The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-26
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE PROCEEEDINGS.
Washington, March 1S.-The house
today entered upon the consideration of
the resolution censuring Mr.. Bayard for
speeches delivered by him before the
grammar school at Boston, England, and
before the Edinburg, Scotland, Phllo-
sophical institution on last fall.
The galleries were crowded tn over
flowing. Even the diplomatic gallery,
which is usually empty, contained
number of members of the diplomatic
corps and their wives. With the ex-
ceptlon of the speech of Mr.. Cousins
of Iowa, however, the oratory of the
occasion was disappointing.
Mr.. Hit, chairman of the foreign af-
fairs committee, and Mr.. McCr.ary.
who was chairman of the committee
IN the last congress, opened respectively
for and against the resolutions.
Mr.. Draper Rep) of Massachusetts
announced his inability to brinr himself
to vote for the resolution Of censure.
IF the utterances were appropriate
the punishment was too HARSH" he said.
Mr.. Cousins speech in support Of the
resolutions was the feature of the pro-
ceedings. He won for himself this af-
ternoon high distinction as an orator.
Mr.. Dinsmore Oem.) of Arkansas,
who was minister to Corea during the
former Cleveland administration, in
closing the debate defended the utter
anees of Mr.. Bayard as to the effect of
protection and to the great delight of
the Democrats read extracts from Sen
ator Chandler's interview, alleging that
the Mckinley boomers were levying ON
the protected industries.
The debate will continue tomorrow.
In his opening speech in favor of the
adoption of the resolutions, Mr.. Hit re-
viewed the speeches delivered by Mr..
Bayard. The one at Edinburg, deliv-
cred two days after the November cleo
ton, he characterized as political dia
tribe"
Mr.. Bayard's auditors, he said, had
that day read the election returns, no
doubt with great regret and it was to
sympathetic foreign audience that he
delivered his passionate address.
That speech called attention again
to the speech previously delivered at
Boston describing the Americans as vio-
lent people.
That, he said. was the case upon
which the committee on foreign affairs
reported these resolutions of censure.
At first. he said, it had been hoped
it would Re found on examination that
the Edinburg speech was simply an aca-
demic address. but it was not so. The
words referred to his own country and
bore upon parties and political issues
here. As private American citizen he
ion, but representing officially the
United States he had no right to utter
words which would reflect upon and
wound the sensibilities of his country
men. Ut.
"He was an American" said Mr..
Hit with emphasis.
He then took up and analysed Mr..
Bayards letter to the secretary of state
explaining the circumstances under
which his address was delivered
Think of it." said he, "an ambassa-
dor and an ex-secretary of state defend
ing himself behind the bold letter Of in
structions to diplomatic officers. Why,
Mr.. Speaker, had Republican ambas-
sador at his post abroad rallied at the
Democratic creed as degrading, as cor
rupting to the public life, is there a Re
publican among the millions who would
not have been wounded and have re-
There lies the offense. Mr.. Bayard's
sincerity, the truth and falsity of the
sentiment he uttered, having nothing to
do with this question:
Mr.. Hit here read some extracts
from the London press commenting on
Mr.. Bayard's speeches.
The London Times, he said, in Gu
rious tone Of flattery and contempt, has
asked in amaZement what would be
thought of Sir Julian Pauncefote if he
should deliver in the United States a
passionate speech in favor of home rule,
and had said that such speeches as Mr..
Bayard's would not be delivered by an
European diplomat
Mr.. Hit referred to the manner in
which tine political influence had been
used to drive reluctant members into
voting for the resolutions of the last
censuring Minister Stevens.
In conclusion he urged the propriety
Mr.. McCreary DEM of Kentucky, ex-
chairman of the foreign affairs commit
tee, followed Mr.. Hit, in opposition to
The resolutions. At the outset he called
attention to Mr.. Hits error in saying the
speech was delivered just af-
ter the last congressional elections. The
last congressional elections occurred in
November, 1894. This speech was de-
livered in November, 1895.
In declaring his opposition to the resolu-
were unprecedented in congressional his
tory. The proposed action Of the house
was an invasion of the rights and author
ity of the president of the United States,
and if the speeches of Mr.. Bayard refer
red to required action by the executive
he was sure the latter would do his duty
ut the proper time. Since the organize
ton of the government the president, Mr..
McCreary said, had controlled our diplo-
matte officers, recalling, removing or rep