The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-26
Grover and His Cabinet.
SENATOR VEST GIVES THEM A ROASTING.
President Cevelands Home Mission Speech
in Now York--Sscretary Hoke Smith Un-
dertook to NuIIify Law Passed by Con-


in Now York--Sscretary Hoke Smith Un-
dertook to NuIIify Law Passed by Con-
sress.
The United States Senate was dis
turoed the other day by u very I'M
expected storm Of sarcasm and in
vcctive from Senator Vest Of Mis-
souri, directed against the President
and members of tho Cabinet. A
comparatively minor measure was
unoor consideration, relating to the
failure of the Secretary Of tho Interior
20 execute the law for the opening Of
an Indian reservation in Utah. This
LED TO somo sharp criticism, and finally
brought MIR. Vest to his feet for a
speech bristling with caustc personal
references to the President. The
Senator referred to Mr.. Clcveland's
recent speech in New York, where
sad Mr.. Vest, "ho stood with tho
ghastly light Of the hell holes aud tho
ruin sellers Of Now York blazing upon
h'in ana cantingly said home missions
must be used to civilizo and Chris
tianizo tho West"
At another point the Senator declar-
ed that if our President would pauss
n hunting ducks in South Carolina and
silver Democrats in Kentucky lone
God-fearing, selfreliant people.
Mr.. Vests remarks camo with such
tiery enthusiasm, such picturcsquencss
OF language and such unctuOus humor
that Senators and spectators Joined in
frequent and long-cOntinuod bursts Of
laughter.
" There was u time" said he, "when
a Cabinet officer who violated q law
would be brought before the bar Of
this Scnate.'
Mr. Vest then gavo his personal
knowledgo concerning this subject
This reservation contained the greatest
asphalt deposits in cxistence-sutii.
cicnt to supply this country for CEN
turtles. Heretofore it was l, costly and
rare article, taken mainly from q
small island. ~ company was formed
at ST. Louis and large investments
made toward bringing these deposits
TO cities for roofing and paving pur-
poses a law was passed directing
the opening Of tho lands, but tho
Secretary of tho Interior nulliticd it.
IT WAS nullitied on tho excuse that
Congress did not know what it was
about. The Secretary's course was in
behalf OF rich investors who wero tho
only ones who could bid Oh public
auction Of lanus.
MIR. Vcst said he had protested per-
sonally to Secretary Smith and had
told him the entire Western interest
would oppose his plan and that no
Western man would propose it to Con-
grcss. Thercupon Secretary Smith
answered that he would get friend
from Georgia to Introduce it. At this
point MIR. Vest WAS aroused to another
outburst.
There is a disposition on tho part
~ N ny let, i'm, Il H.
ito treat the Western people As though
they were in condition OF pupilage
as though they needed correction and
guardiunshi p and guidance"
Oar President had given Il recent
evidence Of this feeling toward tho
West, proceeded Mr.. Vest. 1t was
during tho Pry sidcnt's attendance ut
II missionary meeting in New York
u am sorry to say it," said MIR. Vest,
'DHt there seems To be q disposition on
Tho part OF the present administration
TO treat tho Western people as if they
were in II conditions ~ pupilage, that
they did not know their own lnlrrcsts
and they must bc informed cx cathedra
from the East in regard to what is
best for them and what should be done
Inr them. Even tho President of tho
United States lately on missionary
occasion, (langhtcr) spoke OF tho West
as land OF immortality and crime.
He stood with the light of the hell
hoics Of the rum sellers Of New York
blazing upon him and cantingly said
home missions must be used to civiliZe
and Christ'aniZc the meE who havo
left their homes i'm the civilized East
and gone out amongst the mountains
and valleys of that wild and woody
West. (Iaughter.)
'Our President stood with Dr.. Tai
mage on one side and the Itcy. Sheldon
JhcksOn on the other and gayo US u
new version OF that blessed old mis-
sonary hymn which we nave heard 80
often in our childhood
= From MOntnna's sinful mOnntains,
From Utuh's wicked plains,
They call US to deliver
Our land from errors chains"
There was long and loud laughter as
Mr.. Vest repeated the limos in tones of
intense sarcasm.
I'VE are told" continued the Senator,
" by high ecclesiastical authority that
his cxcellcncy has lately laid down
his honors at the feet of Jesus. | am
glad 10 know it. 1t has been the gen
era! impression Of the Democratic
party that the Mugwumps and incense
burners have got all those honors and
intend to keep them. | have great re-
spoct OF the Christian religion and
missions at homo aud abroad, but, Mr..
President, it is slandcr upon tho men
who, with rife in one hand and an axe
in the other, have gone out and blazcd
tho pathway OF civilization in those
Western wilds. am u Western man,
and went to Missouri when it was q
frontier in sight Of the Indian and tho
buffalo. | have lived with these people
nearly fifty years and | say TO our
President now that II he will interrupt
hunting ducks in North Carolina and
silver Democrats in Kentucky long
cnongh to come out West wo will show
him God-fcaring, self-respecting, law
abiding people; so will show him
churches in which there is real and
unaffected picty. We will show him
happy and Christian homes, where
the son. the husband and the father
pray. Our spires may not go as near
Heaven as do those Of Eastern cities.
we may nOt have organs that roll
delicious tones along the fretted aisles,
but we have people who fear God
and observe tho law and all the com
mandmcnta as they are given unto
them,'