The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-25

gravity OF the case is SUCH that the
President suggests the mode Of deter
mining a cardinal question 'n the con-
troversy aud he asks US to cooperate
with him by enabling him to appoint
three men to examine the records and
evidence of the facts involved In this
contention between the two great gov
ernments the first fact for US to remem-
ber as patriotic Americans is that the
success of our country in its contention
depends above all upon our presenting
united front. so that all Americans
shall be as one. and that our govern
meot shall speak for all the people Of
the United States, (applause) and the
prompt response Of the peoples rep
reseptatives 10 according this small sum
of money to pay the expenses Of an in.
vestigatiou, which the President says
shall be carefully and judicially made
and With the least delay possible sug-
gestiou which I ac, sure was made 10
good faith aud will be SO carried out BY
an American President-we answering
in thatspirlt which becomes Americans
and promptly granting the appropriation
The spectacle will be presented Of
republic that is as cne man.
MUST SHOW OUR UNITY.
Ic negotiations Of this character, any
officer charged with the duty of present
ing this government is hampered and
his opponent is encouraged BY every
word Of dissent that comes from his
home. Every criticism behind the Of
6cer's back puts him al disadvantage,
ard hesitation by this congress, the
postponipg Of this simple question of
an appropriation to aid the PRESIDENT in
performing an executive function, would
be construed by the British press and
the British government as evidence that
the people Of the United States were
not behind the President; that his
action in the matter had some relation
to party tactics, and that be did not
speak the voice of the American peo.
ple. Let US answer and do our duty,
all of US, now We shall have long
days in which to discuss the Monroe
doctrine. and the exact words in which
it should be formulated if we do not
agree With the precise terms in which
Mr.. Olney or the President has put it.
But on this matter, discussion only con-
fuses and gives aid aud comfort TO those
across the seas. Any disclosure Of
dissent here-apd at bottom there
really is -uooeany appearnces of dis
sent, would not aid but would hamper
those who arc clothed by the Coustitu.
ton with this great duty. | hope,
therefore. that the house will proceed to
pass the bill without delay. | have
made these few remarks, not from any
desire for debate, but merely as sug.
gestion By way of guidance to the ac-
ton which | believe we ought to make,
aud 10 which 1 hope all will concur.
And, now, Mr.. Speaker. unless there
e some considerable body Of gentlemen
here who desire discussion, | will move
the previous question.
THE SOUTH SPEAKS.
Mr.. Crisp (Dem. of Georgia: Mr..
Speaker, together with all on this side
of the house, I rejoice that the gentle
man from Illinois (Mr. Hitt) has been
recognized to ask consideration OF the
bill which has just been read at the
clerks desk. 1t does seem to me that
there can be 20 division in this house as
to the propriety of the immediate pas
sage Of that bill. For great many
years there has been a controversy as
to the divisional line between the re-
public of Venezuela and British Gui-
ana. We respectfully invited Great
Britain to submit the controversy be-
tween that government and the repub
lie of Venezuela to arbitration. Great
Britain has declined arbitration. Now
what are we to do. If the American
people have 6zed opinion upon any
question, it is the opinion that no Euro
pean country shall be permitted TO ac-
quire territory on their continent by
force. (Applause.) Now, the question
is whether we-inasmuch as Great
Britain, has declined arbitration of this
controversy-we are bound to ascertain
and to ascertain speedily on which side
lies the right, and that is the object Of
the Presidents message and of this
bill. If We are not to have the assist
ance of Great Britain in ascertaining
the facts by means Of arbitration, ,aen
we must ascertain them for ourselves,
and We ought to do it at once The
suggestion of my friend from Maine
(Mr. Boutelle) TO wait until commit
ee is appointed, means to wait three
weeks while We should at oocc author