The herald., 1898-09-27

anento at the time of the drawing ofvrhe
Democratic platform and the sub-com-
mittee having that matter In charge asked
my view concerning 1t.
l said then, and l say now, President
opinion was possible to be taken safely
at the time; that we were almost abso-
lutely without information that the In
formation we had.was 50 meager, so doubt
full as to its accuracy. that 1t would be
folly. worse than folly, for the President
to attempt to take a definite and final
course without getting full information on
the subject. That was his decision, and
for that purpose he held those questions
open. l said then, as I say now. that for
my part l would never consent to have .
Republican president or any other Re-
publican officer criticised or condemned for
having done what I would have done had
/ been In his place. (Applause.) Let tho
general then contend with the president
Of the United States, his own president
perhaps not his own president, because
think he is representing an organized force
outside of the Republican party more than
ne Is the Republican party in this CAM
paign. (Applause) So much for that
question.
The Funding Bill
On the Pacific railroad question Gen.
Barnes and the Republican party platform
both declare that the matter was settled
by the present congress at Its last session.
The Republican platform declares that a
bill for the enforcement and collection Of
the debt was passed. l discussed that
matter somewhat though rather indefinite-
A1.nk ~
bill passed Is not for the enforcement Of
the debt at all. 1t Is merely measure
delaying foreclosure for a year with view
to presenting a proposition for settlement
to the Central Pacific Railroad company.
to Huntington and his associates. who arc
in control, and they have a right to accept
or reject the proposition as they please.
That Is not bill for the settlement and
collection OF the debt. The Republican
platform evades that question entirely.
My distinguished opponent. commenting
upon my former speech here, made q very
serious accusation against me. He said
in this hall that was largely responsible
for the passage of the bill of which speak.
He said in this presence that my reputa-
ton rested largely upon my fight in con-
gress against the funding bill. He ex-
planned, and very property, that he had
never had an opportunity to vote against
the funding bill, but he said that when
that measure came up, II Judge Mcguire
had simply stood up in the house Of repre-
sentatives and said, "Mr. Chairman,
object to the consideration of that BILL" 1t
never could have been considered. He IL
reported stenographically to that effect.
and understand that was his language
here. If that be true, then, displayed
either great ignorance of my duty In con-
gress or great carelessness in executing It.
If he is not right somebody has deceived
him into a very unfortunate position. for
no man occupying his position should
make a charge of that kind against his
opponent unless he is very certain about
his facts
Cages Bad Break
Now let us see. What was the PROPOSE
ton as 1t came to the house? The funding
measure had been Incorporated by the SEN
ate in a general deficiency bill and was
part of that bill when 1t came back to the
house. His idea is that If I had arisen In
the house and simply said 'Mr. Chairman.
I object to the considers alton of that bill."
1t never could have been considered. The
deficiency bill of which the funding mea-
carried two hundred and twenty million
dollars appropriation for the support of tho
army and navy in the war with Spain, in
time of actual war; Now. his idea Is that
If I had arisen in my place and simply said.
Mr. Chairman, I object to the considera-
ton of that BILL" that the other three hum
dred and fifty-nine representatives and
delegates in congress would have been
Obliged to fold their hands. open their
mouths and look at each other in perfect
helplessness and say: TOO bad. too bad.
the war with Spain must stop. We can't
make any appropriations for the army and
navy. We can't even appropriate money
enough for transports to take our soldiers
back from the positions of danger to
which we have sent them. because that
fellow from California, Mr.. Mcguire. OBJ
tects." (Applause.) Now the house of rep
reeentatives Is not such an imbecile body
as that. Whatever may be said against It.
IL is not a body of fools. It is not helpless
in such an emergency. II fifty, II hum
dred objections to the consideration Of that
hill had been made, 1t would not have taken
twenty minutes to dispose Of them ALL BY
a rule from the committee on rules. de-
signed by q general rule Of the house to
prevent obstruction In such cases.
Somebody deceived my distinguished OPP
ponent in that matter. and somebody
should have told him that it was mistake.
T think It was unkind Of my friend. ex-
Governor Markham, and Mr.. McLachlan.
both of whom have served in congress. TO
sit behind him and let him make a state
ment Of Mat kind without correcting him.
(Applause.)
A Reporters Blunder
My distinguished opponent In conusos