The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-01
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.

case It should feel called upon to do 50,
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
Tho Cuban.spanl.h Question Aired In
Senate amt House.
WASHINGTON. D. c., March s1.-An
apparently simple request made OF the
senate to-day bv Mr.. Frye, tMe.). on
BEHALF OF the foreign relations commit
tee. unexpectedly p.ecipltnted dis
cusslon on the Cuban question. It final
~ led to a passage at arms between
Mr. Chandler. IN. 'H), and Mr.. Frye, In
which the former made Some narcastlc
references to the conduct OF the foreign
relations committee and 10 the attitude
of the President. Concerning tho lat
ter, Mr.. Chandler said: ~ have conf
dencc that the President intends to pur-
sue patriotic and righteous course In
the present emergency and shali
thank God when he reaches conclus-
Ion OF some sort or another, Therefore.
am not In rebellion, as yet, against
the powers that be-" O.
AIR. Allen, (Neb), made the request
OF Alr. Frye the occasion of q speech
upon the general Cuban question In the
course OF which he reviewed his own
record on the subject and declared that
he stood now Just where he had always
stood-ln favor OF the absolute inde-
pendence OF the Cuban people from that
"hideous monster among Nations"
Spain. Upon the conclusion Of the Gu
ban discussion the sundry civil nppro-
priation bill was taken up and thirty
five pages OF II were disposed OF before
adjournment.
For .hree hours to-day the packed
galleries and excited members OF the
house listened to q passionate outburst
OF oratorY on the Cuban question, dur
Ing which the intensity Of feeling was
alternately manifested By cheers, jeers
and hisses, Time and again the excited
throngs In the galleries were admonlsh-
cd 60 be silent. and once at least 1t
seemed as II amotion would be made to
clear them
Y ThEee STIRRING Speeoher.
The three speeches which stirred the
assemblage to Its depths were made'b by
Mr.. GrosVenor, OF Ohio, who II was as
sumed, spoke for the administration,
and who practically pledged 1t to the
cause of free Cuba, Mr., Bailey. of Tex
US, the Democratic leader. who an
nounced the Democratic position as for
free Cuba without war II It could be
avoided, but with war Il necessary and
Mr.. Johnson. OF Indiana, who spoke for
peace, declaring that II was our duty to
go 10 the extreme In magnanirity to
avoid the horrors OF war.
Mr. Lewis. a Democrat, from Wash
inston. provoked the speech OF Mr..
johnson, which aroused the members
and the galleries TO the fever pitch OF
excitement. Sir. Lewis had denounced
the proposition that Cuba purchase her
freedom from Spain, which. 1t was al
legged, the administration, was FOSTER
ing. Then 1t was that Mr.. Johnson In
brilliant speech, pleaded for peace.
He faced the storm OF Kisses which
swept down upon him from the galleries
like Spartan and with passionate ut
terance adjured members to pause be-
fore they plunged the country into war.
the evils OF which would follow after in
endless train. The house has had be-
fore Illustrations OF Mr.. Johnson's fear-
lessness, but none SO striking as to-
dag when he espoused the unpopular
cause and pleaded to let diplomacy
! have its way.
| ~ tue sumo tl1llc ne gave IL us MS
opinion that II an ultimntum had been
sent to Spain 1t meant war as Spain's
| pride would not permit her TO humiliate
herself before the world. He eulogized
every influence that made for peace
and declared his belief that the Cuban
3unta would agree to pay Sl00000,0 900
for the independence OF the island.
Bailey BoDs Up.
| Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader,
was quick to seize the advantage which
Mr.. Johnson's position had afforded and
In q ringing speech which set his fol-
lowers and the galleries wild, he an
nounced his belief from what Mr.. John
son had said that thepurpose Of tho Re-
publicans In refusing to join with the
Democrats yesterday was 10 give the
administration an opportunity to COM
pei the Cuban patriots to buy the lndc-
pendence they had won from the butch
ers OF Spain. He said he too deplored
war and in describing It's awful horrors
as the southern people had known them
| drew tears from the eyes OF some OF his
colleagues he declared there was yet
n chance to avert war. He had been told
within twenty-four hours by q represen
tative of the Cuban junta that they
did not want to involve the United
States In war. All they wanted was to
have their Independence recognized
with the munitions OF war and the re-
cruits, they could then obtain, then in
| dependence could be achieved.
In conclusion he said the Democrats
we're for free Cuba without war II pos
! s!ble, with war. II necessary. This
speech of Mr.. Bailey's drew the fire OF
the administration spokesman on the
floor, General Grosvenor, of Ohio With
his reply the climax OF the day was
reached. He charged Mr. Bailey with
attempting to make political capital.
He denounced the statements that the
administration Intended to force Cuba
to buy hcr freedom as the silly inven-
ton Of an idiot and declared that from
the President down this administration
was for free Cuba, Recognition OF her
| independence, he said, would be but n
half way measure. He thrilled his oudl-
tors when he asked what meant the
war preparations that were going on
| night and day lf not that when action
was taken looking 10 the independence
! of Cuba It would be backed up II neces-
sary by the army and navy OF the Uni
ted States. After Mr. Grosvenor con-
cluded the debate went on, the mos,
| significant utterance being made by
Mr.. Cummings. a New York Democrat,
who denounced tho political character
which the question was assuming as
unpatrlot!c and unwlse.
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