The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
A Voice From New Hampshire

The Hon. Cyrus Adams SullOWay,
representative in Congress from the
State of New Hampshire, is a type Of
the man who was known in the brave
old days before the trust occupation of
America as a fighting parson. He is
nine feet high, broad in proportion, and
! in possession of all his faculties, includ-
ing his conscience; and it seems to have
occurred to him that it would be a good
thing to go to the White House and put
a little starch into the President SO he
went Mr. Mckinley looked up at his
visitor. his first glance landing some
where about Mr. Sideways lowest
waistcoat button. Then he tried again
and located the New Hampshire mans
| face, and with the unfailing suavity for
which he is noted asked what he could
I do for Mr. Sulloway. Mr.. Sulloway re-
turned no answering smile. He had not
/ come there TO play polo; they don't
have such games in New Hampshire.
He was intensely grave. He lowered
above the President as the church
steeple of his native State towers above
/ the town hall, and the President began
/ TO be troubled by uncomfortable premo-
nitions as to what this mortally long
visitor Of his could want. Mr.. SulIoway
! then said that he had been to the Island
/ Of Cuba, and approved all that the
| President had done to alleviate the dis
tress in that unhappy place. Mr.. Nc
! Kinley breathed. The congressman
added that he also approved of what
ri 70 la
| there The President breathed again
1 Then Mr. Sulloway, as they say in the
novels, drew himself up TO his full
height and began to talk about the
Maine. Mr. Mckinley stopped breath
| ing.
Mr.. Suiloway said that no one doubt
ed that the battleship Maine had been
destroyed by the Spaniards. He added
that he believed that Capt. Sigsbee had
communicated such an opinion to the
| Secretary Of the Navy. And then he
said that the American people would
not consider the question of indemnity
for a moment That" said he, is the
way farmers settle for sheep when Their
dogs have broken into the flock at
night"
Such an opinion. coming from a cor
ner Of New England, within the range
Of influence which has produced a Reed
and a Dingley, must have been surpris-
ing indeed TO the President. But here
was the opinion, and here was his Wis
itor. supporting the opinion with every
inch of his several feet and furlongs.
1t did not seem to be a case for the
detectives to handle, even if they could
have handled Mr.. Sulloway, which is
! doubtful. The President sat still and
listened. Mr. Sulloway went on:
"Mr President permit me to say that the Re
! publican party in this country viii support you
just as long it believes that you intend to carry
out vigorous American policy on the Cuban
question. The people OF this country, at this
! iunctme, VIII not consent TO any weakening but
viii insist upon prompt punishment Tor the mis-
/ crcants responsible for the Maine disaster and
/ prompt abatement of the wretched Cuban condi-
| tons"
do you really think, Mr. sulloway." inquired
| the President meekly, that the people desire
war? Is it not possible that they may want
war now, and in a few months regret that war has
been brought onf'
| This is not people Of regrets, Mr. President"
replied the leyi4thau 1T has been studying the
! general Cuban question for three years, and the
Maine disaster FOR one month"; and il has made
| mp its mind that Spain must rclinquish the Isl
| and Of Cuba and that the Maine must be aveng
cd. Ii the Republican Administration does not
, prove equal 10 this emergency, and if you, Mr..
President, do not respect the trust confded in
you by Democrats rs well rs Republicans when
they gave you fifty million dollars for a national
defense fund you need expect no further recog-
| milton at the hands OF the people Of the United
States"
Now, 1t is hard to deal with nine feet
odd OF opinions. backed up by the peo-