The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-03-01

Il
appointed over the defeat of the Mica
ragua Canal bill in the house yesterday.
This with the failure in the same body |
of the Hawaiian cable, just one week
previous, shows the position Of the
Democratic party with reference to
these two important enterprises 1t
win be remembered that both passed
the senate by good majorities, but their |
defeat was sealed by big, adverse Dem
ocratic majorities in the house. 1t Is
well understood in Washington that
Mr.. Cleveland defeated the Hawaiian |
cable, out Of an animus which Is easily |
comprehended, but why there should be
SO much objection among Democrats to
the canal is difficult Of explanation.
OF course this action commits the DEM
ocratic party against both measures,
and they will be vigorously opposed
by that party when they are revived
and brought forward by the Republi-
cans in the next congress. A prominent
Eastern paper gives the following in
teresting account of the debate and
vote on the Hawaiian cable: Demo-
cratic partisanship won victory over
American patriotism In tho house of
representatives today when Mr.. Hits
motion to recede from the disagree
ment to the senate amendment to the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill, which provides for the building by
the government of submarine cable
from the United States to Hawaii, was
rejected by O vote Of ia yeas to 152
nays, The negative votes were oil cast
by Democrats, some of whom, 1t Is
pretty safe to say, so voted with great
reluctance and no enthusiasm. No is
sue was ever more clearly presented
or sharply drawn on any question In
congress, and IL 1t had not unfortunate
ly been true that many Democratic
members were blindly led or controlled
by partisan considerations and preju-
dlces, It might fairly be said that every
member who voted did so with eyes
wide open. Considering the time occu-
pied, no subject was ever more clearly
illustrated; but light was the last thing
the "Cuckoo" leaders desired, and all
their speeches were merely so many at
tempts to excite and inname party pre-
judice and to confuse and misrepre-
sent the question at Issue, and they
succeeded. The craftsmanship Of the
dooryard triumphed temporarily at
last. The debate in favor Of the amend
ment was singularly brilliant one,
and It would have been effective in
any other Legislative body in the United
States except the present house of
representatives. 1t was In vain, how
ever, that Mr.. Ryan, OF New York,
speaking in behalf Of American COM
merce, begged his party associates to
do one act In the last days OF this
congress to justify the existence of the
body OF which they are members. His
homeiy eloquence and earnest words
fell on deaf ears. 1t was equally in
vain that General siclxles sought to
recall them to the ways of Jefferson,
Monroe and Marcy and other states
men who shaped Democratic policies In
the past His eloauence and logic were
alike wasted. IN vain. too. did Mr..
storer OF Ohio. with mastery elo-
quence appeal TO the patriotism Of the
majority and beseech them to banIsh
partisanship from the consideration Of
the great national matter before them.
In the course of mis- speech he read
with impressive eject extracts from
President cleveIand's annual messages
OF 1856 ana 1855. Equally vain was the
clear. logical speech of General Draper.
Of Massachusetts,, and the earnest plea
Of Hermann. Of oregon. The latter
spoke in behalf OF the Pacific states,
whose commercial welfare and pros
perity are slaked upon the protection