The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-04-22
IMPRESSIVE ORAT0RY.
Discussion Of the Cuban Cues
tion In the Senate.
OUR STATESMEN GREAT AS EVER.
Contrary To the Accepted Theory, Our
Public Men Of Today Compare Favorably
with Those of Long Ago-Men Who Rank

|
have ever seen In the upper branch Of
congress- IL Is a favorite theory of many
people that the race of great men is run
ming out I'm our public life and that the
senators and representatives of this day do
not compare favorably with those of long
ago in ability and eloquence. Probably
all such critics who heard the Cuban de-
bate are now inclined to change their
minds, as that series of speeches brought
to the front not only high order of elo-
| quence, but thought and patriotism which
| even our forefathers could not have out
done.
The press reports published from day to
day give but an imperfect picture of the
| great speeches delivered on the question of
war or peace in Cuba. Necessarily the
daily newspapers are able TO publish only
| little OF what each senator said. Be
sides, all of the spirit of the occasion is
lost In print, and only those who were
present and saw for themselves the excite
ment, the tension, the deep determination
and heard the impressive orators are able
| to realize what a great episode we have
passed through and how really great and
admirable many of our public, men are
Massachusetts, Senators.
A peculiar phase of the whole matter
was the unexpected places in which this or
that sort of q speech suddenly made its
appearance. One could have expected q
conservative and learned speech from Sen
ator Hoar of Massachusetts,, but not such
peroration as that which he closed with,
| amounting, as 1t did, practically to an
apotheosis of war, most beautifully, elo-
quently POLITICALLY done. Mr.. Hoar, de-
spite the common fashion of calling him
grandma, is one of the brightest, most
human and sympathetic men in public life.
He is master Of the English language, a
deep thinker. keen analyst, and his fame
will rank with that of Webster.
From Massachusetts, came another ora
tor, younger man, not as conservative as
Mr.. Hoar, not as sentimental, but won
derfully effective in his vigorous, straight
driving defamation. Rarely has more
stalwart and sweeping address been made
in the senate than that which was deliv-
cred by Mr.. Lodge. The young senator is
not natural orator. He is too much in
earnest TO pause and give theatrical effect
to his delivery. But i'm the choicest of
English and the most perfect of phrasing
he marched straight to his goal, like a
young athlete in the races that would
neither look to the right nor the left nor
path. Oddly unlike, but credit to any
state in the Union, are the two senators
from Massachusetts.
1t Is not to Indiana and Iowa and Wis
consin one would naturally go for conserv-
atism on question so vitality affected
by public opinion as the Cuban question.
Yet throughout all this crisis the powerful
influence of Senator Allison of Iowa has
been exerted on the side of peace, and SO
has that of Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin and
Mr.. Fairbanks of Indiana. The two lat
ter made most effective speeches in the
senate and had the courage to stand before
a popular wave of haste and passion and
counsel moderation. This Is the sort of
courage that tests the mettle a man Is
made of. 1t Is easy enough to go to war
at the head of an enthusiastic column,
with the flies footing and the drums beat
ing, but the public man who can summon
nerve enough to brave popular opinion Is
bold and strong indeed.
Foraker's Ringing Speech.
One Of the greatest speeches of the de-
bate was that made by Senator Foraker of
Ohio. The Ohio senator Is an orator. 1t
comes as natural to him to charm and stir
as 1t does to the silver tongued senator
from Colorado, Mr.. Wolcott Senator For
aker's vigorous, ringing, burning speech
was the sensation of the earlier part of the
episode. He did not fear to come out in
the open, before others had taken ground,
in favor of recognition Of independence
He made the fight for this recognition and
had the satisfaction of winning his way
through the senate by comfortable ma
jority of IA, so far as the first action was
concerned. That amounted to distinct
triumph for the senator from Ohio, who
Is rapidly forging to the front as leader
of thought and action In the upper branch.
Senator Perkins of California was close
ly listened to by his colleagues. The far
western senator Is pleasing public speak
er without being an orator, but the men,
bers of the senate cared less for his art
than for his judgment. He Is well known
as former sailor before the mast, as self
made man, as one who has had experience
in all parts of the world and In almost ev-
cry line of activity and whose experience
and cool, calm logic make him pretty
safe guide to follow.
The two senators from Illinois have been
pioneers In the cause of free Cuba. Mr..
Cullom, the senior senator, was really one
of the very first to champion the cause of
the island upon the floor of the senate,
making strong speeches two years ago, be-
fore many other persons were stirred at
all. OF late MIR. Cullom has been to some
extent eclipsed by the bitter, witty, fam
buoyant and yet weighty and instructive
speeches of the junior senator from ILL
nois, Mr.. Mason. Billy Mason, as every
one calls him, is coming out of the Cuban
affair with flying colors because he was
fortunate enough to take the popular and
winning side and to speak up for 1t in his
ENTHUSIASTICALLY sauoy and eloquent fash
ion, thus drawing fire upon himself and
gaining all the more applause in the end.
The Cuban debate as a whole has been
thoughtful learned and able. 1t is a
credit to the senate despite the unfortunate
occurrences which grew out of men losing
their self control. 1t must be remembered
that 1t was n time of great stress and
strain, In which public men were we'll nigh
worn out with the long suspense, and 1t Is
not surprising that the "lie'' was given
now and then and holly resented. The
American congress- occasional outbursts
Of anger and indecorum to the contrary
Notwithstanding, is all right, the ablest
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