The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-05
Memoranda for q Portrait.

Memoranda for Portrait.
Public interest in the individual charac-
ter OF the Hon. DAVID BREMNER HENDER-
SON OF Iowa increases as his boom proceeds.
His associates in Congress are fond OF him
personally, and to them he is one Of the
dstinctest figures in the House. But to an
overwhelming majority Of his fellow citi-
zens Gen. HENDERsoN's name suggests as
yet no mental image.
We call him General because all his
friends do. We believe that Colonel is the
highest military title which belongs to MIN
legitimately He entered the war as
private, served as First Lieutenant until
his leg went to smash for the sake Of the
Union and when the stump had partially
healed he went back to the front as Colonel
and fought one-leRged till the question was
settled. Nobody examines titles very closely
In the case Of a veteran with record like
HENDERsoNs. General Ia none too good
for him for every day use.
The craftsmanship OF Gen. HENDERSON is Of
the downright kind which students Of the
Congregational Record observe likewise in
the utterances Of Gen. GROsvENoR of Ohio.
Both HENDERSON and GRosvENoR are al the
opposite end Of the spectrum from the Mug
wump band wherein you find men like
HENRY U. JOHNSON OF Indiana, for exam
pie. A good many people who know HEN
DERsoN and GRosvENoR only through the
printed reports Of their Industrious oratory,
and probably some people who have per-
sonal knowledge Of their superficial charac-
teristics. would be inclined to class them
together as belonging to the same type Of
craftsmanship. There are radical differ
ences, however. Perhaps an artist would
indicate the distinction between the two by
remarking that while HENDERsoN's figure
shows more color than GRosvENoRs, the
outline of HENDERsoN's form Is somewhat
more wavy
In the matter Of practical politics OF the
personal sort, the protection Of fences and
the observant eye for forehanded combine
tions, Gen. HENDERSON has little If any
thing to learn from any politician now in
public life. We are beholding one aspect OF
this talent In his present remarkable can
vass. The complementary part will mani
fest itself later when the House organizes
and the committees are named in case he
is chosen. 1t is proper to say that the Hen
derson campaign for Speaker up to the
present time is unprecedented in respect
of holiness Of conception and vigorous
promptitude of execution. AS a surprise
and revelation Of new, swift methods, 1t
almost deserves to rank with Mr.. HANNAs
memorable preliminary canvass in the Nc
Kinley year
Rhetorically, the Iowa candidate belongs,
beyond mistake, to the expansive school.
There are few members OF the Forty-sixth
House whose collected speeches would
afford more abundant material to anybody
DESTROYS Of compiling a lovely floral album.
He can wrap common sense in highly or
nate phraseology. He can utter common.
place in impressive periods, il he wants to.
| He can be emotional, he can be didactic,
| he can be kindly humorous he can be
deliberately laudatory or violently denun
ciatory according to supposed political
| exigencies or the state of his temper az
Influenced by his honorable wound but We
are not aware that he has the gift OF putting
his case in sentence that burns or q
phrase that pierces. The Chair will not con
tain another genius of the epigram If Gen
| HENDERSON succeeds Mr. REED.
| Perhaps the most conspicuous trait O
the Generals character is his amiable desire
| to please, at least when his leg feels al
right, and sometimes when it doesn't. This
is greatly to his credit, for it proceeds from
| the genuine warmth OF soul which politica
| friends and political enemies alike recog
| nzc in HENDERSON. As we have observed
| most men in Congress who know him wei
are very fond Of him. Most men who knew
| Mr. REED well We're fond of him. too ; bu
| where REED dispensed lime juice for the re
| freshmen Of his friends, HENDERSON ladies
out treacle. Take for example one Of the
Introductory passages OF his reply t
| BRYAN'R celebrated speech for silver at tn,
extra session called by Mr.. CLEVELAND II
1893 to repeal the purchase clause Of tn,
Sherman act. II is a fair illustration o
Gen. HENDERsoN'S customary attitude as
| genial distributor OF sweets:
My eloquent young friend Mr.. BRYAN who ha
just closed his beautiful perorAtion, that gifteC
| leader OF the Democracy and OF tho PopuliSt
| OF the nation. who has perhaps no superio
| in painting in words the conditions that At
| tract his attention, tells us that these trouble
| do not com" FROM tho sherman law. He ha
| pointed out as did the eloquent gentleman from
| New York on Saturday last, the honored Req