Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-28
STOOD AS A ROCK.
6outeIIe's Objection Gives a
Shock to the House.
NAN FROM MAINE STANDS FIRM

Refuses to Permit Resolutions That Might
Mean War Being Rushed Through With
out Debate-Attempt to Recognise Cuban
Belligerency Defeated for the Time
Vest in the Senate Makes . Savage and
Eloquent Attack ON Spain.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S- Cuba was the
cause of two outbreaks in congress yester-
day-one in the senate and the other in
the house. OF the two that in the house
was the most interesting and significant,
as but one man stood against immediate
action, without a moments debate, on a
question that might involve war. The
strong resolutions prepared by the foreign
affairs committee for the recognition of
the Cuban belligerents had Been
presented earlier in the day amid a scene
of general enthusiasm. Several times
during their reading the clerk was inter
rupted with rounds Of applause from the
erence to Intervention. il necessary"
was greeted with cheers On the conclu-
sion Of the reading Sulzer of New York
jumped to his feet and asked, in view of
the great public interest in the question
raised by the resolutions, that they be made
special order for Tuesday next.
Proposed to Pass Elm ut Once.
Meredith of West Virginia suggested
chat they be passed Immediately, a sug-
gcstion that was approved with more
cheers. Hit, however interviewed and
said the committee had instructed him to
press the resolutions at the earliest possi-
Bile moment. Thereupon the excitement
subsidized for the time and the Van Horn
Tarsney contested election case was re-
sumed. 1t was after this case had been
decided that Hit again arose to call up
the Cuban resolutions So many gentle
men, said he, had asked him to lay the
proposition before the house that in obedi-
encc to their request and the instructions
Of the committee to call up the resolutions
at the earliest possible moment he now
asked unanimous consent for their imme-
date consideration. A scene of enthusi-
asm that put the house into n perfect fur
ore greeted the request.
Eoutelle Gets Into the Fight.
81 do not wish to make a speech on
these resolutions" continued Hit. 'They
are brief and present plain, simple
pAODDoAtioh Ou d 1uf-Stlou WIN WHICH,
every one in America is familiar" Amid
cries Of Vote" Vote" Bailey of Texas
said he would make no objection to vot-
ing on tho resolutions separately, but he
was opposed to the last resolution, which
pledged the support of congress in adj
vance to anything the executive might do.
Hit was saying that he thought there
would be no objection to striking out that
resolution and Turner of Georgia was on
the floor asking if unanimous consent
were required, when Boutclle of Maine
sprang to his feet fairly bristling with
pugnacity.
do We Want War with Spain?
In voice that arrested the instant at
tention Of the house he said: Il under
stand these resolutions accord belligerent
rights to the Cuban insurgents, an action
that might involve the United States in
war with SPAIN"
THAT'S whad|we want" c-ied several
members.
''Wcll," continued Boutelle impetuous.
ly, Il object to their passage without q
word of explanation"
Hit tried to dissuade Boutelle, but the
latter was obdurate. "Why," said he, cit
is already o'clock, and l consider this
proposition to take up resolutions of such
momentous gravity in this way an amaz-
ing one. l want the reasons; want to
see whether the reasons appeal to my
Judgment as an American citizen, as a
member of congress, and as a patriot l
object to the present consideration of q
resolution of that gravity"
Makes Hit Feel Badly.
These latter words were delivered with
great emphasis. Hit was evidently great
ly chagrined. He had prepared the re-
quest, he said, in Difference to what he
thought was the unanimous wish of all.
Meantime other members were continu-
ing their appeals to Boutellc until that
gentleman turned savagely upon then,
and declared that he did not propose to
vote at a moments notice to involve his
country in war with a country with which
we were now at peace.