Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-03-24
From the San Francisco Bulletin of Feb.
California ElOquence.

California ElOquence.
Siskioou has the honor of supplying, in
The person of w. F. Watkins, the wit OF
the present Legislature. This gentleman
has made one or two speeches that must
hand his name down "to antiquity" On
Monday last, he made another effort, which
was highly characteristic. The debate was
upon the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the interests of our
whole country demand that the Govern
ment of the United States, should, if pos
sible, acquire by negotiation or other fair
means, such portion of the Territory of
Nicaragua as is necessary to secure for all
time to come, fee transit of the Isthmus
of Nicaragua.
Several members had let off buncombe
speeches on this fruitful theme, when Mr..
Watkins ''took the wcrd," and, as reported
in the Sacramento Union, said:
l am opposed to the discussion of this
question. If it is in order, move that all
these questions be referred to every man
who is an aspirant for Congress. Laugh
ter 1 am opposed to the discussion of
any such questions. There is an old max
i'm, "When in Rome do as Romans do,"
and, as patriotism, illibustering, ETC., seem
to be in the order of the day, l am going
to count myself in. Laughter. The
gentleman from San Joaquin (Mr. La
speyer) wanted to know if we've, the
American people-"must lie supinely on
our backs?" l would like to know in
what other position we are going to lie?-
Laughter. He also says: "What are the
French fleet doing in the Atlantic Ocean ?"
It's my opinion that they are laying off for
a chance to shoot into our sh :ps, and 1
would respectfully say to the French OR
any other nation, that if they only shoot
into our ships two or three times, we don't
care; but when they come to five and six,
let 'em look out for earthquakes. Laugh
ter. Sir, the car of progression is travel
ing fast. Already it has sealed the peaks
Of the Alleghenies, fearlessly crossed the
Rocky Mountains and the snow-clad Sier-
ras, and is fastening on TO leave its burn
ing axle in the waters of the calm Pacific.
That once dwindling institution known as
the American flag, is now known as the
greatest institution in the world; and that
brave little band that so bravely fought at
Bunker Hill, Saratoga and Yorktown have
-. Remainder of sentence was inaudi-
ble. Fellow-citizens- Laughter. 1t is
no wonder we are so pu9ilistic in our duty,
when we take into consideration that we re
able to lick the balance of creation, singly,
because we've got more money. A man
that has hundred thousand dollars in his
pocket feels that he could whip most any
thing, and motion with swelling resources
is bound to throw over any nation not so
rich as they are. 1t is on this principle
that we licked the Injuns in the days of
yore; and we intend to keep on licking
them till we have finished them or exter-
minated ourselves. Laughter. We may
perhaps, save few for specimens. Before
l 60 any further l would suggest that we
pass bill to declare war. Well, the peo-
pie may ask if the car of progress cannot
be stopped. say, most emphatically,
that it can't. You can't stop it; all you
can do is tostep aside and give it chance.
Our destiny is to rule the sea, and 90 ca
reering over space; were bound to annex
creation sometime. Taking, perhaps, the
same idea that the Quaker gave his son 4:
'Get money, honestly if you can; but,
anyhow, get money"-if we can't get Mica
ragua BY peaceable means. we'll knock her |
down and drag her out. Laughter.
THE NEW WHEAT Crop. During a |