The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-12-24

A Disgraceful Scene in the House Of
representatives.
Ex-Presidentiai Candidate Weaver and Sparks,
Of Illinois, on the Rampage.

Il e &0P1VSoUsdt4VeS' 70
Ex-PresidentiaI Candidate Weaver and Sparks,
Of Illinois, on the Rampage.
| HOUSE.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The House being
in Committee Of the Whole, Weaver made a
humorous speech arraigning the Democratic
party for Inconsistency on the financial ques-
ton, and stating that that party had in its
State and neutrality-suspicious. encamped every
four years on the ground where the Republic
cans had encamped four years before. He
was frequently interrupted by Reagan, War
rem, Finley, Bland and others, and his replies
to them were received with laughter on the
Republican side. Reagan defended the Dem
ocratic party from the charge of inconsistent
cy, and reiterated that charge on Weaver and
the Greenback party Bland inquired for
what Presidential candidate Weaver had vo-
ted in 1875.
Weaver" For Rutherford B. Hayes, and
Pm sorry for it,"
Bland replied to Weaver's speech in which
he said that that gentleman had shown his
animus in attacking the Democrats-the
only friends which that gentleman had had
In the House. Loud laughter On Republi-
|
against Weaver in the last campaign that he
was acting in the interest of the Republicans
| and his action then correspondent with his
speech to-day
Weaver tried to interrupt Bland, assuring
him that this statement was not trne.
Bland declined to yield and went on
charging Weaver with Inconsistency and bad
faith. He asserted that all the reform that
had taken place recently in financial matters
had come from the Democratic party. The
Republican party might by its assessment of
office holders and by corruption and fraud
succeed in pulling down the grand old DEM
ocratic party which stood up for the rights
and liberties of the people, but sooner or
later [several Republicans, "later pr reform
would come, not through Republicans or
Greenbackers, but through Democrats. Zap
plause on Democratic side.l
Weaver replied to Bland and challenged
him to quote one word that he (Weaver) had
said In the last campaign in favor of the Re-
publican party. Until he could do so he
should shut up. [Laughter.] He had in
that campaign arraigned the Republican par
ty and he arraigned it to-day. He repudia-
ted the idea of having received sympathy
from the Democratic party during the cam
paign and said the only evidence he had of 1t
was in the shape Of forged letter published
in the New York Star, and which he believ-
ed was in the same handwriting as the Morey
letter. [Laughter.l
Bland asked Weaver about his reputed in
terviews during the campaign with Jay Hub
bell, Chairman Of the Congressional Repub-
lican Committee. |
Weaver denied that any such interview had |
taken place and charged the story of that |
falsehood on d. d. Lum, who he said had |
sold out to both the Democratic and Repub- |
lican parties, and both parties were cheated |
when they bought him. [Laughter.] He |
did not charge Inconsistency on the Demo
cratic party itself but on its leaders-on the
men who d" 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 the opposition to
the Republican party, which sought to fasten
on the country the British system of perpet-
ual debt.
Sparks got the floor and alluded to cir
cumstance that had occurred during the in
terruption between Weaver, Bland and
others, In which Weaver had used an offen-
sive term to him-that " he must be crazy"
He went on in good natured manner to ex-
cuse the offensive remark as arising from
misunderstanding on Weavers part of what
he (Sparks) had said to call it out.
Weaver replied in the same tone of pleas
antry and good humor declining to take Of
Tense at what Sparks had said and intimating
that no one could venture to insult him in
tentionally without feeling the force of his
Weaver's) right arm. Laughter and up
roar.
Sparks, on hearing the latter remark,
changed his tone from one Of pleasantly to
one of anger, and said, I" l spurn with con-
tempt the reach Of his arm. The weight of
his arm would effect me as little as it effected
the Presidential election"
Weaver still N n ioeu1ar fnua q Wall that |
was sufficient. Does not the gentleman see
that he ought never to open his mouth at all
when he is excited-never, never. He
spurns the reach of my arm. He can do so.
In the temper l am now he can do so.
would not hurt hair Of his head. Laugh
teri His apology was ample, and l accept
it, but / caution him againt further use of
the term falsehood or lie.' That in Ken
lucky is regared as equal to kick or a blow
and even if was not as large as mouse
would assail any man who would apply the
term to me Extensively, The gentleman has
alluded to my weight, but warm him that
my fighting weight is 1856 pounds" [Shouts I
Of laughter st. -.0n...t
Sparks" Does the gentleman say that /
used the word falsehood
Weaver" So understood"
Sparks" Oh, no; yours was certainly the 3
first offensive word" r
Seah Soou hdAiioiCuiy VIC arc l q
Ill right now" .....s -
Sparks" You misunderstood me. l said a
you were stating what was not true and you S
we're wanting in the qualities of gentleman s
IN your failing to remedy it. Excitement !,
md confusion.1 That was all there was of
t, but it was developed at the last election s
hat you wanted those qualities" p
Weaver was now thoroughly angered and a
excited. l denounce the gentleman per- .
onally as a liar on the floor Of the House."
Sparks, equally excited-.sYou are scoun- j
lrel and q villain" .an. -n-..s'4. i
Weaver thereupon, amid great uproar left s
he place where he was standing. and ad-
'anced menacingly towards Sparks, but both ;.
we're Immediately surrounded by men, L
'ers who prevented them getting to close j
quarters and made them put on their coats I,
which each was in the act of taking off as he :,
advanced into the arena. OF course the \
,reatest confusion and disorder prevailed on RI
he floor of the House and in the galleries, "
,ut in the midst Of it the Speaker took the {
hair and called upon the Sergeant-at- arms ;,
o do his duty, Just then there was nothing
'articular to be done, as the combatants had u
,een removed by their respective friends and h
here was no danger of their assaulting each n
ther. After the disorder had subsidized the +,
ommittee rose and the House adjourned. -