The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-17
PRESIDENTS DESIRE.

/ PRESIDENT - DESIRE.
In conclusion. Mr.. Cochran referred
/ to the current rumor that the preSl-
dent desired an immediate adjournment
in order that he might be able to settle
the Spanish affair without interference
from congress.
Mr. Grosvenor CRep.. o. replied to
this statement Immediately. At first
he spoke in a semi-humorous vein. He
desired, he said, to make a brief state
ment in reply to this story which was
floating around to the effect that the
president was about to take the house
of representatives by the throat, abol-
ish the United States senate. and pro-
coed to the settlement of all our for
eign complications without the aid of
the representatives of the people 1t
should be remembered, he continued,
in weighing such reports, that congress
was an Independent power, the exist
der the constitution. 1t would prob
ably continue longer than the Cuban
question.
PRESIDENTS SPONSOR.
He did not pretend to know more
than the humblest citizen. yet, he said,
he took the responsibility of stating
that the suggestion that the president
had fixed a date for the adjournment
of congress- or desired to fix a date. or
had expressed a hope that congress
would adjourn by a certain time. was
absolutely without foundation, and ri
diculous in the bargain. Congress
could not adjourn except by a major
ity vote of its members. and he had no
doubt that every member responsible
to his conscience and his country would
do his duty as he saw it. in the matter
of adjournment as in everything else.
Mr.. Norton Dem., o., who followed
Mr.. Grosvenor. expressed his amaze
ment that the Republican side of the
house had been so long silent in the
face of the outrages and indignities
heaped upon this government and upon
the flag by Spain. He could not I'M
derstand why the Maine had been sent
to Havana harbor. 1t was said to have
been the act of one friendly nation
toward another.
VIRGINIUS CASE.
Mr. Chairman" he continued, mo
foot of water or land over whish the
Spanish flag ever floated has been for
one hour friendly to the American
government. (Applause.) From the
hour of the birth of the nation, Spain
has been hostile to US. The recollec-
tons that come to us should bring
the blush of shame, aye. humility. NOR
LITIGATION. remorse. anger. to the cheek |
of every American upon this floor
Think of the Virginius case. and say
that Spain has any idea of being
friendly TO this government. Her line |
is crimson thread. running through
the centuries; line of deceit and |
treacherv to this government and to
every other she could deceive or rob |
In 1878, when she attempted to murder |
SO Americans, but only succeeded in |
killing u. Grant-God bless his name. !
and all honor to his courage and man.
hood, his bravery and his American
ism-was ready to- intervene. Hamilton !
Fish said that the nation which would !
permit such an outrage to go unDun- !
ished was not fit to live. Yet Is months !
elapsed and then this government made |
a compromise that viii be a stain and /
blot upon the escutcheon for a thous- /
and years and accepted $500 to pay /
for the insult TO its honor. Why? For |
the same reasons that prevail now. | /
love the president of the United States /
He is son of Ohio. and I know that if /
left TO himself he would exercise his |
judgment, his honesty and his patriot |
ism as perhaps no other man in the i
country would do. but as he is. with a /
trocha drawn about him that would |