The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-01
For Most Part 1t Was a
Rhetorical Battle.
Satire and Party Bitterness
Frequently Shown.
Samples OF Red-H0t Shot Clark on
S0ap--Dolllver on Finance.


representatives. and the long debate is over
81 IS worth our while 20 review the occur
renccs of the past ten days The debate
has been "A lively one. Each side has put
forth its best men. Politics has as often
been the topic of discussion rs the tariff.
a tariff debate always brings out party
bitterness, wit, satire, examinations and
rccriminatlons. For ten days the big guns
and the littlo guns OF the house have kept
up a constant fire. We have heard the roar
Of heavy cannon, the rattle of musketry
We have seen the party sabors cleaning in
the air. Now that the smoke OF battle is
clearing away, let us take note OF the dis
tinguishcd dead and wounded who fell in
the clash Of rhetoric and repartce.
Some Good shots.
OF course the patriarchal General Gros-
venor Of Ohio, mathematical hero of the
Mckinley campag gn, was in the thick of
the fight. The following was his best shot;
Mr.. Chairman, were 20 write parody
upon the beautiful and poetic sentiment of
the gentleman from Alabama Mr.. Wheel
err instead Of looking TO the sky of the fu.
turo with that ability which he manifests
expecting 10 SEQ the names Of the leaders
Of this great Democratic party engraved
upon the tablets OF fame in the bright
light Of coming history, | would write ii
very much in the language of another poet
and il would be more likely similar 10 this:
A thousand years from now they will sit,
pale ghosts upon the Stygian shores and
read the record of their acts by the red
light Of hell. Laughter and prolonged
applause on tho Republican side.
This was hot shot, sure enough. But IL
was not half as funny as Champ Clark's
npothcosis TO soap. Shouted the witty
and humorous statesman from Missouri at
the top Of his voice:
Il understand the fact to be that the
French government has placed bounty
upon babies; but, thank heaven, we have
not fallen TO that state of impotency yet
Laughter. We are able TO keep up the
supply of raw humanity. Laughter. Es-
pecally ont in the wild and woolly west
[Renewcd laughter. We are glad to have
an increased supply OF soap. Our Repub-
lican dilettan,e friends have always taunt-
ed us with being the "unwashed Democra
cy." Renewed laughter. Give us free
soap. Laughter and applause.l Give us
free soap" Laughter.
Mr.. Payne-Willyouu it9
Doiliver and MoMillin.
Mr.. Dolliver of Iowa, who made about
the best speech on the Republican side,
also went into history, as follows:
Professor Fiske, in his history of the
United States, says that in Boston during
the Revolution corn sold for $3.50 "a bushel
If we have political friends ont in Nebraska
and elsewhere who are anxious TO do some
thing for us, why do they not do some
thing handsome, like that1 Laughter.
But the historian gravcly adds that it was
paid for in continental money, which was
not worth continental. Laughter. High
prices, OF coursc-exactly as if you should
make foot out of six inches; instead of
standing before you, timid traveller to-
ward the tomb, should loom up in this
stately presence gigantic Populist states
man, IL feet high. Laughter. Gentle
men, the farmers of the west do not want
prices doubled by the cyanide process.
daughter
Mr.. McMilin of Tennessee, who made
one of the strongest speeches in opposition
to the bill came back at the Iowa states
man in this sarcastic fashion:
''Seyen hundred and cighty-f dollars
tax on corn imported, and yet my friend
from Iowa Mr.. Dolliver), who represents
great corn state; and my friend from IL
linois (Mr Hopkins) propose To put $780, 81
additional tax on corn. Magnificent bepe-
faction, glorious craftsmanship, that pro-
tects 1000, 900 farmers by distributing
among them $3.50. 81 Laughter. i inn
agine / see my friend with the green neck
tic and florid complexion (Mr. Dolliver)
llaughtcrl; | imagine l sec my rubicund
faced and russell headed friend from llli
nois (Mr. Hopkirs), as they return to a
grateful constituency, who will welcome
these statesmen home in such n manner
that the Roman yictor's triumphal march
over the Appian way was nothing To theirs.
Laughter. l imagine that they will have
cornstalks for fagstaffs and on the flags
borne by their grateful constituents will be
the strange device, They have protected
our corn. Z" Laughter.
PopuIist Repartee.
Populist from Nebraska, Mr.. Greene,
was mt the front of the battle line, and
though n new man In the house soon
showed TINT he was well able TO take care
of himself and was not as green as his
name might indicate. Witness the follow
ing coloquy:
Mr.. Hamilton-what relief do you pro-
pose for the American farmcrg
MIR. Grccno--i will tell you. The relief
we propose for the American farmer Is To
90 back to the money of the constitution
that you took away from us and thereby
destroyed the price of our labor and our
produce. Applause on the Democratic
side.
Mr. Hamilton-You have told me.
MIR Grc,nc-Ycs. | l~syC told you. That
y one way 20 give us relief. Another way
D. give us relief is To keep your hands out
Of our pockets and give us fair show,
give us an open field That is all we ask
and 1t is all we ever have asked at your
hands.
Mr.. Hamilton-Whose hands have been
In the pockets Of the western farmcrsp
MIR Grconc-Ibo hands of the protected
monopolics and trusts OF the cast have
been in our pockets. Laughter Applause
ON the Democratic side.
MIR simpson of Kansas addressing the
Republican sidc)--Ask him another ques-
ton.
A Mcmbcr--tiit him again.