Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-03-31

Hay'a Oratoriesl Gem-De Graffenreid'a
Maiden Speech Extorts Mute and spIen.
aid Tribute From Speaker Reed-Quigs
Essays 70 Taxa rall Out os Szm.s
8smiiton Lewis and Regrets II.
(, Especial Washington Letter.l
The great question Of this session has
been that touching Cuba. and history
win record the fact with iron pen upon
her glowing page that the conduct Of
the Democrats in congress- has been
superb. We forced the issue and have
welcomed every move to uphold the dig
nifty and honor of the nation and to
sucoor the struggling Cubans.
Tho most spectacular feature Of the
Spanish Cuban affair in the house was
the appropriation of $50. 600. 900 by
unanimous vote as q "peaee measure. "
It was a great day for Democracy and
for the country.
In making this appropriation Govern.
or Joseph d. Sayers of Texas was the
most prominent Democratic figure, be-
ing the ranking Democrat ON the COM
mittee on appropriations
He is q splendid man, courageous,
suave, oonsiderate, cautious, inspiring
confidence. He is tower Of strength.
Democrats followed him enthusiastical.
ly in voting that vast sum. His mag
niflcent head Of iron gray hair,
Like the crested plume of the brave Navarro,
That day was our oriaamme Of war.
He has long been one Of the most In
fiuential men in the house, position
won by merit, toll, vigilance, common
sense, fidelity and generous recognition
Of capacity and worth in new members.
He Ia not one of the big ones who seek
to "hog" all the honors. As chairman
Of the appropriations committee in q
Democratic house and Democratic leader
on that committee in q Republican
house he has always been ON the look
out for bright young fellows who would
help him fight to save the public mon.
ey. He found them, gave them a chance
TO win their spurs, and they love him
with filial affection. He has announced
his determination not to stand for re-
election, which will be a distinct loss
to the public service. Everybody will
regret to see him go. He will stand in
history with Samuel ]. Randall, vii.
Liam s. Holman and James N. Burns.
It is pleasant to note that there is a
crop OF splendid- yoons~ Dsmooruss -ecm-
ing on to take the places Of the retiring
veterans.
Joseph Weldon Bailey.
Democrats are fortunate in having
such leader as Joseph Weldon Bailey
Of Texas in the house. No carpet knight
can perform that difficult part success.
fully. It requires superb courage, a
clear head, abundant common sense,
thorough knowledge Of parliamentary
law, wide general information. high
order Of ability as a debater, perfect
fidelity to principle, inoorruptible in
tegrity and unusual control of temper.
All this Bailey possesses in extraordi.
nary degree. Already a big man in
every way, he grows day by day in the
estimation of his fellow congressman
and Of the country.
This is indeed the day Of young men.
Bryan is the youngest man ever nomi-
mated for the presidency; Bailey Is the
youngest ever intrusted with the lead
ership Of a great party in congress.
Bryan made q magnificent candidate;
Bailey makes a magnificent leader Of
the minority. II Bryan is elected presi-
dent, he will rank with the greatest OF
his predecessors; Bailey as speaker will
be the peer of any man that ever WELD
ed the gavel.
When Bryan was nominated, certain
wise men sneered at him as the "boy
orator." but under circumstances the
most difficult that ever surrounded a
candidate for the presidency he came
within a Georgetown Craze Of the chief
magistracy of the republic and estab-
liRhed the high water mark for popular
oratory in a country of orators.
When Bailey was selected for the
house leadership. divers soreheaded
statesmen derided his performances az
kindergarten Methods" but his
friends stood by him with unshaken
fidelity, because they love him, are
proud of him and believe In his destiny
because they know him to be an intel
lectlaal giant, a Democrat thoroughly
grounded in the doctrines of Thomas
Jefferson and Andrew jackson, an un-
sweiving champion of the plain people,
q man worthy Of the most exalted sta
tion. They have not bean disappointed
In him. Little by little the carpings Of
jealousy have died away until they are
rarely heard. By his brave, manly,
wise, skillful and dignifed conduct he
has won many to his support who once
delighted to antasonize MIN.
Influence Of Personal Appearance.
People can say what they please. but
personal appearance counts for some
thing in this world. God writes q
legible hand and places every mans
character in his face where we may
read 1t II we will.
Some orators are 30 handsome and
prepossessiAg that they win the hearts
Of an audience before they open their
lips. To this category Bailey undoubs-
edly belongs. Any one gazing upon him
would expect great things Of him. Phys.
ioally he is an athlete. Standing over