The morning call., 1892-01-27

WASHINGTON. Jan. 26-When the Sem
ate convened to-day the usual calendar was
called. Hawley introduced bill TO estab-
lsh military post near Helena, Mont,
upon acquisition without cost by the United
States of 1000 acres of land For the cree
ton Of the necessary buildings $4,000 is
appropriated.
After a short executive session a number
OF bills were passed and the Senate resumed
consideration of the Well and La Abra
claims. Adjourned until tomorrow.
The HOUSE.
Opening Of the Chilean Question by
Breckiuridge of Kentucky.
There was marked falling-off in the at
tendance 10 the House this morning both
on the floor and in the galleries.
CulbersOn Of Texas, from the Committee
on the Judiciary, reported and the House
passed joint resolution removing the po-
litical disabilities Of John r. +. Tatnall.
Breckenridge OF Kentucky asked for the
immediate consideration Of the following
resolution:
ResoIued That the President OF the United
States be respectfully requested 10 inform the
House whether any answer has been received
either from our Minister to Chile, Egan. or from
the Government Of Chile to the dispatch sent by
the Government OF the United states TO the
J.
whom such answer was r. ceiyed aud at what
time, and that he Will communicate TO The House
all cor Jurisprudence between the Government Of
the United states aud It's Minister 20 Chile and
the Chilean Government not communicated 10
Congress with the message heretofore sent In.
There was some attempt made to have
the resolution referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and Bount of Georgia,
Chairman Of the committee. made motion
to that effect, but the Speaker ruled the
motion came too late, he having previously
recognized BCeckinridge to debate the reso-
luton.
Breckenridge said if the Chairman Of the
Committee ON Foreign Affairs desired the
resolution referred to a committee he would
make no objection. but he wished to say a
few words on the subject. Congress re-
Gently received message from the Presi-
dent concerning the question of peace or
war, under circumstances which in the ma
ture of tile case must be grave. Now it ap-
peaTeQ possible the Chilean Government
did send an answer 10 the dispatch repeated
in the message the President mad sent.
Congress knew the fac. tJ be that on
January 2lst a dispatch was sent to the
Republic of Chile He did not now criti-
cize the President for not waiting until an
ans wer was received or until time for such
an answer had elapsed before sending the
message to Congress. lie did not now
make any criticism either on the haste with
which the message was sent or on the Ian
guage Of the message, pending c0nsidera-
ton by that republic OF It's action on the
dispatch of January Dist, 1t must be re-
membeTed, however, the language of that
message to Congress could have been COM
municated to the authorities OF Chile, and
might if no answer was made TO tie dis
patch of January 21st affect the nature OF
the answer that that Government would
feel called upon to make.
Therefore, 1t was not TOO great a pre-
sumption to indulge in that the President
of a great and free people, dealing with a
free but feeble people, would not have
used such language pending the COnsidera-
ton by Chile IN its answer 10 that dis
patch. 1t was not toe great PRESUMPTION
TO indulge in that a grave emergency like
that would have called from that President
due consideration and ample time. Ii he
had not had some intimatiou what the
answer would be, the scarcely credible
anguage-he would not say insulting, but
seyere-sO used by him would not have
been used il he believed la friendly and
sufficient response would have been made
to the dispatch of January 21st 1t was,
therefore, not impossible that he may h ave
had some intlmatlOn what that answer
would be, and yet it is in such an unofficial
and informal manner received by him as to
justify him IN not putting it 10 his message.
Applause on Democratic S del The
power granted alone to Congress to
declare war the President has put
upon us. We must face it, and SO
decide that the honor and dignity of
the American people shall be upheld.
There is no man in this House, no matter
from what party he comes nor from what
section he may hail, but Will at all hazards
protect the humblest seaman that wears
an American uniform, or guard at what
ever expense the honor aud glory of the
American people. Great aDplause.l 1t
will be recognized by every honorable man
in all this country that the honor, glory and
dignity of the republic are in the safety and
security Of its Seamen. They are sale in
the hands of this Congress.
But on the other hand war should be only
as last resort, when the war must be with
a republic like the United States, anxious
for liberty, desiring to maintain cOnStitu-
tiOna freedom, seeking progress by means
of that freedom, and with the gravity
grea tly increased by the fact that the re-
public is IN the midst of great internal
trouble, having just overthroWn dictator
while seeking for congressional liberty
under q constitutional guarantee.
Ill great men, all generous men, all who
love liberty, will desire TO bear and f0Tbear
with such people, passing through such a
state In the midst of such desperate cOndi-
tions, as long as our reason will allow US to
bear and tOrbear with her. ApplauSe.]
Therefore, our duty is to know all the facts.
Every fact that can bear any relation to this
matter is part Of our necessary information
in the conclusion we must reach upon a
matter so important as this, and | confess
it has never occurred to me that the Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs or
any member of the House would hesitate to
submit this request 10 the President Of the
United States.
BY reference, by pOstponement, or by de-
lay of any sort we weaken the attitude we
ought to bear to this question. Let us say .
to the President at once: Give us infOrma !
tion; send 10 us that which has been COM
muncated to you; let us have it before our
opinions crystalline into convictions. before
we become biased by reading this cOrre-
spondence. in which are unkind and bitter
things; before our temper is aroused by the
offensive u;teranceS which may have been
made; before any conclusion is reached;
give us all the facts, so that We may keep
our minds unbiased until we have all that
is possible OF truth and light to base our
conclusions upon"
If the gentleman from Georgia (Blount)
thinks the resolution ought not TO come up
for immediate consideration. | will not OPP
pose him, though l will most seriously think
il Is mistake.
"Mr. Speaker" said BlOunt, whether or
not this House hereafter, in view OF the
gravity of the situation in the matter of the
relatio. with Chile, sees fit to consider
t rem in secret session, at least 1t seems
to me at this time, before that
course shall have been considered at
all, there ought not 10 be thrust upon
this House ana country by any mode or