The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03

best and wisest man in America" It is
not probable that he will rule the house
with Macon's simplicity, Quietness, gen.
tieness, or dec1s1Veness. Nor can Gen.
Henderson be likened to Henry Clay, who
was the first to introduce the dramatic
element into the speakers chair.
In one respect only he is like the great
Kentucxian-Gen. Henderson Is stepped to
his lips in pugnacity. Whenever there
Irishman, he wanted to be Sin it," All
the pleasures Of the lobby couldn't keep
Gen. Henderson off the floor If there was
any prospect for an all-around rough
and-tumble debate going on inside. He
would be the earliest to thrust his head
through the open doors and cry "Mr.
Speaker" at the first opportunity. But
in no other respect does Gen. Henderson
suggest the characteristics which made
Henry Clay in his day peerless as a par
Hamentary leader
1t would be unfair also to compare
Gen. Henderson with the eminent speak
ers since the Civil WARMTH Blaine,
Randall. Carlisle Crisp and Reed. He
lacks Blaine's wonderful versatility and
unapproachable personal magnetism.
He has not Randan's clear-Cut intellect
and nice discrimination in defining po-
litical issues and shaping public policies.
He does not measure up to Carlisle's jul
dictal temper, power Of statement and
comprehensive grasp of delicate and diff
fcult situations. He has not Crisp's rep
utation for -partisanship. He lacks
the political resourcefulness, the Unyield-
ing tenacity and the force which COM
bined to make his predecessor, Thomas
B.. Reed, in many respects the most re-
markable speaker in the history Of the
house Of representatives.
And yet Gen. Henderson will, in all
probability, by his character, succeed in
impressing himself upon the members of
the house and upon his countrymen gen.
orally. The new speaker-to-be is essen
TALLY and eminently sincere man. Sin
cerity is the keynote Of his character.
No one can know him without realizing
at once that he is near a personality
which emphasizes the actual, not the os-
tentatious and which Is impatient of
every form. 1t Is this royal character
istlc, sincerity, that has stood Gen Hen
derson in good stead throughout his
somewhat stormy congressional career.
Gen. Henderson is an exceedingly HUI
name man. He has the strong impulses
of human nature. His early training and
education and the experience of his young
manhood tended TO cultivate the humane
quality of his nature. He brought out
of his four years service in the army ma
tured characteristics which have domi-
mated his political life. Ardent devotion
to what he believes to be right and just.
Unrelenting hostility to what he believes
to be wrong and unjust!
There is no dividing line with Gen. Hen
derson. He is not master in the art
of splitting hairs. Casuistry he scorns.
He tries to think clearly, and he feels
deeply.
zen. Henderson has the Scotch high
temper. He is what DR.. Johnson would
call "a good hater." He hates intensely,
but not always discrimina tingly. His
passion at times gets the upper hand.
Like Washington, he has IAN imperious
and impetuous temper" but unlike the
Father Of his Country, Gen. Henderson
has not perfect control of it." In the
running fire of debate he is. when hard
put to it, apt to say and do things which
he cannot look upon with complacency
after the storm has subsidized. He carries
to the house of representatives the rough
and tumble tactics of 1.-The hUstings. :"
his discussion of public questions is apt
to be emotional rather than philosophical
-prejudiced rather than judicial. With
the advocates faulty he is unable to
see but one side of the case-his own
side-and would, If demonstrated with, re-
ply as Charles Sumner once did, There
is no other side!
For these reasons Gen. Henderson has.
in his day, made many temporary enc
miles on the floor of the house. But they
have been only for the time-tke upshot
of impulse instead of intention-and so
easily forgotten. Often after a heated
debate, in which unpleasant things have
been said, Gen. Henderson would cross
over to the Democratic side and in that
straight out, sincere way of his, say:
You fellows mustn't take what / say too
much to heart, You ought to know
there's nothing personal about it. If /
were over here and yon- over there I
guess it would be Just the same and
then he would shake hands all around
and invite a score of Democrats into the