The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-01

The country is confronted with another
"irrepressible conflict" That was ex-
emplifed in the House yesterday. All
the influence Of the President and Of the
Speaker were exerted TO prevent any dis
cussion OF Cuba.
The naval bill was taken up. and its
consideration progressed for q short time
in a manner most satisfactory TO the
Speaker and his lieutenants, who Were
endeavoriHg to repress the Cuban cues
ton. But despite the repressive influence
OF the rules it was apparent thai one
subject was paramount in the minds of
the members of the House. It asserted
itself everywhere. The members were
more intent upon seeking news Of the
Cuban situation than they were in pass
ing the naval bill. This fact was made
manifest by the frequent and eager il
ouiries of The Tfmes's representative for
the latest advices as 10 the situation
Mr.. Le,vis's Appeal.
The all-engrossing question was brought
before the House by patriotic speech of
Representative Lewis Of Washington Mr..
Lewis said:
that / ask this honorable committee if
We are not surrounded with conditions
that make it not only appropriate but
most onerous upon us that we do some
thing TO instiIl patriotism into the youth
OF this country, when we behold how the
youth grown up in the past generation
have become so debased, so lacking in
patriotism, so wanting in decency, that
one of them calling himself a banker
should address a letter 10 the President
Of the United States-our President, ire
spective Of our party-calling upon him
for an answer as TO why should the mere
loss Of $50 lives be of consequence enough
for him to unsettle all the stable values
Of this country by inviting Spain to con-
fict'
When we, sir, keep in view that the
public press brings us from a credible
source that there have been here In
Washington q flock of these yultures
wheeling around the head Of the Presi-
dent biding their time TO feed upon his
patriotism; when we shudder at their
offense in an hour when he sought TO take
matters IN his hands as the Chief EXecu-
tive TO come to the rescue Of the imme-
date necessities of the country whose
destinies we desire TO espouse, that these
patriots dared 10 confront the honorable
President with the threat on Sunday
night that If he took drastic action
which would affect their securities they
would present their obligations against
the government payable in gold, and take
fifty million dollars of gold out of the
Treasury the next day, thus weakening
the financial vertebra of the nation, that
wriggling she would fall
They are GhOuIs.
These creatures who say they are pa
triots are neither men nor women. neither
brutes nor human; they are ghouls. Gap
plause on the Democratic side.) Added TO
this, this banditu Of bankers have as
sumed that in a crisis Ike this they may
impose upon the susceptibility OF charity
or the weakness Of an emergency, and
now demand that the honorable Presi-
dent OF the United States shall sell the lib
critics Of the Island Of Cuba 10 them for
500 006. 900 and allow these men a mort
gage upon the tax facilities of Cuba, and
In order TO guarantee and indemnify them
for the fund they shall pay our nation is
20 pledge to them its credit and honor.
God forbid that these men who would coin
dollars from the breath Of a dying ma
tion and distill interest percentages from
its dripping blood should ever succeed in
our country and in an hour like this. Gap
plaUseD
Il 60 not know. Mr.. Chairman, what at
utude the honorable President of the
United States shall take upon this mat
my honor 10 know him personaIIy-that
he is . Christian man. II that be so, as
hope Il is, he is not the man who would
mortgage these PROSTATE people with
their outstretched hands beseeching our
aid. their faces drenched in tears, their
tear-bedraggled garments despatched
with their sacrificed bIood-surely the
President is not the man who would put
these people IN bondage into the hands
Of those who would hold them as a ran
som and use them for the purpose Of in
creasing dollars to private fortunes.
i do not know how far, gentlemen OF
this House, these men may come, but as
God helps me, If one Of these harpies dare
come within the avenues of this building
90 lure by their familiar arts or influence
any man In this House to their nefarious
schemes, 7 viii brand him where be
stands and demand that he be kicked
from the portals Of the Capitol Gap
plaUse)
He shall not proceed here as long as J
am In this House, and I pledge you. my
friends. ] am coming back 10 execute my
promise" (Applause.)
Quaker Hetort.
This eloquent protest Of Mr.. Lewis
against the policy Of procrastinatior
adopted by the Administration, provoked
Quaker retort from Representative,
Johnson OF Indiana. Mr.. johnson adver
tised himself as one of that unpopular
81 not odious "peace-at-any-price men
His impassioned appeal for peace wa,
greeted with Kisses from the floor anC
the galleries. Mr.. Johnson was out Of
place. Tory IN the days Of the revolu
uonary struggle might have sympathize,
with the congressman from Indiana, bu
there was too much American patriotism
IN his immediate vicinity 10 make hin
feel comfortable yesterday.
The aggressive signs Of disapproval
coming as they did from the Republi
cans around him, as well as from tn,
other side OF the House, seemed {,
arouse Mr.. Johnson to a realizing sens
OF his extreme unpopularity.
The facility with which some OF tn
Republicans can change their attltud
and their signs Of approval were Illus
trated in the speech Of the nndian
statesman, was emphatic and extrem
IN condemning the war sentiment Of IN
country He declared that all Of Cub
was not worth one drop of America
blood.
Called 10 Order.
This struck some OF the Republican
as going too far I'm behalf Of peac
Chairman Boutelle, of the Naval Con
nlittee, seemed to think the time ha
come for him 10 make a point Il
Justify SHOUTED: Mr.. chairman, / call ii
gentleman to order"
MI johnson took the cue from VI
Boutelle's protest. With a cunning thu
was amusing under the circumstances /
launched into a fulsome eulogy Of n
President. This silenced Republican OF
position Mr. Boutelle, who had take
q conspicuous position in the middle