The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-25
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9ailu eagle
NM MURDOCH. Editor.
JERRY SIMPSON, PATRIOT.


mum case Of sour stomach, this mighty
commonalty which was founded on the
idea of equality and fair play, has been
for several years confronted with inev-
liable war, war with a European ma
tom which had been denying to its
subjects, who are our neighbors, that
there is any such thing as equality and
fair MAY in government This war of
a necessity must take place on the hlgh
seas. There was no other place Tor u
TO be fought out. Statesmen percelV-
Ing the impossibility OF avoiding such
Conflict, unless by a cowardly oack-
down and an acknowledgement that our
own government is but an idealistlc
hubble, set about providing for its con-
tingencies, set about building navy,
casting guns and preparing ammuni-
ton, the first prerequisite being battle
chips. We propose to give our readers
a little of the record of this apostle OF
calamity, Jerry Simpson, on this press
ing national question:
On April u, first session OF the 52nd
congress, Simpson said: $50 far as L
am concerned, 1 do not believe we
need navy, at all" Farther along in
the same speech he said Il can readily
see why Republicans should want
navy: because it is part of their
scheme for protection
Again, in the 53rd congress, when
things were coming to such pass in
Cuba that the lethargy Of President
Cleveland was stirred, and war be-
came imminent, on February Is, page
22n. Simpson declared: I'VE need not
fear any war There is but one coun-
try with whom a war might be had,
and that is Great Britain. which is the
greatest naval power on earth, tol-
lowing up the declaration later with:
I'VE are in different circumstances.
We have no ocean marine worth speak
ing of. Why, the gentleman from Iowa
(Mr. Hepburn the other day, in
speech here, showed beyond question
that we pay many hundreds of mill
ions every year to foreign ships; and
think he made the statement that We
paid the Germans. an enormous sum,
and that it is a rare thing to see an
American ship in any foreign port"
Thus ignoring the admitted evidence
of the necessity of strengthening our
marine, this roustabout of the prairies
who is wont to pose as a patriot, but
who breaches only a particular patri-
otism peculiarly applicable to a class
rather than one broad enough for a
great nation and its entire people, talk
ed and voted against what even nine
out of ten of the men who voted to
send him as their representative to
congress now see that we need above
all things.
But this champion of the masses"
which masses when sifted down will be
found to consist of Jerrys calamity
clique, and not the entire people, again
five days later, on February 90 (Con-
gressionaI Record, page 2460) in at
tempt to grasp the comprehensive sit
uation in a statesmanlika hroadness
and forward reach INFO future neces-
sites, broke into the discussion Of the
house with these unqualified esser-
tons: Mr.. Chairman, have listened
TO the whole Of the discussion in re-
gard to the appropriations Covered by
the pending bill, but I have heard TO
defense that / regard as at all salts
factory for the construction of the pro-
posed new battle-ships. 1 am opposed
TO the construction of the three new
battle-ships for the reasons 1 have
heretofore stated"
These extracts are sufficient to show
the narrowness of the statesman from
Madison Loge" and how utterly inca
pable he is Of broad or comprehensive
grasp Of affairs and Of situations which
must be met with wisdom. But these
are not 1.-THE of the smart Alecky
talks INDUCED in by Simpson on the
floor of the house against the apparent
necessity of an enlarged navy. con-
fronted, as the country was. by the
Venezuela, Boring sea. and Cuban
questions, all vital to the welfare ii
this nation. talks and speeches put
forth as vote-catchers in a political or
ganization whose pretended principles
he even betrayed, as his vote on the
anticipation and other measures shows.
That this poser is not only clannish
and narrow demagogue, falling down
unerringly whenever attempting to
deal with the greater and more far
reaching measures which must be met
and settled by the representatives of
the people we will quote a few addi-
uonal detached sentences from the last
named speech. which we shall take oc-
casion TO print in fun when the great
conflict in which this country is now
engaged shall become less absorbing.
Simpson having announced that he is
opposed to a strong and centralized
government was interrupted by Mr..
Cannon Of Illinois, who wanted Simp-
son TO explain just how weak he would
have the government, who. replying.
said: Il can readily see. Mr.. Chairman.
why the Republicans want a large navy
and a great standing army. 1 can
readily see what the men want who
believe in strong government" So
can everybody else see now. The Re
publicans want strong government.
har