The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-05-03

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Astounds Tho Old Leaders.
! Debate famed up at once, hot, even
passionate. The astounding, moving
elouquence Of the young advocate, his
instant hold upon the house, the d.
rectness with which he purpoeed and
executed action in 30 grave matter,
stirred the pulses Of his opponents
and his followers with an equal power.
and reused those who would have
checked him to a vehemence as great
as his own.
The old leaders Of the house, with
whom he now stood face to face In
this critical business, were the moro
formidable because Of the. strong rea'
son Of their position. No one could
Justly doubt that they wished to see
the Old Dominion keep and vindicate
her liberty, but they deemed 1t folly
to be thus lntemperately beforehand
were sprung Of families who had come
to Virginia with the great migration
that had brought the Washingtons, In
the evil day when so many were flee
Ing England to be quit OF the Puritan
tyranny-royalists all, and touched to
the quick with the sentiment Of 10y
atty.
Twas now a long long time since
Cromwell's day, indeed; generations
had passed, and a deep passion for
Virginia had been added to that old
reverence for the wearer Of the crown
in England. But these men prided
themselves still upon their loyalty;
made 1t q point Of honor to show
themselves no agltators, but oonstitu
tionAl statesmen.
It made them grave and deeply an1
dous to see the privileges that were
most dear to them thus violated and
denied. but It did not make them hssty
to quarrel with the parliament of the
realm. They had intended opposition
but they feared to throw their cause
away by defiance. Twas as little wise
rs dignlhed. to hout thus at the sover
eign power before all means had been
exhausted to win it to forbearance.
Tho Speaker Of the HOUSE.
! It was not the least part of tia din.
Guilty to face the veterans speaker, John
Robinson, so old In affairs, so stately
4e his age, so gravely courteous, and
yet with such threat Of good man
ners against those who should make
breach of the decorous traditions OF
the place. Hut the men chiefly to b
feared were 81 the floor:
There was Richard Bland. wary,
old, experienced, with something Of
the look,'' a Virginian wit said, "of old
musty parchments, which he handleth
and studieth much author of q
treatise against the Quakers on
!water-baptism;" with none Of the gifts
Of an orator. but a veritable antiQuar
ian in law and the precedents of pub
lie business, a very formidable man in
counsel. Quiet men trusted him, and
thought his prudence very wise.
George Wythe was no less learned,
and no less influential. Men knew him
a man Of letters, bringing the knowl.
edge Of many wise books to the prac.
tice of affairs, and set great store by
his sincerity, as artless as it was hui.
man, and sweetened with good feeling.
The Elder Orators.
It made Randolph and Pendleton
and Nicholas, the elder orators of the
house, seem the more redoubtable that
they should have such men as these
at their elbows to prompt and steady
them. And yet they would have been
formidable enough of themselves.
Edmund Pendleton had not, indeed
the blood or the breeding that gave
his colleagues prestige. He had won
his way to leadership by his own
steady genius for affairs. He read
nothing but law books, knew nothing
but business, cared for nothing but
to make practical test of his powers
But he took all his life and purpose
with. such .zest, made every stroke
with so serene self-possession, was
80 quick to see and act upon every ad
vantage in4his business of debate, and
was withal so transparent, bore him
self with such grace and charm Of
manner, was so obviously right-mind
ed and upright, that it meant a grea,
deal to- the house to hear him inter
vene in it's discussions with his me
1odious voice, his cool, distinct, Of
fective elocution.
Robert Carter Nicholas added te
like talents for business and debate 8
reverent piety, title to be loved ant
trusted without question, which ne
men ever thought to gainsay.
The Loyal Randolph.
And Peyton Randolph, with hi
knowledge, temper, experience, judg
ment, integrity" as of true Roman
spirit, was sort of prince among thu
rest. No man could doubt he wishet
:. Virginia to have her liberties. He hat
gone over sea to speak for her In DIN
( widdie's day, though he was the kings
E affnrnev and had 1oo< hi, afFsna 49,, VI