The Portland daily press., 1880-12-23
Weaver and Sparks.
Tuesdays Disgraceful Scene in the
House-Narrow Escape from a
Personal Encounter.

Personal Encounter.
The Boston Herald's special Washington
despatch gives the following entertaining ac-
count of the scene in the House on Tuesday,
when Mr.. Weaver and Mr.. Sparks nearly came
to blows. Mr.. Woods funding bill was under
discussion, and Mr. Randall had made speech
when Gen. Weaver, of Iowa, rose to reply.
Gen. Weaver held the floor till the House
took recess.
In the afternoon he began again and pro-
ceeded to review the record of the three parties
during the campaign. As in the late cam
paign, most of his hot shot went into the Dem
ocratic camp. The Republicans, by sugges-
tions and applause, urged him on. Mr.. Wea-
vers proposition was that the Democratic par
ty had been, with regard to finance, consistent
only in its Inconsistencies; that usually it had
camped every four years where the Republic
can party had camped four years before; that
the Republican party been at least consistent in
its submission to the domination of the money
power and I'M its piracy upon the people; that
the Greenback party was the only consistent
party on financial questions, and that it was
always consistently on the side of the people,
as opposed to the bondholders He did not
formulate this, but presented it by illustration
He read from all the Democratic national plat
forms from 1868 down, and from many of the
Democratic State platforms. He exhibited
flag carried by the Democrats in Ohio, in the
campaign of. 1868, under which, he said, the
speaker who now favors hard money, was
marching in that year. So were all of you. He
read the legend on the flag declaring that the
public debt should be paid in greenbacks that
taxation should be equal, and that there
should be one currency for the government,
the people, the laborer, and the office-holder'
the producer and the bondholder, and that Ho.
ratio Seymour was the peoples candidate for
President. When he came to the Democratic
platform Of 1880, he read its economic princi-
''Great God! Where did that come from if not
from the Republican party?" He touched also
upon the declaration that all debts national
and state, should be paid, and claimed it to be
an abandonment of the states rights doctrine,
and an attempt to constitute the general gov,
eminent the attorney of claimants DESTROYS of
collecting the debt due from repudiating states.
He read 'the tariff for revenue only" plank.
amid the cheers and laughter of the Republic
cans. His long, scathing review of their in
constituencies excited the Democrats Half the
House was on its feet. Members crowded the
area in front Of the Speakers desk. Mr.. Wea-
Yer was near the front. Thither Mr.. Bland
and Mr.. Sparks, and others of the Democratic
side came from their rear seats. Then ensued
heated discussion between Gen. Weaver. who
never lost his GOODNESS or self-poSsessiop. and
Messrs. Reagan of Texas, Warner of Ohio. and
Bland OF Missouri, who were warm to saw the
least. They endeavored to prove the Democ-
racy consistent, and attacked Gen. Weaver
personally, as inconsistent He had sold out
his party to the Republicans in the late cam
paign. He had attacked the Democrats. who.
Mr.. Bland feelingly remarked, were the only
ones who had supported his greenback resolu-
piled that he did not charge inconsistency on
the Democratic party itself, but on its leaders.
on men who ran with the hounds and held
with the hare. These were the men whom he
desired to hold up to public condemnation, as
being unworthy to lead opposition to the Re-
publican party, which sought to fasten on the
country the British system of perpetual debit
In the course of this running attack, Mr..
Sparks OF Illinois put in word about Mr..
Meaver's support Of hard money measures
Mr.. Weaver misunderstood him. Thinking
he referred to the late campaign, as the 9th ers
did, he retorted: 1.-THE gentleman is crazy. I
Mr.. Sparks; not knowing of the misnnder-
standing, said: "That is falsehood." and
sat down. N
The debate proceeded. Mr.. Weaver was ar
cused of having left the Republican party be-
cause it would not give him an Office His DO
litical career was picked to pieces. The asser-
sertion was made again and again that he had
acted with the Republicans in the late cam.
paign. Mr.. Weaver got up, and, in perfect
GOODNESS and good humor, denied every allega-
tion. He left the Republican party when be
emit in his political career. He was a Green
hacker of the Greenbackers. In the late con- |
test he spoke against Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike: The Democrats, who voted for
ms resolution last session, dare not face their
constituents II they had not. He had spoken
to oyer 100000 people in 16 states, and he |
challenged the gentlemen to produce one |
word he had ever said tending to show a co. |
aiition with either party His address was |
Bloomfield, La. "'
he was asked by Mr.. Bland whether he had |
not had q conference with Chairman Hubbell |
OF the Republican congressional committee at |
the Riggs House. this city.s He replied that |
he had not. It was retorted that his lieuten- |
ty. He went over the whole story of Lums |
treachery. He thought he had sold out to |
both parties and cheated both. He pronounced |
the letter in his name, published in the New |
York Star, forgery. He agreed with the |
as the Morey Chinese letter.
The discussion grew mere exciting every |
moment. There was lull of few minutes. |
when Messrs Sparks and Weaver attempted |
70 come to an understanding regarding their |
Mr.. Sparks explained that he had not re- |
ferred to Mr.. Weaver's career in the late cam |
paign, but to his career as Republican wears /
ago, He withdrew the expression, ga false |
Mr.. Weaver, in od-humored lofty tone. |
said ne accepted the apology; that if any |
man told him he had uttered falsehood in |
reach OF his arm, he would personally chastise |
him. '0
Mr.. Sparks said: ssThis man will not m.ko
that remark to after nv MI r
merely wanted to clear up the misunderstood |
ing. spurn tthe reach of his arm The
reach OF his arm would affect me as little as |
1t did the late canvass."j
The gentleman's apology was ample. Does
not the gentleman see he ought never to open
his mouth at all when he is angry? Never.
never He spurns the reach of my arm He
can 90 SO. In the temper l am now in be can
do 30. l would not hurt a hair of his head.
Laughter Ills apology was ample and I &C.
cept 1t, but caution him against further use
Of the term 'falsehood or 'iie' That in Ken.
sucky is regarded, I believe, as equal to a
large as mouse, would assail any man NJ, who Ho
would apply such term to me Extensively.
The gentleman has alluded to my weight, bnt
i warn him my fighting weight is 1856 bounds"
tShouts of laughter
'falsehood'?" '--0 WI"
Mr.. Weaver-So understood:
Mr.. Sparks-Oh no! Yours were certainly
the first offensive words.
Mr. Weaver (still good humoredly)-We are
all right now.
Mr.. Sparks-You misunderstood me. I said
you were stating what was not true, and that
you were wanting in the qualities Of gentle
man In your falling to remedy it. Excite
ment and confusion.) There was all there was
OF it, but it was developed at the last election
that you wanted those qualities.
II pronounce you a liar on the floor of the
House" said Mr.. Weaver, flushing.
You're scoundrel and villain yelled Mr..
Sparks, amid cries of "order," 'order.''
Mr.. Weaver walked quietly down the centre
aisle towards Mr.. Sparks, who rose behind
desk, first squared off threatening to hit
Weaver If he should come near him, and then
grasped chair he had been sitting on
Mr.. Weaver, meanwhile, had been seized by
half dozen Republicans. As many members
from both parties seized Mr.. Sparks Mr.. Ed. |
ward Einstein of New York, heavy weight, |
hung around Mr.. Viewers neck. Mr.. Harry !