Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-12-30
CONGRESSIONAL
weaver and Sparks Apologies--The Scene
That Gave Rise to Their Humiliation
Spondence of the LEDGER.

W AsHiNGToN, ID. e., Dec. 22.--
In the House, on motion of Mr..
Conger. OF Michigan, (Rep. } oppor-
tunity was granted TO Messrs. Weaver
and Sparks to make any statement
they might see fit to offer.
Thereupon, Mr.. Weaver, of Iowa,
late Presidential National Greenback-
Labor candidate, stated his deep re-
greet at the occurrence yesterday. He
admitted that the language by him.
self was wholly unjustifiable, and for
it he made his apology humbly to the
House.
Mr.. Sparks, of Illinois, (Dem. }
said he also had used language yes
terday that was in conflict with the
rules Of the House and unparliament-
ary, and he felt he owed An apology
to the House. anc, therefore, tender
| ed it.
| The circumstances which led to the
above were as follows:
After a number of gentlemen had
spoken upon the refunding bill yes
terdav, Mr. Weaver was recognized
and proceeded in an endeavor TO
make things hot for the democracy,
whom he denounced rs being incon-
sistent. His speech was rather
rambling. and when he had finished,
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, (Dem.) re-
sponded, showing in an excellent
speech that Mr. Weaver had wrong
fully accused the democracy of what
he had himself been guilty. This
worried Weaver great deal; but the
worst came when he reminded that
gentleman that he had remained in
the Republican party long after the
public credit act and the resumption
act had been passed, vnd that he had
left the party of the hondholders
only after repeated failures to secure
Republican nomination for office,
having been up in Republican con-
ventions for the Office of Governor,
Congressman and Secretary of State.
One chief ground of Weaver's COM
plant against the Democratic party
had been its failure to allege that the
contract OF the five-twenties called
for greenbacks. Mr.. Bland neatly
reminded Mr.. Weaver that the five
twenties had been paid before the
Cincinnati convention met, and no
declaration concerning them could
have had any effect whatever. Final
ly, he took up the course Weaver has
been pursuing, and enraged him. In
the course of the parley, Weaver ad-
mitted he was in favor of paying ex
isting bonds in coin, whereupon
Bland made inquiry into what he
proposed to do with fiat: Did he
, favor one sort of money for the bond
holder and another for the plow-
holder: Bland also criticised Weav-
er's relation TO the Republican party
during the late presidential campaign,
and implied, as was freely charged at
him, that Weaver had sold out TO his
alledeed enemi.s. Weaver attempt
ed to reply, but Bland came at him
; again, and asked about his interview
with JAY Hubbell, Chairman Cf the
= Republican Congressional Committee
: " Weaver denied that The interview had
. taken place, and charged the inven-
ton of that story on ID. ID. Lum.
= Mr.. Sparks next attained the floor,
aud remarked that Weaver had been
"a Republican,. bat Weaver already
> stuug to madness by Bland. retortejl
that that was false, and characterized
Sparks rs q crazy, and Sparks fool
lsh!y, hut good naturedly, rose and
told Weaver that he had misunder-
stood bis first remark. Sparks evi.
IDENTITY did not want TO be misunder.
stood, but Weaver as evidently wanted
! to make capital at Sparks expense
- he pretended to accept what Sparks
had said as an apology when nothing
of that sort had been intended. anc
declining 10 take offence at what hat
:. been said, iutimated that no mar
=, could venture to insult him inten
=. lionaliy by ascriblns falsehood tt
him without feeling the force of hi
;, digit arm. TO which, Mr.. Sparks re
" piled: l spurn with contempt thl
" reach of his arm; the reach of hi
= arm would OBJECT one as little as i
~ ~ affected the presidential election.
Mr.. Weaver: Well that is sutfic
: lent. Does not the gentleman kno,
=, that he ought not to open his mout
G ;f when he is excited? He spurns m
- arm! Well, he can do so. His ap
~ oiogy is ample, but l caution hin
y. against further use of the teri
- "faisehood or lie." That in Ken
" lucky is regarded tantamount to
-, lick or blow. and were | not as bi
" as mouse | would assail any ma
who would apply such term to IN
Extensively; but my fighting welgt
is 1S5 pounds.
III Mr. Sparks: Does the gentlema
- say thai l used the word falsehood?
- Mr.. Weaver: So understood.
:, Mr.. Sparks: Oh no, yours ws
" certainly the first offensive word.
Mr.. Weaver: We are all rigl
=. now.
as Mr.. Sparkle: You misunderstood
,sS me. l said that you were Stain
what vas not true and you were wan
ing in the qualities of a gentleman
ed your failing to remedy it That ws
Nm all there was of it, but it was deve
re- oped at the last election that yo
tv wanted those qualities.
IS Mr.. Weaver: l denounce the gel
Sc tleman personally as a liar, on Il
ed floor of this House.
i'd Mr.. Sparks: You are a scoundr
an and villain.
of This was but the commencement
he as it were, of what followed.
nd Weaver walked down the isl
is looking as if he hoped some Oh
nd would stop him. Sparks stood ne
vously behind his desk; he evident
did not intend to get from behind b
lte breastwork Weaver reached Sparl
To- unmoiested. Both clenched fist
ger but neither struck. They were bo'
I'll comparatively quiet until friends ha
hold of each. Then the strugg
came, amid yells and cat calls, ar
in cries from the galleries: ''Let e
ba loose" The hero of the occasio
hat was Jones of Texas. While Il
'he principals were being held back, tn
old Greenbacker, angered at the co
t,,,al;os hoana6 upnn- tho Marty