Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-03-02
A coppERHEAp DOSE.
Colonel Henderson, of Iowa, Gives
the House the Most Telling speech
of the session,

| Colonel Henderson, of Iowa, Gives
the House the Host Telling speech
of the session.
Washington, Feb. 25-There were
three hours of intense excitement in the
house this afternoon. The regular an.
nual pension appropriation bill was
being considered, when Col. Henderson,
of Iowa, who is prominent member of
the committee on appropriations called
the attention of the house to a recent
effort made by Commissioners of PEN
sions Black to create prejudice against
wider latitude in pension legislation, by
addressing letter to Chairman Randall
and publishing throughout the country
false statements. Col. Henderson said he
had instantly detected discrepancy OF
over $S0,0O0,O00 in the statement made
by Commissioner Black, and that there
was design in making the figures as
large AS they were. (Ihis misstatement
was pointed out to your correspondent
several weeks ago, and was mentioned
in these dispatohes.) 1t proved that the
Justification amounted to $93, 100000, and
the commissioner acknowledged it. The
statement was made, he said, by Black
SO prevent further pension legiBlation.
Then Colonel Henderson opened O
broadside on the democrats for their
opposition to the pensions. He showed
how they had defeated legislation en-
larging the pension field by intrigue,
and yet they escaped the record; how
they always left deficiency in the PEN
sion appropriation IN the house
30 as to make it up and
thereby renew the odium of Tex
travagance" which democrats on the
stump thrust at the republican party.
Some one on the democratic side of the
house denied that that side had any
larger per cent OF opposition to pen
sions or enlargement of pension liberal
ity than the other side. Colonel Hen
derson replied to this by sending to the
clerks desk the record of vote cast in
the house recently oa the widows' bill.
1t showed that of the sixty-four votas
cast against tho bill, sixty-two were
from the south. This elected tremen-
dous applause, even the people in the
galleries responding voeiferously.
About this time the excitement began
to rise rapidly. Colonel Henderson left
his seat and going over among the demo-
Gratis, belabored them roundly for their
seotionalism, proving despicable acts
upon the part of the confederate element
in every session of congress for many
years. His statements of fact, astound-
ing though they were, met with no ans.
wers. Before he had finished. however,
he had every confederate ire-eater and
coppesheaa OH the democratic side of
the house boiling with rage, and such
men as Randall, Morrison, e,c., on their
feet, yelling epithets and expletives, but
not explanations. It was perfect cloud
burst upon them. When accused Of try
ing to incite feeling against the south,
Colonel Henderson replied that no man
would go farther to heal whatever differ.
ence there existed IN the minds OF the
southern people in regard to sectionalism
iu the north than himself; that he was
opposed to keeping alive sectionalism,
and nothing he was saying Was ecndu-
Give to sectonalism. "But," said he, 81
would rather spend an eternity iii hell
with confederate than an eternity in
heaven with copperhead.' Then he
scored the democrats and copperheads
for their 1ngratltude to the union SOL
dier. "Call me a demagogue if you
please, but do not call me unjust or un-
grateful, said he.
While Colonel Henderson was on his
feet there was constant roar of ap-
pause, and when he sat down he was
very heartily congratulated. II was the
most brilliant speech delivered in the
house during this session, and furnished
basis for debate during the remainder
of the afternoon. During all the debate
General Weaver sat among the confed-
crates and applauded their utterances
with vigor and soowled on those on the
oppopita si1o