The record-union., 1898-03-17

J
of Representatives by the throat, abol-
ish the United States Senate and pro-
ceed 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 Con-
gress was an independent power, the
existence of which would probably con-
tinue longer than the Cuban question
Within the last thirty days the SEN
sational press Of the country, he said,
had put forth propositions three times
more absurd and stupendous than this,
yet they had not attracted the atten-
ton this had.
Grosvenor said he spoke of this mat
ter with some hesitation, because, af-
ter leading the newspapers, he some
times doubted his independent exist
ence; when he spoke for himself they
insisted that he spoke for somebody
else. 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
| absolutely without foundation and RI
diculous in the bargain. Congress could
not adjourn, except by a majority 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
SPAIN ALWAYS HOSTILE TO THE
UNITED STATES.
Norton CD of Ohio. who followed
Grosvenor, expressed his amazement
that the Republican side of the House
had been so long silent in the face of
the outrages and indignities heaped on
this Government and upon the flag by
Spain He could not understand why
| the Maine had been sent to Havana
harbor. 1t was said to have been the
act Of one friendly nation toward an
other
Mr.. Chairman" he continued mo
foot Of water or land. over which the
| Spanish flag ever foated 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 u.s.
The recollections that come to us
should bring the blush of shame, aye.
humility. modification, 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 a crimson thread running
through the centuries. A line of deceit
and treachery to this Government and
every other she could deceive or rob-
In 1873, when she attempted to
murder ffftythree Americans, but only
succeeded in killing twelve, Grant, God
bless his name, and all honor to his
courage and manhood, his bravery ana
his Americanism, was ready to inter-
| vene. Hamilton Fish said that the ma
ton which would permit such an out
| rage to go unpuniShed was not fit to
live. Yet sixteen months elapsed, and
| then this Government made a compro-
mise that will be a stain and blot upon
its cscutcheon for a thousand years,
and accepted $4,000 to pay for the
insult to it's honor Why? For the
same reasons that prevail now
Il love the President of the United
States. He is the son of Ohio, and 1
know that if left to himself he will ex-
ercise his judgment, his honesty and his
| patriotism as perhaps no other man
in the country would do, but as he is,
with trocha drawn about him that
| would require the strength, courage
and the genius of a god to surmount
he, too, will take the position of Grant
and Fish, and see humiliation and dis
grace perch upon our banner.
"A few days ago we surrendered the
right of Congress by voting to the
President an emergency fund of $780,
100000 If war was not upon us we
had no right to make that appropria-
| ton, and the President should give
| back to this House the confidence we
repose in him. Why does not the ad-
minstration state to this side of the
House the eXigency? 1 look across to
the other side to my honorable coll
league (Grosvenor). I grasp his hand
in every patriotic act and move he
makes, but I say that it is commonly
understood throughout the land and
| by the public that he has the ear of.
| the President and in his councils. yet
no word comes across the political
aisle. We on this side are ready to
! go forward but we demand what we
ought to have had, free speech and an
! honest understanding of the situation,
that we may know and ask of the
| President, What of the hour?' -
KENTUCKY ELECTION LAW.
/ The debate drifted back to the bill,
and Messrs. Sperry (R) of Connecti-
cut, Shafroth Pop) of Colorado. Love
| Cd of Mississippi, Mcdowell CD of
Ohio, and Griffith (R.) of Indiana dis
cussed various features
| Colson (R.) of Kentucky took occa-
sionto denounce the election law passed
by the Kentucky Legislature over the
veto of Governor Bradley.
Berry CD of Kentucky replied to
Colson's remarks about the new Ken
lucky election law He also announced
his unqualified approval Of the prop
osition to annex the Hawaiian Islands,
saying that he regarded their acquisi-
tion as Indispensable for the protection
of the Pacific seaboard.
| At 300 p. m. the House adjourned.