Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1898-04-22
Is Il Possible that War Is being De-
clared BY = Hob7
Read

"
almost insane. and Liar" ~Scoundrri" and
other deuanciatory epithets were applied.
Mr.. Mirrs, ngui.. Of Indiana. and Mr.. Par
sou. Rep. OF North Carolina. almost came 10
blows. There were half dozen personal col
liSious Mr.. Brumm. Rep. OF Pennsylvania,
and Mr.. Bartlett, Dem. Of Georgia, were IN
volved.
At last Gen. Henderson. Rep. of Iowa. the
oue-lcgged veteran. standing in the Jostling,
hghting crowd. IN clear. rinSing tones, called
tor order. reminding members that IL was a
disgrace TO tire American Congress.
Members rushed between the contestants
who were exchanging hot words with
clenched fists and set teeth. and they were
drawn apart. The speaker pounded with
his gayel, and with steutorian tones de-
manded that all members take their seats.
When order was in part restored Mr.:
that the words he taken down, hut he
yielded to the appeals Of his friends A few
minutes later. after order was restored, MIR.
Bailey and Mr.. Quigg OF New York eN-
changed personalities. The excitement was
at fever heat.
Not in years has such a scene occurred as
was witnessed Oh the floor of the House.
Books were thrown. Representative Bart
lett of Georgia letting fly heavy cloth COW
cred volume at Brimm Of Pennsylvania,
which, just grazing his head, spent itself in
the aisle beyond where he sat. The trouble /
arose out of the objection made by Mr.. |
Bailey of Texas to the consideration of the \
resolution without proper understanding as
to the length of time allowed each side.
Henderson of Iowa, in an impassoned APP |
peal to the men Of the American Congress to |
act like men, was met with a storm Of Kisses
Now such scenes, in such a
house, and in republic full OF
rich memories of the grave and
unapproachable Washington, the
dignified self-poised Webster, and
the modest, sensitive decorum OF
Clay, the two last possessing
and exercising the thunder and
lightning of mental forces, yet
always controlled by their dig
nifty and manhood, and a keen
sense of the honor and glory of
the country they represented,
must excite feelings of adherence
all over the world! Just at this
time when the eyes of all civil
lied countries are fixed on con-
gress, when it's every tone is au-
dible everywhere in most sensi-
tive atmosphere, when the re,
spect of other nations is more
than ever essential, when the
most vital and delicate interests
of the country are being consid-
cred and adjusted; and when
most careful, thoughtful, manly
and statesmanlike pose and lam
guage is required, such vain, fool
ish, personal, partisan and pull
ing exhibitions of personal, par
tisan and fretful instincts ought
to condemn the performers to
the contempt of all mankind, or,
what would be more comforting,
that they be buried in everlasting
forgetfulness if such disposition
of so contemptuous matter
could be made.
1t is some little satisfaction to
see one of them emboldened by
the disgrace being so soon par
TALLY lost in the common anxiety
and in the manner in which the
press slightingly drew the white
wash brush over it undertake to
repeat or revive the performance,
and to see one Tom Reed, an
able bodied man, who happened
along there just in the nick of
time, show him how much worse
even he looked after an encounter
of wit than he did from the effect
of one with the hands.
And what is worse than all,
those low fellows got into those
grand historic halls that the
country has regarded with a
reverence akin to awe, under the
false pretence that they were the
noble representatives of a highly
civilized people and before any
one was aware of it they extern
ported a pugilistic arena and
were giving an exhibition as far
below prize fight as it was more
wanting in skill and courage.
Was it not enough that men
got up in congress, and to cap
ture the vulgar sentiments of the
country, made speeches like
Gentlemen may cry peace, peace,
but there is no peace; the war is
already begun and sink or swim,
live or die, survive or perish l
give my hand and heart to it,"
then looked to the galleries as a
signal for ''thunders of APP
plause;" and then that the press
should speak approvingly of
such "original," classic" and
statesmanlike efforts!
Was it not enough that while
a candid, considerable, yet. anx-
ious and toiling president was
at work day and night to organ
ize and formulate a course of
action by applying the law of
nations to the situation, and to
mark out a course of action that
should conform to rules estab-
lished by national acquiescence,
and which would meet the ap-
prevail of mankind; and while
careful and candid men were
thoughtfully opening the discus
sion and getting at the facts
without passion, certain repre-
l =. 4 a..