Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-01
0RAT0RY ON CUBA.
Passionate 0utburStS In Both House
and Senate.
HEARERS INTENSELY EXCITED.
The Feeling Manifested Alternately BY
Cheers, JeerS, and Kisses.
GR0SYEE0R FOR "fREE CUBA"
II is ASSUMED That He Speaks lOr
the Administration.
PURCHASE IDEA GROUNDLESS.
The President viii Have Nothing Short
Of Cuban Independence.
BAILEY VOICES DEMOCRATIC VIEWS.
BAILEY VOICES DEMOCRATIC VIEWS.
His Party for Cuba, Without Var, II
Possible, With Mar, if Necessary.
AN IND ANlAN PLEADS FOR PEACE.
Hs Declares Ii Our Duty 10 Do Our
Utmost TO Avoid War.
Former Makes Sarcastic Reference
to Foreign Affairs Committee, and
Says He Will BE Thankful When
President Makes Up His Mind.


President Makes Up His Mind.
WASHINGTON, March 3l.-For three
hours to-day the packed galleries and
excited members of the House listened
TO passionate outburst OF oratory on
the Cuban question, during which the
intensity of feeling was alternately man
ifested by cheers, jeers and Kisses. Time
and again the excited throngs in the
galleries were adronished to be silent.
AT one time at least, it seemed as If a
motion would be made to clear them.
The three speeches which stirred the
Mr. Grosvenor. of Ohio, who, it was as
sumed, spoke for the administration, and
who practically pledged it to the cause of
Free Cuba; Mr.. Bailey, of Texas. the
Democratic leader who announced the
Democratic position as for Cuba, without
war, if it could be avoided, but with war,
If necessary, and Mr.. Johnson, of Indiana,
who spoke for peace, declaring that it
was our duty to go to the extreme in
magnanimity TO avoid the horrors of war.
Mr.. Lewis, a Democrat, from Wash
ipgton, provoked the speech of Mr.. John
son, which aroused the members and the
galleries TO the fever pitch of excitement.
PLEA FOR PEACE.
Mr. Lewis had denounced the PROPOSE
ton that Cuba purchase her freedom
from Spain, which, it was alleged, the
administration was fostering. Then 1t
was that Mr. Johnson, in a brilliant
speech, pleaded for peace. He faced the
storm of Kisses which swept down upon
him from the galleries like a Spartan.
and with passionate utterance adJured
members 10 pause before they plunged
the country into war; the evils Of which
would follow after, in endless train.
The House was hushed before Mr.. John-
sons pleading. At the same tims, Mr..
Johnson gave ii as his opinion that II
an ultimatum had been sent 10 Spain,
1T meant war. as Spain's pride would not
permit her to humilate herself before the
world. He euosiZed every influence that
made for peace, and declared his be-
lief that the Cuban Junta would agree
tc pay SlOO,OOoOO0 for the independence OF
the island.
Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader; re-
plied TO Mr.. Johnson. Il know" said
he. 1.-THE standing of the gentleman from
Indiana in the cOunsels of his own party
and before the country we'll enough to
know that what he has spoken has been
spoken with deliberation, and that it Is
entitled to be considered almost as au-
thoritatlve when he says that the
President is trying to compose the mis-
understanding between this nation and
the Spanish Government upon basis
which will compel the Island Of Cuba to
buy its liberty from the butchers of
Spain, we are justified In supposing that
il is for that purpose that the House
has been denied the opportunity TO vote
on a resolution which declares that the
Cuban patriots have won thalr inde-
pendence. applause on the Democratic
sideD
REPUBLICAN POLICY DELAY.
81 believed yesterday, | know to-day,
that the policy Of that side of the House
is TO delay a decision of this question In
the hope that the rich and powerful In
terests of this and other nations will
compel the struggling patriots of Cuba
to buy the freedom that they have fairly
won with their courage and by their
sword. applause from the Democratic
side.)
II owe the Republican party no kindly
Offices but | will venture to warn IL that
if its leaders agree, and the Republican
party sanctions the agreement TO COM
pei any people under Gods sun to buy
that liberty which God has given to
them. that party Will never survive long
enough TO escape the odium which will
be fastened upon il by the outraged SEN
timent of the American people (Ap-
plause on the Democratic side)
MIR. Chairman, liberty is not a pur-
chasable commodity. Renewed applause) }
There was a time in this republic when
no man i'm high station would have sug-
gested that one nation would sell II, or
that another should be- compelled TO buy
II. (Applause on the Democratic side)
Ii is a birthright Of men, and 1t is their
duty TO assert IL, though war be neces-
sary to its assertion. prolonged ap-
plause on the Democratic side)
DEMOCRATIC PATRIOTISM.
II am. myself, Mr. Chairman. as averse
10 war as any gentleman. On this side,
twice during the present session We have
walked up to the altar and made a will
ing sacrifice OF our political advancement.
We know and you know that war Will
be to the advantage of the party In
power; and you. knowing IL well, still
know il no better than We do. Yet with
q conviction that We are pursuing policy
to the advantage of our political oppo-
nents. and 10 the injury of ourselves,
YOU must admit that We did all you asked
| Us TO do.
In all the history OF this republic. no
party has ever acted more patrioucally
| on more unsehshly than the Democratic
party has acted during this crisis. Gap
| plause on the Democratic side)
."rhere was a time when this threat
| ened war could have been averted. SIX
! months ago, If you had done as we urged
| YOU 10 do: II you had recognized the
rights of those struggling patriots "a
| fight for independence, war would nave
| been ayerted. and Free Cuba would
! to-day be an established fact In the ms
| tory OF the world" Applause on the
| Democratic side)
| A member: "And the battleship Maine
with all the accompanying iives o'
| American seamen. would not have peer
sacrificed"
Mr.. Bailey tcontinuing): "And that un,
fortunate disaster. which has horrihee