Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-03-16
members touching both Mr.. Speaker
Cannon and Mr. Leader Williams.
Here are my remarks in full.

Messrs. Chairmen-When see the re-
doubtable veteran Republican war horse
from Iowa Colonel Hepburn fraternizing
with the renowned young Democratic war
horse from Virginia tMr. Hay) l conclude
that we are in sight of the political mill
lennium.
Through the partially of my Democrat
ic brethren | am commissioned to present
in their name and in their behalf as
small but lasting souvenir of esteem
loving cup to the minority leader of this
house.
Upon its FURNISHED surface is this In
scription.
Presented to the Honorable John
Sharp Williams by the Democrats in the
Fifty-eighth congress as a token of app
probation for his mastery leadership"
These words are not mere lip service.
They come from the heart We desire
them to rest upon him as a benediction
through all the years that lie before him.
lighting his pathway to higher honors.
The higher he climbs the better his Demo-
cratic friends here-aye, his Republican
friends. too-will be pleased. for he is
worthy OF any honor, even the supreme
honor of the republic. We intend that
this Inscription shall bear perpetual tes-
timony to his children and his childrens
children of our opinion of the splendid
ability with which he has discharged his
difficult and delicate duties here-more
difficult and more delicate indeed than
even the speakership itself entails.
If his black plume has not always led
the way TO victory. as did the white
plume of Navarro, it was not his fault,
but because we We're borne down by
sheer force of numbers.
We give it to him because of his great
capacity which all men admire; because
of his courage, characteristic of his race;
because of his tact. which has served us
and the country well: because of his
scholarship, which delights all who hear
him; but. above all, greater than all. be-
cause of our great personal affection for
him
The French have an incorrigible fashion
of nicknaming their rulers. Charles Mar
tel is Charles the Hammer; Louis XVI
is Louis the Locksmith. then there are
Charles the Bold, Charles the Bald and
Philip the Fair; Louis XVIII. is Louis
the Hog: the first Bonaparte is Napo-
leon the Great the Man of Destiny and
the Little Corporal. Victor Hugo in
his savage rage fixed upon Louis Napo-
leon the contemptuous title of Napoleon
le Petit. OF all the sobriquets ever be-
slowed upon a French ruler the most
to be desired was that given to Louis
XIV of Louis Bien Aimee Qouis the Well
Beloved)
we have in our midst two fine samples
John Sharp Williams of Mississippi and
Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois. In fact
both of them run the risk of having ap-
piled to them the Scriptural warning.
''Woe unto you when all men shall speak
we'll of YOU.
John W. Forney relates a fine anecdote
of Stephen A Douglas and Beverly Tuck
err One day Douglas sat down on Tuck
ers knee, threw his arm about his neck
and said. "Bey. / love YOU" Tucker re-
piled Douglas. when you get to be pres
ident / don't want any Office. but | will
have my ample reward If on that great
day you will sit on my knee, hug me and
say. Bev I love YOU Tucker ex-
pressed the universal yearning of the
human heart TO be loved.
The historian of our times will record
the fact that the F'ifty-eighth congress
was celebrated above all its predecessors
for the extraordinary kindness of feel
ing which prevailed among it's members.
We are all partisans, When Thomas JEFF
ferson delivered his first inaugural, which
has become a classic, he said inter ALA,
eve are all federalists: we are all re-
publicans" Were he voicing that same
sentiment today with our changed no.
nnenclature, he would say. I'VE are all
Republicans we are all Democrats"
What he meant was that we are all
Americans. earnestly desiring the glory
ana prosperity OIL the TtpuDllt- w ileH We
consider measures to accomplish these
ends we differ. and upon these differences
are built political parties. In this con-
gress we have advocated our political
opinions with earnestness, with enthusl-
assn and sometimes with heat, but, as a
rule. with what the French denominate
bonhomie and what for lack of better
term we call good humor.
This happy state of affairs is largely
due to the unfailing kindness of Uncle
Joe and John Sharp Williams and to the
genial humor with which they have en-
livened the proceedings.
This strange thing has happened here:
On the few occasions when the Democrats
have been in an ugly frame of mind, as
soon as Speaker Cannon got mad and
shot out his terrible left the Democrats
were SO tickled that they smoothed their
wrinkled fronts. and white winged peace
descended upon the house
The historian will also record the amaZ-
ing fact that scarcely gibe or jeer or
flout has been flung across the big aisle
at us by Republican members on account
of the astounding trouncing we received
in the melancholy days of November.
AS to most things in the future we see
.as through a glass darkly." but two
things are certain as anything human
can be: Joseph G.. Cannon will be speak
er in the Fifty ninth congress and John
Sharp Williams Will De the democratic
leader
When at last the inevitable turn in the
congressional lane comes and John Sharp
Williams ascends to the speakers stand
to WELD the gavel. Mr. Speaker Cannon
will descend to the floor to lead the thin
lines of the Republican minority with the
gallantry of Marshal Ney and fight every
inch of ground with the stubborn cour-
age of the English squares at Waterloo.
To. IpnRfh
of days be the portion of these two con-
spicuous gentlenen-in fact. of all of US.
1 most heartily congratulate the house
and the country upon the personal good
will with which we part. In the words of
Tiny Tim God bless us every one!
Among vice presidents Mr.. Fairbanks
ranks with Thomas Jefferson in alti-
tude He overtops the president by
several inches. Roosevelt is a blond,