The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-27

an answer had elapsed before sending the
message TO congress. he didn't now make
any criticism either on the haste
with which the message was sent
or on the language Of the message, pending
consideration by that republic Of its action
on the dispatch of Jan. 81. 1t must be re-
membered, however. that the language Of
that message to congress could have beea
communicated TO the authorities of Chile
and might, If no answer had been made to
the dispatch Of Jan. 81, affect the nature Of
the answer that that government would
feel called upon to make.
HARRISON COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN.
Therefore, it was not too great a pie,
sumption to indulge in that the President
Of great and free people, dealing with
free but feeble people. would not have used
such language pending the consideration by
Chile OF its answer TO that dispatch.
1t was not too great presump-
ton to indulge In that grave
emergency like that would have called
from that President due consideration and
ample time, If he had not had some intima~
tion OF what the answer would be. 1t was
scarcely credible that the language The would
not say insulting put SO severe) used by
him would have been used if he had
believed that friendly and sufficient
response would have been made to the dis
patch of Jan. 81. 1t was therefore not i'm
possible that he may have had some intima-
tion of what that ans wer would be, aud yet
that it was In such an unofficial and in-
formal manner received by him as to justify
him in not putting IL in his message. [Ap-
plause on the democratic side.
THE POWER To DECLARE WAR.
The power granted alone TO congress to
declare war, the President has put upon US.
We must face it and so decide that on one
hoF nd ,,.1 - -, A
can people shall be upheld No man in this
House, no matter from what party he comes
nor from " hat section he may hail but will
at all hazards protect the humblest seaman
that wears the American uniform, or
guard, at whatever expense, the honor and
glory OF the American people [Great ap-
plause 1t will be believed by every hon-
orable man in all the country that the hon
or, glory and dignity of the republic, the
are safe in the hands OF this congress.
WAR LAST RESORT.
But on the other hand. war should be
| only as the last resort, especially 30 when
the war must be with republic like Chile,
| anxious for liberty, desiring to maintain
| constitutional freedom, seeking progress by
means OF that freedom, and with the
gravity greatly increased by the
| fact that that republic IS in
the midst of great internal trouble,
having just overthrown a dictator, while
seeking congressional liberty under a CON
stitutional guarantee. All great men, all
| generous men, all who love liberty will de-
sire to bear and forbear with such people
| passing through such a state in the midst
Of suoh desperate conditions as long as our
honor will allow US to bear and forbear with
her. [Applause]
THEIR DUTY TO KNOW ALL THE FACTS.
Therefore, it is our duty-to know all the
facts. Every fact that can bear any rela-
| ton to this matter is part Of our necessary
information in the conclusions that we must
reach upon a matter SO important as this.
And 1 confess it never occurred to me that
my distinguished friend, the chairman OF
the committee on foreign affairs, or any
member Of the House, would hesitate to
submit this request to the President Of the
| United States. By reference, by postpone
ment, or by delay of any sort, we weaken
the attitude that we ought to bear to this
question.
| MORE INFORMATION WANTED.
Let US say to the President at once: Give
US the information; send to US that which
has been communicated to you. Let us
have IL before eur opinions crystalline into
convictions, before we become biased by
the reading OF this correspondence In which
are unkind and bitter things; before onr
| tempers are aroused by Offensive utterances
| which may have been made; before auy
conclusion is reached; give US all the
facts so that we may keep our minds un.
biased until we have ali that is possible of
truth and ligot to base our conclusions
| upon. IL the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
| Blount thinks the resolution ought not 10
come up for immediate consideration / will
not oppose him, though will most seriously
| think it is a mistake
BRRCKINRTDGE's THEORY.
Mr.. Boatner of Louisiana asked what in
formation the gentleman had
Mr. Brecklnridge-Only this information
that on Jan. 81 dispatch was submitted
by the President through the American
minister to the republic OF Chile. On Jan.
70 the President communicated message
| to this House. 1t is not unfair to presume
that he had either received an intimation
of what the answer would be, giving
the Chilean government time to answer, and
that II he has bal that intimation we ought
to know what he has received. IL he has
| despaired Of getting an answer and nothing
has come. or If anything has come, we
ought TO know what it is. That is my frank
answer.
BLoUNT CITES A PRECEDENT.
"Mr. Speaker" said Mr.. Blount, the
chairman Of the committee on foreign af~
| lolAb8 EopIIlHR GD nTs Br6cklnrlQ&0,
whether or not this House hereafter in It's
| wisdom and in view of the gravity Of the
situation in the matter Of our relations with
Chile sees fit to consider them in secret ses-
sion, at least. It seems to me at this time,
before that course shall have been consid-
| cred at all, there ought not to be thrust
upon this House and country by any mode
| OF procedure, discussion of that situa-
! tion. LApplause on The republican side ]
remember, and 10 is familiar to you all
the csurse pursued in the war Of 1872 A
message was sent to the congress of the
| United States; the Senate and House went
into secret session; the committees on
foreign affairs resolved upon secrecy Of pro-
cedure, and the report of the ommittee on
foreign affairs was made to this House, ac-
companied by a declaration of war and
other measures subsequently in relation to
the regulations Of privateering yet nothing
was given TO the public.
WHEN SECRECY WAS REMOVED.
"The injunction Of secrecy was never
removed until the executive signature had
been affixed to the bill declaring war, Is
there anything in. that procedure, directed
by the eminent men OF those times. TO adj
monish us that either by ndirection or by
direction we shall not deviate from that
| deliberate, calm course in which the safety
OF the country restsa Sir, there is great
responsibility upon this House at this time
trust that this resolution will be referred
| To the committee on foreign affairs and that
every matter touching this question will be
so referred. Because we have an illustra-
tion at this very instant how unexpectedly
to everybody the situation has been brought