Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-28
Patriotism Before Party.

JOHN 8. WILLIAMS.
A. q. BERRY.
WILLIAM NJ. HOWARD.
Patriotism Before Party.
AS we had only 30 minutes to present
our views to the house, by universal
consent Mr.. Dinsmore of Arkansas, ex-
minister to Korea, the ranking Dem
ocrat on the foreign affairs committee,
used all the time. Dinsmore is splen-
did man and made an admirable speech.
I am sorry haven't room for it all.
Here are some extracts:
"Mr. Speaker, regret as much as
any other man on this floor can regret
the manifestation of partisanship that
has transpired here this afternoon dur
ing these proceedings Happaars 10 me,
SIR, that IL there was ever a period in
the history Of this government that calls
for statesmanship, when patriotic dig
nifty should have been shown and par
tisanship should have been subordinat-
ed to statesmanship, that period is now.
Prolonged applause on the Democratic
side.1
"We are confronted here by the most
critical situation witnessed in very many
years by the people Of the United States.
Our people have long recognized that
this point would ultimately be reached
unless those who represented the peo-
pie in the congress of the United States
performed their full duty and took the
courageous stand dictated by prudence
and statesmanship and common sense.
[Appiause.l
"As has been well said by my friend
from Tennessee Mr.. McMillin1, it has
been and is now my conviction that if
we had done our duty, if we had taken
this position a year ago. this matter
would have been settled, Cuba would
have been free, and the sailors Of the
Maine who sleep now in watery
grave would have been alive to bear
their arms and carry to victory the flag
Of our country. Applause
"Now, Mr.. Speaker, we do not go tc
them today speak now for my col.
leagues on this side of the house-we
do not 60 to them today and say to the
people who for years past in an unequal
fight have been compelled to see theil
| wives suffer and starve in the cause Of
liberty, we do not 60 and say we are
coming with an army here into your
territory to establish government
which in our Judgment will be sta
BILE government, which will be pos
sible government and peaceful govern
ment. We give you permanent peace,
but we must judge Of the permanenoJ
of that peace ourselves, and We mus'
Judge of the stability of that govern
| ment.
| Honor the Flag.
| "We say not that to them. But We
present a very different question in the
views submitted to my colleague and
myself. We say to them we reoognizt
the fact that you have an organized gov
eminent, a constitution, cabinet, Off
GERS duly appointed, the revenues being
| collected IN the territory that you occu
py, and we are not going to force upoI
you a government that may be a carpet
outside of your own dominion. lap
plause. But we propose to give you g
representative government Of your OWE
people, by yourselves, by officials chosen
In your own way. Prolonged applause.
| "We talk about liberty. Then, Mr..
Speaker, let us give to the Cubans lib
erty. [Applause on the Democratic side.
| We talk about freedom. Let us give tc
them the right to establish a govern
ment which they think will be a fret
government, and which does not reserve
to us, the government of the United
States, the right to say, after it is es
tablished: 'Ah, this is not "stable'
government. We cannot turn it over tt
you yet. We must look after thil
thing
"Now, Mr.. Speaker, in conclusion
the grave responsibilities of this situa
tion are to be discharged by every mem
ber in the house in accordance with tht
allegiance and the duty which he owel
| to his own country and his own flag
We ought to do that which would b
an honor to the American colors, be
cause if we impose a wrong on Cuba Il
rebounds to the dishonor Of our own re
public. Our people have become irresist
ible in their demands for the action O.
this body, else we all know that thiI
action could never have been brough
about.
"We offer to you and to the country
our substitute for your resolution ant
appeal to the wisdom, patriotism ant
Judgment Of our fellow citizens, and fol
the rectitude of cur intentions, the in
tegrity of our purpose. the justice Of oul
position, to that higher court which
must pass upon the actions of all mer
and all nations
"our fathers God. from out whose hand
The centuries fall like grains Of sand"
loud applause.