The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-22

his reputed interview during the cam
paign with s. Hubbell. Chairman of th,
: Republican Congressional Com mittee
Mr.. Weaver denied that any such in
tervieW had taken place and charged The
falsehood OF the story on D. D, Lum, who
he said. had sold out TO both the RepubIi
can and Democratic parties. and both
him. Laughter He did not charge
Inconsistency on the Democratic partv
itself, but ou its leaders. on the men who
ran with the hounds and held with the
hare. These were the men whom he
wished 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 sv.tem
OF perpetual debt.
MIR Sparks got the floor and alluded to
a circumstance that had occurred durine
the interruption between Messrs. Weaver.
Bland and others, in which Mr. Weaver
| had used an offensive term to him-that
he was crazy. He went On 10 good
natured manner to excuse the offensive
remark as arising from misunderstood
ing on Mr.. Viewers part OF what he
| (Sparks) had said to call it out.
Mr.. Weaver replied in the same tone of
pleasantly and good humor. declining to
and intimating that no ono could venture
to insult him Intentionally by ascribing
falsehood to him without feeling the force
of his (Weaver,s) right arm. Laughter
and uproar
Mr., Sparks, on hearing the latter re-
mark, changed his tons from one of
pleasantly to one of anger. and said. Il
spurn with contempt the reach of his arm
The reach of his arm would affect me as
little as il affected the last Presidential
election"
Mr.. Weaver still in jocular tone
Well. that was sufficient, Does not the
gentleman see that be ought never to
open his mouth. when he is excited. Ne
yer. never? He spurns the reach Of my
arm. He can do so. | would not hurt
hair of his head: (Laughtsr.l His apology
was ample and accept it. but L caution
'falsshood" or "lisr." That. in Kentucky
is regarded, believe, as equal to a lick
or blow. and even it | was not
as large as mouse [ would assail
any man who would apply such a term
to me extensively The gentleman alluded
to my weight, but | warn him that my
dghtiog weight is lS5 pounds, Shouts
of laughter.
Mr. Sparks-Does the gentleman say
that | used the word "falsehood?"
Mr. Weaver-So | understood,
Mr.. Sparks-O. no: yours was certainly
the FIRST offensive word.
MIR, Weaver, still good-humoredly-We
are ali right
Mr.. Sparks-Yvu misunderstood mo.
L said that now you we're stating what was
lot true and you were wanting in the
qualities OF gentleman in yosr falling to
!
That was all that there was of it. But
it was developed at last election stha. you
wanted those qualities.
Mr. Weaver, now thoroughly augsred
and excited, L denounce the gentleman
personally as sliar onatha floor of the
House
Mr.. Spark, equally Eexcitsd-Youi iars
a scoundrel and villain.
Mr.. Weaver thereupou, amid great up
roar. left the place where he was standing
and advanced menacingly towards Sparks
who in his turn moved towards Weaver
but both were Immediately surrounded by
ID EN- bsrs, who prevented them getting
to close quarters and made them put on
their coats, which each was in the act OF
taking off as he advanced into the arena.
Vi course the greatest confusion and dis
order prevailed on the floor and in the
galleries, but 10 the midst of it the Speak
er took the chair and called upon the
Sergeant of Arms 10 do his duty. just
then, however, there was nothing partoi-
ul4r to be done By that official as the
combatants had been removed by their
respective friends and their was no danger
of their assaulting each other. After the
disorder had subsided Mr.. Covert resum
ed the chair. the committee rose aud the
House adjourned,