Evening star., 1896-03-18
ON MISSIONARY WORK
Senator Vest Makes Another At
tack on the Administration.
THE PRESIDENT SEVERELY CRITICISED
The Bayard Censure Resolutions
Up In the House.
SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST

SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST
There had been some prospect that the
Cuban debate In the Senate might be
brought to a close today, but owing to the
indisposition of Mr.. Mills Crex), who had
the floor on this subject, a change of pro-
gram was contemplated when the session
opened by which Mr.. Thurston CNeb) would
proceed on the Du Pont case.
An animated controversy arose over the
resolution of Mr.. Cannon CUtab) directing
Secretary Smith to execute the law for
the public opening Of the Uncompahgre
Indian reservation, Utah. Mr.. Cannon said
2,0O0.OtO acres were involved, and he wish
ed this mandatory resolution to overcome
the delays Of the Secretary of the Interior.
Mr.. Gordon (Ga) responded that after
conference with Secretary Smith he had
learned that vast mineral wealth, par
ticularly asphalt, existed on these lands.
The Secretary was desirous of protecting
the government against rapacious persons
and corporations seeking to control these
valuable deposits. The Secretary felt that
fit, either by royalty or otherwise. SO that
the public might receive the benefits in
stead of giving them to one great corpora
ticn.
Mr. SnaNQler aSkeQ why MI. SIOrQOn or
the Secretary did not ask to repeal the law
instead of ignoring the law?
There was some disposition to cut off the
debate so as to go on with Cuba or the Du
Pont case, and Mr.. Gordon peremptorily
objected to going on with the Utah subject.
Mr.. Wolcott protested, however, that
Cuba and the Du Pont case ought not to
crowd out all other subjects. The new
state Of Utah ought to have a few min
utes on a matter concerning her interests.
The Senate thereupon adopted Mr.. Can
mons motion to proceed with the consider
alton of his resolution.
He followed with a sharp criticism of the
Secretary of the Interior for failing to exc
cute the law. The Secretary's course was
such as to ultimately put the lands in the
hands of monopoly instead of opening
them to the whole public.
Mr.. Wocott added that the lands belong
ed to the public, and should not be kept
from the prospectors who were encouraged
by the government, and who would open up
these vast tracts and make them valuable.
Mr.. Vests Criticism.
Mr.. Vest followed in criticism of the
Secretary's course.
There was a time said Mr.Vest, when
a cabinet officer who violated law would
be brought before the bar of this Senate"
Mr.. Vest gave his personal knowledge con-
earning this. subject. This reservation con-
tanned the greatest asphalt deposits in ex
centuries. Heretofore it was costly and
rare article, taken mainly from a small
island.
A company was formed at ST. Louis and
large investments made toward bringing
these deposits to cities for roofing and paw
ing purposes. A bill was passed directing
the opening of the lands, but the Secretary
of the Interior nullified it. 1t was nullified
on the excuse that Congress did not know
what 1t was about. The Secretary's course
was in behalf of rich investors, who were
the only ones who could bid on public
auction for the lands.
Mr.. Vest said he had protested personally
to Secretary Smith and had told him the
entire western interest would oppose his
plan, and that no western man would pro-
pose it to Congress. Thereupon Secretary
Smith answered that he would get a friend
from Georgia to introduce 1t.
At this point Mr. Vest was aroused to
another Of those remarkable bursts which
electrify the Senate.
The President Attacked.
There is a disposition on the part of
the present administration" said he, ito
treat the western people as though they
were in a condition of pupilage; as though
they needed correction and guardianship
and guidance"
Our President had given a recent evil
dence of this feeling toward the west
proceeded Mr. Vest. It was during the
Presidents attendance at a missionary
meeting in New York.
Il sorry to say it," said Mr.. Vest,
"but there seems to be disposition on the
part of the present administration to treat
tine western people as if they were in a
condition of pupilage, that they did not
know their own rights and their own in
terests. and they must be informed ex
cathedra from the east in regard to what
is best fer them and what should be done
for them, Even the President of the
United States lately miSSinnarv
sion Qaughter), spoke Of the west as a
land of immortality and crime. He stood
with the ghastly light Of hell holes of the
rum sellers of New York blazing upon
him, and, cantingly, said home missions
must be used to civilize and Christianize
the men who have left their homes in the
civilized east and gone out amongst the
mountains and valleys Of that wild and
woolly west. Iaughter)
Our President stood with DR.. Talmage
on one side and the Rev. Sheldon Jackson
that blessed old missionary hymn which
We have heard SO often in our childhood:
From Montara's sinful mountain;
From Utah's wicked plains;
They call us to deliver
Our land from Errors chains.
There was long and loud laughter as
Mr.. Vest repeated the lines in tones of in
tense sarcasm.
1--WE are told,' continued the Senator
''by high ecclesiastical authority that his
excellency has lately laid dowl his honors
at the feet of Jesus. I am glad to know
it. 1t has been the general impression of
the democratic party that the mugwumps
and incense burners have got all those
honors and intend to keep them. 1 have
great respect for the Christian religion
and missions at home and abroad, but Mr.
President, 1t is slander upon the men
who, with rife in one hand and an ak in
the other, have gone out and blazed the
pathway Of civilization in those western
Wilds.
The Western Men Defended.
st am a western man, and went to Mis-
souri, when it was frontier in sight Of the
Indian and the buffalo. have lived with
those people nearly fifty years, and say
to our President now that If he will in
terrupt hunting ducks in Ncrth Carolina
and silver democrats in Kentucky long
enough to come out wess we will show him
God-fearing, self-rcspecting. law-abiding
people; we will show him churches, in
which there Is real and unaffected piety
Our church spires may not reach SO near
to heaven as those Of the east, and our
church organs may not have the melifloas
tomas n ffhoca In tho east br,f o,,r ,,,,,