Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-19
ENDORSE HIS WORDS.
The House Adopts a Resolution Applaud
Ing the Presidents Message.
STRONG SPEECHES on both SIDES.
MIR. Saunders Thinks We are Med
ding where We Have No business.
Suggestion Of Third Term for Mr.
CIexeIand-Vfewso of Citizens.


topic Of conversation on the streets, in
the clubs and hotels, and at the fire.
sides yesterday; and, while by some the
President was criticised, the prevailing
sentiment was decidedly in sympathy
with his decisive action.
In the House of Delegates the ques-
ton of war was freely discussed, when
Mr. Hathaway presented resolution en-
dorsing Mr.. Clcveland's message. Seve-
raj strong speeches in support of Mr..
Cleveland's action were made, and the
old hall of legislation. in which 1t was
decided thirty-fve years ago that Virginia
should secede from the Union, rever-
berated with more war-talk than it has
since that memorable day.
Mr. Hathaway's resolution was as fol-
lows:
BE 1t resolved by the House of Dele
gates of Virginia, the Senate concurring,
That the General Assembly of Virginia,
in session assembled, do most heartily
endorse and applaud the noble and pa
trotic sentiments announced ana express
ed in the recent message TO Congress or the
President of the United States, and that
a copy of this resolution be sent to the
President and to each Virginia Senator
and Representative in Congress.
THE AMERICAN SENTIMENT.
As soon as the resolution was read Mr..
Hathaway obtained the floor and said:
Mr. Speaker | believe that Mr.. Cleve-
lands message voiced the sentiments OF
every Nirginian and every American clti-
zen, and to-day many state legisla-
lures are assembled. and will doubtless
adopt resolutions similar in character TO
the one ] have offered. IL is the duty
of this State to show that all prejudices
or passions that might have existed
here have been gathered and buried
beneath the green grass OF hope. The
adoption of such a resolution will show
that Virginia will ever be true to the
sacred trust placed in her. We
will follow our great chiefiain. | know
we will. Now. let us announce publicly
that we will do it, and let us assure him
of our sympathy and endorsement.
NO NECESSITY FOR 1T.
When Mr.. Hathaway took his seat
Mr. Saunders of Franklin. arose, and
made a strong speech in reference TO
the resolution. bitterly opposing it. He
said:
Mr. Speaker / am strongly opposed 10
this House taking any such action as is
proposed in this resolution. No more
lamentable spirit exists among our ma
tional lawmakers than that entitled
jingoism and it strikes me that sofe
Of our representatives In Congress who
spend a greater portion of their time In
twisting the tail Of the British lion could
be better employed. . one day of
war between the United States and Great
Britain would entail on the whole world
great suffering. Il were far better that
the whole of Venezuela be sunk in the
Caribbean Sea than that this country
should go to war with England What
difference does a fight over some mud
flats on the Orinoco river make to us,
anyhow There certainly appears no rea-
son why the United States should eXpend
100000 toward investigating this matter
and probably precipitating war Let
England have the mud flats If she wants
them In saying this | don't mean TO
appear as lacking in patriotism whenever
the occasion arises for war; when the
United States is encroached upon We will
be ready to fight But what matters 1t
TO us if Venezuela and Great Britain do
90 10 war? The rights and liberties OF our
people will not be interfered with. and |
don't believe that the Monroe doctrine
would demand that we interfere. Think
Of the absuriity of our appropriating
100000 for the purpose of designating a
border line between Venezuela and British
Guiana. What business have we got to
90 poking our nose In affairs that don't
concern us If we go shaking our 1lst
at Great Britain we have got 10 stand
to il. and we might as well contemplate
all the horrors of war Certain II IS
that Mr. Cleveland needs no iendorsation
OF ours. Congress is in a position to do
...ttk
there is no use in our tanning the
flame"
HOPE FOR PEACE.
Mr.. Hundley next spoke on the ques-
ton. and favored the adoption Of the
Hathaway resolution. with the following
amendment to be inserted after the
words UNITED States" which Mr., Hath
away accepted:
But. at the same time. believing that
a war between England and America
would be the greatest calamity that could
befall the civilized and Christian world,
we express the earnest hope that all diff
ferences between the two great represen-
tatives of the Anglo-Ssxon race may be
amicably adjusted"
When Mr.. Hundley resumed his seat
Mr.. Coles PopulisD made a strong
speech in opposition 90 the resolution, in
which he assailed Mr.. Cleveland, and
pitched into the Democratic party warm
ly. He first stated that he was heartily
in sympathy with what Mr.. Saunders
had said and. after deriding Mr.. Cleve-
land. said that the President would pay
no more respect TO any resolution that
the Virginia Legislature might adopt than
10 fly which might crawl across his
noble brow. II don't want" said he, Ito
encourage this buncombe, thrd-term.
/ thereto
o,,pose the resolution. The Monroe doc
trine has no place in the international
code. and In interfering with the action
of England we are oversteppng our
rights. We are outside and beyond the
controversy between Great Britain and
Venezuela, and have no right TO step in
and tell Great Britain that she must
recognize the Monroe doctrine or do any
thing she doesn't want to do
DOES NOT EXPECT WAR
Mr. Hundley again secured the floor
when Mr.. Coles concluded. and he said
ir the outset that Ne didn't believe there
would be a war between Great Britain
and this country; but he remembered
how much fire a little flame kindleth,
and was therefore not disposed 10 fan
the flame. II stand here" he said, ito
anplaud the sentiment in regard to the
President expressed by Mr.. Hathaway.
Mr. Cleveland Is a grand. patriotic
man. and what he said In his message
was not buncombe, but that he. as the
leader OF the American people, regarded
the Monroe doctrine as one not TO be
trined with War is the greatest
calamity that can befall people. and
cod forbid that II shall come between
EngIand and America. 1t II must come.
,hnugh we will meet II. but don't let
No do any unnecessary act TO hasten or
nrecipitate IL. / ween that Virginia will
he found as ready to stand by the coun-
trv as the residents of any other State
IN the Union
Mr.. Parker said the sentiments of Mr..
cleveland. as expressed In his message