The Portland daily press., 1898-04-01

Mr.. johnson made some humorous re-
marks about Mr.. Lewis of Washington,
saying saroast1oally- that If he was turned
loose in Cuba the Spaniards would de-
part. Turning to the more serious part of
the question be said:
"Now in all seriousness in discussing
this cry of war that we have heard on
that side of the chamber, do gentlemen
stop and reflect a moment, upon what it
means il we enter upon hostilities.
eff the heavy headedness of men in
public life should not force the President
to put Spain into an embarrassing
position to which her proud spirit will
not submit, il the public men in Congress
would simply restrain their zeal and keep
their hand off the President he would be
| able to accomplish in q very short space
OF time by the arts of diplomacy the in
dependence of Cuba. We hear that the
Cuban Junta are willing to raise $780,
| 000, 600, in order to purchase their inde-
pendence. We have brought those two
! antagonizing forces together by the sue
cess of Judgment. diplomacy and exalted
| patriotism of the statesman In the White
| House. (Applause.)
"And believe if we will give him a
fair opportunity to carry out his purpses
| he will bring us to triumphant con-
clusion without Shedding an ounce of
American blood. (Great applause.)
Mr.. Lewis replied to Mr.. johnson in a
humorous strain for time and created a
great deal of merriment. He accused Mr..
johnson of being snuzzled by the Speaker
and being afraid to shake off his sbaokles.
quailing when the Speaker looked at
| him, and Mr.. Lewis closed by saying:
IT do not know whether the President
of the United States has selected the
gentleman as his good friend and de.
| fender ON this floor, but if such is the
| n xar{A Id L 80. Il.
prayer OF Caesar TO be delivered from his
! friends If it should come to pass that
the President should receive, AS some
people in certain quarters hope and fear,
his political death, then those who may
write his obituary, if the gentleman from
Indiana continues in his course he has
been pursuing, may content themselves
| Qong continued laughter and applause).
! Mr.. Johnson then made speech,
which, while it met much disapproval
from the galleries, was listened to intent
ly;,
81 have realized from the start" said
| he, that the danger to the country was
the hotheadedness of those men who never
stop to reflect into what they would pre-
cipitate the country.
my voice has been and still is for
| peace am opposed 10 Waf WIlcn III
wolves a vast expenditure of public money,
burdens OF taxation, the issuing of paper
money and period of wild speculation.
! War. while it offords opportunities for ex-
alted patriotism and heroic devotion to
the flag opens up an opportunity for the
cormorant who always preys upon the
vitals of the government and seeks to
take advantage of its necessity. I am OPP
posed to that condition of affairs which
would take away the flower of the Ameri-
can people, which would put women in
mourning and would bring to our un-
willing ears the voice of the orphan. l
would go to war only as a last resort. l
would not sacrifice precious American
blood except our quarrel was just one
that would bring er, A n ericars ;itiz IN to
the support OF the 4 American flag and that
would carry with it the moral support OF
the civilized world. Mr.. johnson denied
that he was speaking for the President
and continued:
"He has by his personal acts and by his
exalted patriotism won the respect of the
people, North, South, East and West
without regard to party ties Shame on
the men the other side of this chamber
who dare to make party capital out OF this
matter; !"
Continued on second Page.