Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-24
Mexico Audrain County Missouri Thursday

how do you do-that member of con-
gress shonld not be permitted to quote
the glittering generaliiies, resounding
platitudes and unfuifiled inaugural
promises Of William a Cantoni The
outrage was SO monstr0us that Richard
p. Bland, .The Bald Eagle of the
Ozarks, his voice trembling with emo
tion and his frame quivering with an
ger, appealed from the ruling Of the
chair. On strict party vote it was a
tie. Mr.. Payne gave the casting vote in
favor of his own ruling, thereby "sus-
tanning the chair. . II proved to be
barren victory, however, and was q
most fortunate thing for Handy, as 1t
gave him the golden opportunity Of
demonstrating that he is young man
of unusual and brilliant parts, destined
to hold commanding position in the
house.
It's an old saying, full of honely
wisdom, that "there arr more ways Of
killing dog than by choking him with
hot butter" Handy clearly demonstrate
ed its truth, for he proceeded to .tcir-
cumvent" the Republicans, to their Mt
ter disgust.
James A. Garfield once declared that
"there is no place on earth where man
will reach his true level so quick as in
the house of representatives. Handy
proved where his will be--in the frcnt
rank of parliamentary orators.
Another ancient proserb Is apropos,
"Blood will tell" for Handy is half
Breckenridge, grandson OF DR.. Robert
J. Breckenridge, one OF the greatest
theologians and most robust thinkers
that ever set foot on this continent; /;
nephew to Colonel William Campbell
Preston Breckenridge, whose eloquence
formed an era in the house. In physique,
manner and style of speaking Handy
greatly resembles the latter and brings
to the discharge of his congressional
duties the learning, industry, capacity
and ambition which have distinguished
three generations of that large family
connection in public life.
Somebody moved that Mr.. Handy ''be
permitted to proceed in order" which
carried and which he did in a way that
was amazing to see, making the Demo-
Gratis delirious with joy, giving the Re-
publicans as bad an hour as they have
experienced in many day. In speech
which, from the very necessities Of the
case, was wholly extemporaneous and
with ingenuity that can only be proper
ly described as marvellous. keeping tech
nically within the rule"to proceed in
kA Soi
talked brilliantly amid uproarious ap-
plause, and finally not only got in all
he wanted of McKinley's inaugural
piecemeal to make 1t dovetail In with
his argument and to conform to the
rule, but managed to also introduce the
major portion Of the president's first
message to congress.
To quote Bret Harte, with a slight
variation, she played il on the Repub-
licans in a way they despised. +"
At the conclusion he was warmly and
generally congratulated by Democrats
Populists and Silver Republicans, richly
deserving all the congratulations he re-
oeived. 1t was great day for Handy
and Democracy.
Note the fact that the Republicans
were in the sad plight of objecting to
the reading of the gospel according to
Mckinley.
Bland's Speech.
Mfr. Fayno's ruling was OF seriovs izss
port and unless reversed puts gag into
the mouth of every man less ingenious
than Mr.. Handy. Mr.. Bland said-and
whatever Bland says is worth remem-
bering:
"I took an appeal from the ruling Of
the chairman, not to take up the time Of
the committee, but because believed
that free speech in this house upon the
bills coming before us and the rights Of
the membership of this house are great
er than any bill or all the bills on this
calendar. And If we did not pass an
other bill. either public or private, dur.
ing this session, should stand here In
my right as a representative to demand
free debate upon ali Of them and all
alike. say that bills, either public or
private, ought not to be whipped
through this house or this committee
without legitimate debate, and no bill
and no number of bills, no matter where
they come from or what they are, should
be thrust in the teeth of any man on
this floor when he undertakes legitimate
debate on the condition of the public
treasury or the ability of the govern
ment to pay its obligations.
81 may have private bills ON the cal
endar, may be interested in the pas
sage of some of these private bills, as the
gentleman from Texas is, but no such
consideration as that shall ever influence
my conduct upon this floor when see
the rights of the membership of this
house upon great public questions assail-
ed by an unauthorized ruling of the
chair cutting off proper latitude of de-
bate here.
John Sharp Williams.
ANY man that can make q sensible,
forceful, luminous speech in one minute
is a wonder, to borrow phrase from
pugilistio lingo. John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi is such man. He Is now
serving his third term and Is one Of the
strongest young members in the house.
He is brainy, fearless, industrious, witty,
honest and scholarly, being a graduate
Of Heidelberg university. He is on the
| committee ON foreign affairs and is an
intense Cuban sympathizer. He Is q
Democrat because he understands and
loves the principles Of civil liberty as
expounded by Thomas Jefferson. He il
, good man to keep your eye ON, for his
will be brilliant and distinguished ca
reer. When the bill to create two new
regiments of artillery ''for coast de-