The morning call., 1895-01-12
DEMOCRATS FALL OUT
All About a Pension for
General McClernand.
NORTHERN MEN IN 4 RAGE
Lay Down the Law to Their Southern
Brethren.
JEFF DAVIS is A FALLEN IDOL.
There Has Been Too Much Of Secession
Sympathy for the Good Of
the Party.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE feature of
to-night's session of the House of Repre-
sentatives was the debate which grew out
of the attempt of Springer (D) of Illinois
to pass bill granting 500 a month to
Major General John a. MeClernand.
Jones CD of Verginia insisted On making
the point OF no quorum. Springer, in a
heated speech, lectured those OF his South
ern Democratic colleagues who constantly
assumed an attitude of hostility toward
the pension of Union soldiers. He called
attention to the fact that but thirteen
Democrats had been returned to the next
House from the North. He warned them
that IL their course was persisted In none
would be returned to the succeeding Con-
gress.
Pence Pop.) of Colorado, in an earnest
speech, appealing to Jones to withdraw
his point, spoke of the well-known dis
tinguished, patriotic services of General
McClernand. when Waugh (R) of Indiana
threw bomb shel into the discussion by
asking If the beneficiary Of this bill was
not the same General John A. McClernand
who was relieved from command before
Vicksburg by General Grant for unsol-
dierly conduct. and OF whom General Hal
leck said II was premeditated murder to
place him in command. The attack on
General McClernand came from an uneX-
pected source, and Marsh lR) of Illinois
and others FASTENED to his defense. Marsh
declared holly that General McClernand
had never been guilty Of unsoldierly con-
duct and the history of the transaction
would show that he had not been removed
hv Grant fur "a son
"Did not General Grant remove him for
causes which he deemed proper" per-
sisted Waugh.
81 do not desire to impugn the character
of General Grant," replied Marsh. sharply.
"but desire to say that his action in this
case was mistake"
What reason did General Grant as
sign ?" interrupted Cox OF Tennessee;
twas 1t not because he was too quick at
Vieksburg?"
81 never heard it charged against
Grant," replied Marsh, ''that he criticized
a soldier for going into fight too quickly"
LApplause.l
The discussion was prolonged for more
than an hour and was marked by several
sensational scenes. one Of which was the
kissing of Jones when he said that the
widow of John A. Logan, who received
pension of $4,000 year. was living in So
cial luxury In this city and annually spent
more than her pension money for flowers
displayed at her social functions. Later
on, when be proclaimed his pride in the
Confederate cause that had gone down in
defeat, the Republican chorus shouted,
I'VE have no doubt of it," and in the gai-
leries many of the spectators applauded
vigorously.
Springer was finally forced to withdraw
the bill. But even after it had been with
drawn Champ Clark D) of Missouri got
the floor and in a characteristic speech
scored Jones roundly, as be said. on be-
half of bis Democratic colleagues of the
North. He began by saying that the
Democratic party presented dissolving
view and would soon be lost sight of,
though to memory dear. He attributed
much of the Democratic disaster last fall
to the course OF the Southern Demo crats
on the pension question. and charged the
defeat of at least five Northern Democrats
to the speeches of Jones. He then paid a
magnificent tribute to General MeCler-
napd.
81 saw him preside at the St. Louis con-
vention," he said, (which nominated Sam
uel j. TildeD. who was elected President
Of the United States, and whom the cow
ards on this floor allowed to be swindled
cut Of his seat"
He declared that the greatest martinez
who ever ruined great cause was Jeffer-
son Davis, and next to him ranked Stan
ton. II McCernand had had fair chance,
he gave it as his opinion that he would
have been as great a soldier as Grant.
After appealing to Jones to allow the mer-
itorioDs bill to go through, he turned TO
him and said impressively that the Demo-
crals of the North were sick and tired of
having :her Southern party associates
come to Congress and stab their party in
the back. 1--WE are through with you,"
Clark concluded.