The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-03
SPEECH BY THURSToN
NFBR AsKA'S SENATOR TALKS TO RE
PUBLICANs OF BALTIMORE.
He Praises the President and Gives
Hawaiian Questions.

BALTIMORE. Nd, Feb. 2.-The Union
League Club Of Baltimore tonight formally
opened what is probably the most COM
modious clubhouse occupied by a purely po-
lStical organization in the United States.
The opening ceremonies included several adj
dresses, the principal among them being
that of Senator John M. Thurston, of Ne
braska. The Union League is identified
with that faction of the Republican party
of Maryland known as the Organization"
which, under the leadership of United
States Senator Wellington, met defeat at
the state Republican convention last sum-
mer. The club was incorporated soon after
the defeat of the organization and now has
about 2,200 members.
Senator Thurston introduced his speech
with complimentary references to Republic
an successes in Maryland and to the recent
election of Judge McComas. He eulogized
President McKinley's BRAY cry in coming out
squarely on the financial issue in his New
York address, citing the vote Of Republican
Senators on the Teller resolution as approx
al of the Presidents attitude He admitted
the present situation to be full of danger
to the Republican party, and said: 1--WE
shall not be stampeded or frightened if his
tory repeats itself at the next congressional
ton to the administration. No man is
worthy to be trusted with place or power
who disregards the dangers OF any hour or
OF any situation. No man is true to the re-
sponsibilities of place or power who con-
ceals them from the people. l believe the
Republican party is in danger of losing the
next Congress, and, so believing, it were
coWardly on my part not to say So.
Respecting the financial question, Sena-
tor Thurston said: I'VE have a congress
sional situation at Washington which has
caused grave apprehension to the business
interests Of the country; but which, III my
judgment, is not to be deplored. 1t Is now
evident to every citizen, as 1t was evident
to many of us on the first day of the Fifty
fifth Congress, that no financial legislation
of any kind can pass the two houses as at
present constituted 1t is, therefore, plain
that the people of the United States are
next three years without any possible in
reference by new legislation with monetary
conditions or financial affairs
For my part, j am glad the Congress or
the United States is unable to legislate on
the financial question | am in favor of
giving the country a rest from threatened
financial legislation, and, in my judgment,
the man who, at the present time, and un-
der existing conditions, seeks to force gold
resolutions through the House of Repre-
sentatives is no less politically unwse than
the man who forces q silver resolution
| through the Senate. Give the business OF
the country chance. Give this country
three years without financial agitation or
calamity prophecy and we Will have out
grown the money question altogether
Abiding to the annexation of Hawaii, he
said THE proposed annexation of the Ha-
waian islands is u matter that ought to
| receive the most careful deliberate and dis
passionate consideration. We must not
overlook the fact that the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands commits this government
to a marked departure from all of its past
policy: that it commits us to new and ex-
traordinary responsibilities, and unquestion-
ably invites new dangers. If to advance our
outposts two thousand miles into the Pa
cific ocean means that this government
commits itself to the policy of maintaining
a great navy, fitted at all times to cope
with the fleets of Europe; if it means that
we must back this great navy up by i
great standing army then l. for one, am
not prepared to take the step"