Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-25


can, of South Dakota, advocated the pas
sage of the bill in brief speech. Refer
ring to the statement by Mr.. Boutelle,
that the passage of this bill would mean
a reflection upon those who enacted the
original legislation, Mr.. Picker called
attention to the fact that in no less than
five cases had congress repealed portions
of that law, of aich now only that part
remained which was sought to be re-
pealed by the pending bill.
Mr.. Walker, republican, of Virginia,
next rose to address the house, and was
received with a round of applause. He
said that In his opinion much depended In
securing harmony and good will among
the people of his section of the state on
the passage of this hill. He asked if
something was not due to sentiment,
especially If the sentiment was in the
righr direction and for a good purpose.
In the south, he said. there was a turning
to the union with devotion that people
who did not mingle with those of that
section could not understand. There are
yet many In the south. General Walker
said. who were educated at West Point,
still capable of fighting, and If the nation
should be put In peril from foreign foe
would not the government desire their
services? Would you?' he said, deter
any OF these men from the privilege of
fighting against a foreign invader? All
that the old Confederates asked, he con-
tinued, was to be allowed to go and sin
no more, IL you will have 1t that we did
SIM
He was asked what effect the bill would
have upon him, and replied that it would
not affect him at all; /; that he was not
educated at West Point. "But if the
country needs my services l shall gladly
give them" tApplause)
Mr., Pearson, republican, of North Car
olina-Did you not lead the glorious old
brigade after General Jack
sons death?
Mr.. Walker-I did, and l am proud of
it, not because led the brigade, but be-
cause | was thought worthy of succeed
ing to the command. | say to the repnb-
licans, although 1t Is true, as was sug-
gested awhile ago, that Longstreet was
ostracised, the time Is now passed when
a man can be or is ostracised as he was.
And 1t is for the purpose of wiping out
all such feeling that we ask the passage
of this bill.
Mr. Hull, in charge of the bill, here en-
deavored to close the discussion by NOV
ing the previous question, but Mr.. Cum
mings democrat, of New York, asked for
three minutes time to speak as a war
democrat"
Give 1t to him, Hull" Let him have
it," was heard on all sides, and Mr.. Hull
withheld the motion.
Mr.. Cummings said: General Grant
the floor today there would be no ques-
tion of the passage of this bill in view of
Appomattox. l was one of the 800, 900
war democrats in the north that march
ed to the front to sustain the union. and
in their behalf l give my support to the
bill. Mr.. Speaker, II you remember, the
war democrats amounted to something.
Mr.. Lincoln was the republican candidate
for the presidency in 1861 he was the
union candidate for the presidency In
1854. So far as names were concerned,
the republican party was as completely
wiped out of existence as the whigs or
federals had been. As war democrat l
fought for the union. voted for Gener-
al Grant for president both times he was
a candidate, and II he had been nominat-
ed again, imperialism or no imperialism,
l would have voted for him third time"
Mr.. Cummings advised the democrats
not to vote upon this question, but to
throw the responsibility where it belong
ed. IF you desire to say"--addresSing
the repubicans-"tha Grant was wrong
and that thirty years afterward you were
right vote down the bill"
The demand for the previous question
was seconded by unanimous vote, with
the exception of that of Mr.. Boute1le,
and the bill was passed by the same
vote, Mr.. Boutelle rising In his seat to
announce his position when the negative
vote was called for by the speaker.
The house at AIS p. m, adjourned until
tomorrow.
The Senate.
The matter of chief interest in the sem
ate today was the speech of Mr.. Mills in
support Of his joint resolution requesting
the president to procure, from the Span
ish government the right of self-govern-
ment for Cuba or, in the event of
Spain's refusal, to take military possess
sion of the island and hold it until the
Cubans organize government and raise
military and naval forces for its defense
Mr. Mills took the ground that inasmuch
as the United States would not permit
England France or any other country to
purchase or obtain the island from
Spain, and thus to ameliorate the condi-
tion Of its inhabitants. the United states
was morally bound to put a stop to the
crueltfes and misgovernment there and
to aid the Cubans to establish govern
ment of their own This idea was elab-
Grated by Mr.. Mills In a passionate
speech, which, at times. drew applause
from the galleries He asserted that the
United States had rights, not only in Gu
ba but in every foot of soil In the west
err hemisphere; that that was the Mon
roe doctrine that that doctrine was as
old as humanity and that God Almighty
was its author, as 1t was the right of self
preservation. "The United States
should say to Spain" Mr.. Mills exclaim-
ed, you must give that island self-gov-
ernment, or we will. And we are able
to do 1t, too
After Mr.. Mills speech some addition
al correspondence bearing on the Cuban
question was brought forward by Mr..
Morgan, and then the joint resolution
was placed on the calendar.
The rest of the day was given up to
the consideration Of the Legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial appropriation bill.
Without a final disposition of 1t, the sem
ate, at $50, adjourned until tomorrow.
Mr. Mills. in opening his speech upon
his Joint resolution, said he would have
voted for all the resolutions offered on
the subject of Cuba because they were
steps--although short steps ---in-the line
of march, which 1t was the duty of the
people of the United States to take.
The fathers had for century asserted
and maintained that the people of the
United States had rights in Cuba-had
rights in evcry foot OF soil In the western
rights which they were
ready not only to assert. but to maintain
by the whole power of the army and
navy of the republic.
The United States had never asserted
that 1t had any rights In Ireland, Hun
gary Poland or elsewhere In Europe; but
ii had asserted Its rights In every soli-
tary acre of land on the western hemis-
phere. 1t had there the highest right
the right of self preservation. The Mon