The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-12

The war in those islands con-
tinued and continues America de-
termines it viii suppress the re-
bellion, cost what it may. Discussion
starts up and RACES through the land.
More soldiers fail, more troops are sent
out, more sacrifices follow. The dis
cussion goes on, but the purpoSefulness
increases in strength. Congress meets,
and a policy Is to be declared. Com
nittees to frame legislation for the new
territory, not yet wholly conquered, are
appointed. The country IS slightly nery-
Gus but far from timid upon the eve
of a new era of action and responsible
ity.
Then this young senator, fresh from
the distant scene of conflict, comes
upon the legislative stage to bear his
Psychological moment in the tide Of our
national affairs, and makes himself
famous at a leap.
Tt takes genius to do this, and Albert
jeremiah Beverage is a genius. An
egotist, a phenomenal egotist he is,
man who in his private contact with
men often narrowly escapes ridicule.
But he has had the wit and foresight
and courage to prepare for himself an
opportunity, an opportunity such as
comes to few men, and he showed to-
day that he had the eloquence, the pres
ence, the discretion, the logical and con-
vincing power, to sustain his role and
make the most of his opening.
He had to fall or stand today-fa1 as
a presumptuous self-advertising up
start, or stand as man of originality,
of intellectual force, of ability to guide,
instruct and be one of the leaders of
his people in the epoch of new activity
and construction which they are just
entering. He stands. And hereafter
his personal foible will be scored not
against him. He has the license of gen
Jus.
A s-rao4 a,,5iaTce aeaanoh1Ad IN hear
the much heralded young man from
Indiana. All the senators were in their
seats. The galleries could not hold halt
the people who sought admission. A
hundred or more of the members of the
house stood in the rear of the cham
Der The diplomatic gallery was throng-
ed The committee that is investigating
Montana bribery adjourned for the al
ternoon to be present.
For two hours or more Mr.. Beveridge
held this distinguished audience. Not a
man or woman left the chamber while
he was speaking. 1t was interesting TO
watch the faces of the veteran senators
gathered about the newcomer, who took
his place in the very center Of the hall.
At first sardonic, then interested, soon
amazed, finally fascinated they sat.
They forgot their usual luncheon Sour.
They had no desire to converse or ex-
change comment.
Not till the end came did they stir,
and then it was to applaud and to press
Forward ana congratulate the nero Oh
the hour, while the galleries-cynical
members of the press as well as more
impressiona.ble men and women of the
unprofessional people-continued vio-
lating the rules of the senate with a
vigorous applause.
It takes art, an art rising to the level
of genius, to do this Beveridge has
this art. He is an orator, a nntural ora
tor. If he never does anything more
n ha should nv for a
long time-his fame will live. He is one
of those men, few in our day, who can
not but be eloquent, even though they
l try. It is a gift of the gods. Slight of
figure, more youthful in appearance
! than in years, and he Is only 81.
Beverage has a. voice which pleaSeS
! at the beginning and faScinates at the
| finish, voice which does not tire, but
/ grows more like silver bells the more
| it is used. The stream of his language
! runs with amazing rapidly The words
/ come so fast It is doubtful if there lives
/ a stenographer who can take him ac-
! curately. But each word is distinct
/ There is no straining OF the ear among
! his auditors, and no apparent effort on
| the orators part. Fast and faster come
| the sentences, ripping, musical capti-
! waiting; we are borne on with the cur
| rent, and are exhilarated by it, SO easy
! and soothing it seems. Suddenly a
! pause, now a graceful emphasis, slower
/ speaking and some salient thought is
/
| measured contrast.
A remarkable performance. Standing
near and often in the center aisle of
| the senate chamber, this young man
! speaks for two hours or more. He ut
tiers words to a number that would re-
Quire a whole afternoon for the aVera Z 2
| reader or speaker to cover. He does
/ this without manuscript or even notes
| before him. He never halts for the
! word, never stumbles. Considered as a
| feat Of memory alone it is prodigious.
| The speech had been learned by rote,
| and learned so thoroughly that we, who
J held printed copies in our hands and
| followed through, found variance only
of here and there a word through u
| newspaper columns. Few men can do
thing like this. and the number who
dare try it when success or failure II a
| public career hangs upon the achieve
| ment is much smaller still.
Great as is Mr.. Beveridge's art as an
| orator, naturally gifted as he is, he
/ could not have won this success upon
| art alone. He had to show something
| more than the power of an actor more
| than elocudOn, more even than fine
| rhetoric. He had to present facts,
| thoughts, conclusions worthy the theme
| and the occasion. He did 1t. He ira
| verSed the whole range of the Philip
| pine questiOn-in its commercial aspect,
its possibilities as an empire, as to the
! history of the pending war. the charac-
| ter and capability of the people them
| selves from a personal study of them,
| the traditional attitude of the United
States, the Declaration of independence
| and the Constitution.
Best of all he rose to the opportunity
and preached the doctrine of the duty
of the superior races of the world
| toward the inferior, most eloquently
| voiced the new and the practical mis-
sion of the white man who has a burden
to carry. Stripped of its rhetoric, of
its fascination as spoken word, of its
eloquent delivery, and read calmly and
coldly, it is still a great speech. It is
more than an oration-it is something
that will live in history as a contribu-
ton to the Intellectual and moral forces
of these pregnant times.
This young man who has come out
of the west to teach wisdom to the
gray-heads in the senate is conceited
Yes. He is presumptuous. Yes. He
rides down all traditions in pressing
himself to the front? Yes But he car
study, think, write, speak and make
the world hear him. More than that