Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-10

dispatching Mr.. McLane as minister to
Great Britain, he had given him certain OBJ
jectionabIe private instructions to be used
in his negotiations with the British foreign
office.
THE gist of the instructions to which
objection was made was that the minister
should call the attention of the British
foreign office to the fact that by the presi-
Dental election of 1928 the administration
of this government had passed from one
political party to another, and there having
been discussion and controversy during the
previous administration of Mr.. Adams in
regard to certain matters relating to our
trade with The West India Islands, Mr..
McLane was authorized by the secret in
structions given Mr.. Van Buren as Secrs-
tary of State. to call the attention of the
British foreign office to the fact of the
change of administration, and to suggest
that negotiations heretofore interrupted
might with propriety be resumed as the
administration Of Mr.. Jackson, which the
minister represented, did not indorse the
position taken by the previous administra-
ton of Mr. Adams. 1ou will bear in mind.
Mr.. Speaker that in that case the inStruc-
tons were private and confidential. They
were given by the Secretary of State of
ing fer Great Britain. They directed MIN
to call attention TO an uEdisputed fact.
They merely recited something that was as
well known the rising ana the setting
of the sun. But, inasmuch as cur minister
was thereby authorized to make to the
| British foreign office some reference to
the internal affairs of this country, and TO
the changes by which one political party
had been raised in the public estimation
and another political party lowered serious
objection was taken to those Instructions,
ard as l have already said, there occurred
in the Senate of the United States in ex-
ecutive session, a debate which is printed
in Gales and Seatons History of the De-
bates in Congress.
Daniel Webster Quoted.
In that debate Daniel Webster, than
whom no more patriot and loyal man
ever lived, or one better qualified to discuss
such matters, made speech, the essence
of which is here recorded, and l will ask
the clerk to read the passages which l
have marked, beginning on the third line
of page 1333.
Mr.. Webster-Sir, l would forgive mis-
takes; l would pardon the want Of infor-
nation; l would pardon almost anything
where l saw true patriotism and sound
American feeling; but ] cannot forgive the
sacrifice of this feeling to mere party. l
cannot concur in sending abroad a public
agent who has rot conceptions so large
and liberal as to feel that, in the presence
of foreign courts. amidst the monarchies
of Europe, he Is to stand up for his coun-
try. and his whole country; that no jot nor
title of he1 honor Is to come to harm In his
hands; that he Is Eot to suffer others to
reproach either his government or his
country, and far less is he himself to re-
proach either; that he is to have no OBJ
70 heart in his bosom but an American
heart: and that he is to forget self. to for
get party, to forget every sinister and mar
row feeling. in his proud and lofty attach
meat to the republic whose commission he
bears.
Mr.President have discharged an exceed
ingiy unpleasant duty-the most unpleasant
of my public life. But | have looked up
on it as a duty. and 1t was not to be shun-
ned. And. sir. however unimportant may
be the opinion Of SO humble an individual
as myself l now only wish that might be
heard by every Independent freeman in the
United States, by the British minister, ard
the British king, and by every minister
and every crowned head in Europe. while
| standing here in my place, l pronounce my
| rebuke, as solemnly aad as decisvely as l
can, upon this first instance in which an
American minister has been sent abroad as
the representative Of his party. and not as
the representative of his country. lAp-
plause)
MIR. President: I have discharged an ex-
ceedingly unpleasant duty, the most un-
pleasant in my public life; but have look
ed upon it a duty which was not to he
Stunned. And. sir, however unimportant
ray be the opinion of SO humble an ind!-
vidual as myself. l now only wish that l
might be heard by every independent free
man in the United States-by the British
| minister, and TIE British king, and by
every minister and every crowned head in
Europe, while standing here in my place
pronounce my rebuke as solemnly and as
decisively as l can upon this first instance
in which an American minister has been
sent abroad as the representative of his
party and not as the representative OF his
country applause on the republican
side.)
After concluding this quotation from Mr.
Webster. Mr.. Barrett soon closed his re-
| marks.
Mr.. Crisp's Reply.
When Mr.. Barrett concluded, Mr.. Crisp
took the floor and said the Introduction of
Mr.. Barrett's resolution of Impeachment
would serve to open the tariff discussion
earlier than was anticipated.
DO you gentlemen remember what took
| place, or haye you in your rejoicing at
your great majority today forgotten that
| OILY few years ago you, having ma
jorlty here of from twenty to thirty-I do
| the Mckinley bill?" said MIR. Crisp. We
| went to the country on the Mckinley BILL
ard in the next Congress this side had a
| majority of nearly 151. Therefore, 1 say
| that If you should inlpeach men who en-
tertain the views expressed by Mr.. Bay
! ard, you must impeach the majority of the
| people of the United States.
| Now. tnat side of the House have got
| very large majority" continued Mr.
Crisp. You can pass any legislation you
| please by two-thltds vote, If you believe
| that the people of this country approve of
| the Mckinley bill or anything like it. you
| owe it to yourselves, you owe it to the
country. to frame bill and pass it. Ap-
plause on the democratic side) That side
mas lWiltSu tl.S SlCe Win the wilson hlll
| When we were considering the bill you had
| nothing but criticisms of it.. Now you can
make a bill. You say the revenues are
short. You say they should be increased
| on protective lines. Have the manhood to
present your bill and pass it, applause
en- the democratic sde) Do not say, as
| new and then you hear some republican
| leader saying, 1t is no use for us to pass
| a bill. because possibly it will not pass
| the Senate, or if it passes the Senate, pos
| Silly 1t will meet with an executive veto.'
MY friends. take charge of your own re-
| sponslo.i.ty. Prepare your tariff bill, bring
| 1t In here and pass it., and go to the country
| upon 1t. There is no other way in which
you can justify your own position. or in
which you can assail the position of this
| side in the enforcement or passage of the
existing law, except by that course of ac
| ton. Now from time to time during this
session of Congress We shall hear all kinds
of speeches assailins the, Wilson tariff BILL
| assailing this side for passing such law;
and yet l question now whether this Con-
gress does not adjourn without the passage
| Of any general tariff bill through 1t or
| through this House. 1t is an old plan of the
| republicans to evade that sort of response
bility. Instead Of coming UP and preparing
| your bill, showing the country what you
| would do if you could in the event it should