Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-04
Very Vehemently Attacked by Sena-
tor Vest, of Missouri, Who
Declares That
NOTHING EXCEPT SELF-IETEREST
Will Ever Induce the South Americans to
Enlarge Their Commerce With
the United States.
OPPOSITION TO SUBSIDY MEASURES.
The Reading Of Newspaper Extract Causes Qaits a
Contention.

WASHINGTON, July 3.-The Senate to-
day again considered the postal and ship
subsidy measures. Mr.. Vest continued his
argument against the bills. Referring to
Mr.. Blaine's anxiety in the matter, he said
that he was as anxious as Mr.. Blaine to
bring back the supremacy of the United
States on the ocean, and, as to the carrying
trade, he was as anxious as Mr.. Blaine to
open the ports of South America to Amer
icsn products.
He sincerely desired the extension of
commerce, and that the American flag
might again be seen in every port and on
every sea. But the question was one as to
the means to bring about that end. The
Senator from Maine (Mr. Frye) wanted
subsidies. He (Mr. Vest) opposed them in
toto. He had seen in a New York news
paper last week, a statement ascrIbed to MIR.
Blaine, that he would give one year Of his
life for two hours on the floor of the
American Senate, on this question.
BLAINE's POSITION.
He had not been surprised, in view of that
statement, at finding that Mr.. Blaine had
injected into this discussion an argument in
the Presidents message read in the Senate
this morning, urging postal subsidies. Mr..
Vest went on TO speak of the late Pan
American conference, and he sent to the
Clerks desk and had read clipping from a
Buenos Ayres correspondent to show
what q prominent and Intelligent citizen of
Buenos Ayres, Senior Piers, who accompanied
the Argentine delegates to Washington,
thought of the conference, OF Mr.. Blaine
and the intentions of the United States.
As soon as the CLERK had finished the read
ing of this very caustic criticism, Mr.. Haw-
ley asked Mr.. Vest whether he knew who
wrote that, and whether it was quite fair
and decorous to have printed such mass of
irresponsible blackguardism.
Mr.. Vest replied that the gentleman's
name was given in the communication.
Mr.. Hswley-I reafirm what l said
that the man who speaks as he does of hon.
orable gentlemen and who says of American
colleges that degrees can be obtained for $50
says wilfully that which is false.
ALLEGED IGNORANCE.
Mr.. Vest-That may be ascribed to his
ignorance of American colleges.
Mr. Hawley-And to his ignorance OF all
the laws that govern gentlemen.
Mr.. Vest-He is secretary of a society in
Buenos Ayres, and accompanied the delega-
tion from the Argentine Republic to this
Pan-American conference.
Mr.. Hawley-And you may add to that
description that he is liar and black
guard.
Mr.. Vest-That is q question between
him and the Senator from Connecticut
Mr.. Hawley-The Senator from Missouri
introduced his friend here.
Mr.. Vest-The article was published in a
New York paper extracted from paper in
Dussoo Ayros, and has sn-e b-.~de>st erUr
the country.
Mr.. Hawley-The Senator from Missouri
will not indorse what that blsckguard said?
THE SENATOR'S OBJECT.
Mr.. Vest-I have not indorsed it. but If
the Senator will contain himself moment
will state my object in quoting it here. 1
have not Endorsed it. There is nothing in
the communication that affects the respecta-
bility, the moral character or the integrity
OF any of the persons mentioned in il. 1t is
the ordinary criticism of public
assembly, and 1 had it read
to show the impression made on
o prominent man who attended
that conference, in respect to the personnel
of the conference and its objects. 1t was in
order to show that no wining or dining, no
public exhibition, nothing but self-interest
would affect our commercial relations with
the people OF South America. We have as
sumed, to large extent, that these people |
could be cajoled into commercial relations |
with Us. 1t has been assumed by this ad- |
ministrstion, and by others, that they could |
be brought here and carried through the |
country in a sort of spectacular exhibition |
SatRublic expense, and that we could by |
such means secure their trade. / have had |
that article read as a communication pub |
lished all over the country and in South |
America to show that the men who came
here from South America are among
THE KEENEsT, SHREwDEsT
and most i8r-seeing merchants of the world.
They are the men who control the coffee
trade. They are enlarging their cattle trade,
so that they will soon become rivals in the
dressed meat trade with the most enter
prising citizens of the United States. l
wanted to show that they understood their
Interests; that they intend to follow them,
and that when we, by any international
American conference or by any other spec
tacular means, seek to draw them away from
self-interest, we are simply fooling ourselves
and throwing away the money of the public
Mr.. Vest went on to say that if the sub
sidy system were to be established it should
be made equal. If he wanted to destroy a
boys life he would say to him ''come to me
when you want anything and will give it
to you." If he wanted 70 emasculate and
enervate people he would teach them to
depend upon their government. Indepen-
dence and selfreliance were the great les
sons of successful Ii e.
Mr.. Wilson, of Maryland, addressed the
Senate in oposition to the bill, which went
over without action.