenly, amid the din and uproar,
q clear. musical, vibrant voice rang
out, Mr.. Chairman!" and Major Nc
Kinley, with beaming eyes and face
lighted up with glow of q generous pur-
pose, was seen making his way into
the central arena from the Republican
side.
"Mr. Chairman" said he, Il believe
I am to be recognized next after the
gentleman from Pennsylvania. l yield
him fifteen minutes of my time"
A burst of delighted applause greeted
this magnanimous offer. Meanwhile
Randall, once the active and all-power-
full commoner, already sick and now
upset by the nervous strain, remained
standing in distress in the midst of
the gathering storm, begging poor per-
mission to go on. No he paused, and,
bowling, said with simple dignity, 81
appreciate the gentleman's kindness
simultaneously Breckinridge, on the
Democratic side, with chivalric inten-
tion, essayed to make a statement ana
submit an offer of mutual adjustment.
But the house was.angry and wouldn't
hear him. His design was misunder-
stood; it was supposed he wanted to
justify or Dalliate the interference of
Mills, who had now been led to the
rear by his friends. Cries of Regular
order!" went uD from ell sides. and
little Sunset" Cox, who had enjoyed
a special indulgence of time on the day
before, ran in nimbiy, shouting:
Il think it is only decorOus and kind
that the time of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania be extended"
At length Breckenridge, despite many
exclamations of imnatience from the
house, contrived to be heard, and poured
oil upon the troubled waters by explain
ing the special arrangement governing
the allotment of time and proposing
that Randall yield back the extension
granted him by Mckinley and freely
take instead such time as he needed,
on the understanding that it should be
deducted equally among time allotted
to Mckinley and himself.
Thereupon the house and galleries
quieted down, and the unconQuerable
PENNSYLVANIA leader was suffered to
| conclude without further interruption.
Breckinridge's handsome proposal had
averted an ugly quarrel that might have
| led to the most serious results, and 1t
had been made to his own disadvantage
and detriment. since by giving away
some of his time the delivery of his own
speech was delayed until the end of
tl,A ,rp1 ii apia
restless and wearied and gave him less
attention than he would otherwise nave
received. Still the popular honors were
accorded to Mckinley. His manner was
so charming and gracious, and the Of
fer itself was so gallant and natural
so appreciative of the properties and
finer amenities, and so pregnant with
the spirit of good will and manly fair
ness-that all the spectators, Republi-
cans and Democrats alike, felt their
hearts quicken involuntarily with q
warm thrill of personal admiration for
him.
Then Mckinley took the floor in his
own right, to sum up the debate for the
Republican side; and the house and the
galleries settled down to listen. 1t
minutes before, in the Mills-Randall in
cident, had somehow enabled him as
runner to start out on the right foot, as
it were, and had empowered him as an
orator to rise to a height of eloGuence
and reach a goal that he would not 9TH
erwise have attained.
His conduct had certainly captivated
the house and galleries, had brought
them into close and sympathetic rapport
with him, and had served to invest his
utterances with added interest and en-
hance the whole general effect. AT all
events it endeared him to old-line DEM
ocrats as nothing else could have done,
and he has never made, before or since.
a more superb address, at least In quail
ity of delivery; and in the opinion of
experienced and competent judges no
speech upon q dry economic subject so
interesting and enjoyable in every way,
has been heard in congress with like
rapt attention since the days OF Henry
Clay, commanding as it did the unstint-
ed commendation of both friends and
foes.
1t was by far the liveliest and most
yiyacious of all the serious speeches of
that long debate, and though no better
in some respects than number OF the
tariff speeches he has delivered since,
1t nevertheless had about it all the
glowing freshness of a new mind and
the Jealous ardor of q new champion
1t was particularly characterized by
an unlimited and spontaneous good
nature, q keen wit, an absolute grasp
mastery of all it's subordinate details.
His bearing, carriage and delivery
were inimitable; dignitied, but easy;
familiar, but elevated; thoroughly ear
nest, and carrying proof from personal
conviction, and withal so amiable as
to win all his auditors. His style, too,
was clearness and straightforwardness
exemplified, and so direct and simple
that no effort was required to follow
him through the changing phases of
his theme. He displayed to perfection
that happy faculty for which he has
since become famous, of clothing with
magnetic charm of life the cold practi-
cal facts of economic philosophy and
experience. His voice was sweet, reso-
nant, and musical as a bell. perfectly
duulDle III tHe ieiilotcSt 'olieIS VI tHc
chamber.i He ennobled, clarified and
Illuminated his subject and the exist
ing situation as he traversed them, and
when he closed amid a rapturous whirl-
wind of plaudits, he had manifestly
sprung into the very first rank of Re-
publican orators and exponents of pro-
lection.
His auditors had fallen in love with
him, as the country has done since.
Millions of copies of that speech were
circulated by the Republican commit
tees during the ensuing campaign, and
it contributed not little to the sue
cessful election of President Harrison
in November following.
Previously, it is true, Mckinley had
rendered efficient and creditable SER
1T, nd