The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-24
HON. WIN. L. W1LSON-AN HIS
TORICAL SCENE.

nine pleasure by all the Irlenus VI 'h"'
institution. He stands easily among the
fret American men and scholars, and
&C an orator he has few equals.
We shall never forget the effect OF his
| matchless speech closing the debate
! ON the Wilson tariff bill in 1894. A more
brilliant or distinguished gathering mas
never assembled at the Federal capitai
| The leaders in church and state, the DIP
lomats. executive officers, judges ana
Senators graced the occasion with their
presence. 1t was the closing day or the
great battle that had been waged Tor
| waal,s There were not few Democratic
members who had threatened to JOIN
hands with the Republicans to defeat the
hill. Their probable bolt intensified the
interest on all sides. Early in the debate
Mr.. Bryan had electrified the country by
mis- wonderful speech, and he had set the
mark for oratory so high that no one who
followed, up to the hour of Mr.. Wilson's
speech, had even approached it.
On the day the vote was taken the.
oldest and ablest debaters had the floor.
Reed and Burrows and Dingley spoke in
opposition to the bill. Crisp and McMil-
lin and Turner were its advocates. Big
men-al of them-and the assemblage of
notables prompted them to their highest
endeavor When they had finished their
ponderous arguments, Mr.. Wilson was
recognized to close the debate. Thin
and somewhat emaciated by weeks of
incessant labor extending far into into
the night, pale and care-wOrn, he had
the appearance more of man who ought
to be seeking rest rather than the intrepid
leader of a great host in notable en-
gagement But though wanting in phys
ical power and endurance, his eye had
unwonted brightness and his whole be-
ing was keyed up to that high pitch when
more than wonted eloquence is possible.
He began in a low voice, scarcely audi
BILE to those who crowded the galleries
and Hobbies. As he felt the Importance
of his subject and the magnitude of his
responsibility, he put all his power of
mind and body on a tension to be equal
to the emergency. His voice rose clear
and strong. His sentences came with
the living power of intense earnestness
and faith He was speaking for just
laws. He was tearing off the mask of
protection under which the trusts hide.
He was holding up high ideal of gov
eminent policy. He was exhorting mis-
party associates to be true to the faith.
He was animated by the spirit of liberty
that was in Jefferson when, writing his
last impressive words on earth, the au-
thor of the Declaration of independence
said:
''The payable truth that the mass
of mankind has not been born with
saddles on their backs, nor a favored
few, booted and spurred, ready to
ride them legitimately, by the grace
Of God"
Small Of stature and slender of frame,
Mr.. Wilson'S intellectual and moral yigor
seemed to make him tower above the
head and shoulders of the larger men
about him. AS, drawing to a climax,
he compared the selfshness of those who
would let local interests compel them to
vote against the public good to the man
who wanted high taxes upon herrings to
protect his business, and free trade on
everything else, he went on to compare
the present struggle against taxation for
the benefit of the few to the conditions
that surrounded the colonies when the
Declaration of Independence was signed.
With great terseness of style and elo-
quence, he pointed out that the Democrat
who faltered in support of low taxes be-
cause some schedule did not suit him,
would be as recreant as would any mem
Der present in Philadelphia who had re-
fused to sign the Declaration of indie
pendence because he did not like all its
expressions. He closed with an appeal
as lofty in sentiment as Patrick Henry's
famous Grafton. For half a moment
after he bad finished, so intently was the
attention of every nearer riveted upon
him, that there was not sound as he
sank, almost exhausted, in his
seat And then, awaking from
the spell Of his speech, such
applause and cheering and waving
of handkerchiefs as the hall of the House
had not hitherto known, broke forth as
will never be forgotten by those whose
good fortune it was to be present At
the height of the applause, such noble
young men as William J. Bryan and
Henry St George Tucker, filled with the
enthusiasm which swept all hearers off
their feet, lifted Mr. Wilson to their
shoulders and carried him up the aisles,
| many members following to the music of
a spontaneous applause that filled the
chamber. 1t was an historic scene, and
gave Mr. Wilson rank within the great
est parliamentary debaters this country