Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-09
TURPIE'S WIT
Keeps Senate Laughing While
Discussing Cuban Question.
He Lets Into Sherman, and Gives
Lodge Several Hard Raps.
The House Recommits Metric System Bill and
Discusses Compulsory PiIotagc.


OF Indiana, addressed the Senate in
favor of the joint resolution proposing
intervention by the United States in
the war in Cuba. He referred sarcas-
tically to the manner in which the
chairman Of the committee on foreign
relations tSherman). and the junior
senator from Massachusetts Lodge)
had, up to this date, conducted the
Cuban campaign
He condemned the helpless inertia,
delay and altogether irrational OBJ
struction existing in the chairman of
the committee on foreign relations ever
since he took refuge in the crypt of
the conference, as if by fire. very much
importuned, and very glad to be rid
OF his former action
Turpie turned his attention to Lodge
referring to the lingo jargon of that
class of extremists SO ably represented
here by the gifted junior senator from
Massachusetts a senator singularly
gifted with the power to cloth an in
teresting and exciting subject with all
the dullness of time-worn common
places" Iaughter).
1t was impossible. Turpie said to con-
ceive of IA more wholly unlegislative
abnormal proceeding. than the action
taken by the chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations with reference
to the Cuban question. There could
not be a more unfortunate disposition
of that matter than that it suffered
from action. inaction, and reaction of
the honorable chairman of the commit
tee on foreign relations
\ on
dresses by the junior senator from
massachusetts, and to remarks on
several occasions by the senator from
Ohio. but all he had been able to gather
out Of them was that there was war in
Cuba and that the Cuban question was
great question. Laushterl. The
Senate had heard nothing from the
chairman of the committee on foreign
relations as to the territory in the
hands of the Cubans That senator
seemed to be as much afraid of APP
preaching that territory as General
Weyler himself was. He had not even
looked over the fence. NaughteI).
Turpie drew Il sketch of the Cuban
government and the operations of the
forces on either side. He spoke of the
Weyler campaign as being an inita-
ton of the Duke of Alva in the Meth
erlnds, and said the result would be
the sama. He exclaimed: "clba Is
lost to Spain-irrevocably lost" Ne
argued that the Cuban republic was m
organized bouy, that it had maintained
war II years. and that it had earned
for itself the right to recognition as
belligerents.
1urpie recalled and ridiculed the
In, 7
continued and concluded his personal
explanation in lefel enoe to the news
paper statement of the Spanish minis
ter. He had supposed it was q most
serious business and there would have
to be physical adjustment Of it.
When Lodge, on the same day. ex-
planned his explanation, he began To
see the dimunton in size of the Cuban
question and to conceive there would
be no duel between the Spanish minis
ter and the junior senator from MaSs:a-
chusetts
He had been anxious that TIE s;cna-
torial champion should not be mis-
taken for mere ncophyte, a sciolist
IL mere harlequin. with Il sword i
leather ana a dagger of lath. Gaugh-
tcr) But a friend had told hum there
would be no fight. Ills friend had SAID
that all the trouble came from the m
ordinate fondness of the Junior senator
from Massachusetts for a .'.rtain kiAI
of confectionery. mere puffS.
The Spanish minister. Tulp.c said
had been guilty of breach OF one Of
tn" cunVentionaiities of the diplomatic
corps. but had also been guilty of what
was called in the customs houses.
nn1crValuatiou (I.aluhi ,r. TIN,
Spanish minister had forgotten these
lines of the epic poet of his own coun
try: "PygEiies. though puifed an
perched on Alps, are pygmies still.
hauShter) Tnpie expressed the
hope that Congress would give the suf-
ferinS people of Cuba that considera-
ton that patriotism. love of liberty
and a love of free republics demanded
The joint resolution was laid on toe
table without action, and the Senate
proceeded to Ike considerations of en-
ccutive business. The doors wela
opened a few minutes later and the
Indian appropriation bill taken up.
The bill was considered up to D. when it
went over till tomorrow. PEI ob-
tanned unanimous consent to have his
resolution for an inquiry INTO the -
cent bond issues taken up for consid-
GRAFTON. Tuesday. at 2.l5 =. M. The
Senate adjourned.