The herald., 1898-03-17
THEREFORE WILLIAMS DOES
NOT WANT 1T
ONE RACE PROBLEM ENOUGH
Debate in the House Drifts FROM Its
Muttons but Proves None the
Less Interesting
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated HreSS Speclal wire
WASHINGTON, March 16.-The hous
| today passed a bill extending the time IL
| which the Arkansas, Texas and Mexican
Central railroad may construct brancl
through the Indiap territory, and thei
went into committee of the whole and re
sumed consideration of the post office ap
preparation bill
Williams of Mississippi, Democrat, wa!
first recognized, and in a speech of forty
minutes replied to the speech made by
Tawney yesterday in favor of Hawaiian
annexation. Williams is member of the
foreign affairs committee, and his remarks
received close attention. He directed hi:
attack particularly against the contention
of Tawney that the traditional policy OF
this government was not opposed to an
nexation. He thought there was no oc-
casion for war, even if it were true that II
we should not take the islands some other
country would. The idea of the foreign
ownership of group of islands 2G00 miles
from our shores had no terrors for him.
He said the Hawaiian islands were now
in the control of carpetbag olgarchy.
The states of the south had undergone a
bitter experience with carpetbag govern
ment and did not desire to endorse it any
where. The Hawaiian islands would be a
menace instead of safeguard to the
United States. He asked his friends who
recently played in the international chess
match against the British parliamentary
team what they would think of accepting
a pawn in the middle of the board from
their adversaries on condition that they
should defend 1t throughout the game
Great Britain had given pawn for peace
in the shape of Canada. Why should We
weaken our already strong position? This
country already had race problem. Tc
take the Hawaiian islands would be to an.
mex another race problem and pay 81, 900,
900 for the privilege of doing it. In it's re
mote effects, Williams said he regarded the
correct settlement of this question as more
important than all others before the
American people. The currency question
the coinage question, the tariff question
all important questions in themselves if
settled wrong, could be reconsidered and
settled right. But the mistaken step of
Hawaiian annexation, once taken, could
never be retracted. The Americ would
never give up one foot of territory they
once possessed, except after sacrifice so
great as to break down the national pride.
Adams of Pennsylvania, Republican, also
a member of the foreign affairs commit
tee, replied to Williams pursuing much
the same line of argument advanced by
Tawney yesterday.
Lewis Of Washington, Democrat, de-
clared that Hawaii would not be annexed
at this session, nor would we go to war
with Spain.
1.-THE administration, said he, "is try
ing to see how close 1t can go to the line
of war without crossing, in the hope that
under the cry of patriotism the people at
the approaching congressional elections
may forget their wrongs and rally to its
support
Cochran of Missouri, Democrat, In COM
menting on the existing situation. de-
clared that those who stood close to the
stock uckers in London and New York
seemed to be more powerful than the
united and solemn voice of the American
out for the recognition of the Cuban
belligerents. Stock jobbers on two con-
tinents ahd so far proved to be the only
actual intervention in Cuban affairs.
"Do you not believe we should recognize
the independence of Cuba?" asked Sulzer
Of New York, Democrat
"I do not" replied Cochran. 1.-The recog-
milton of belligerency would not clothe the
insurgents with sufficient power to ne
gotiate honorable peace. If we should in
tervene our troubles would have just be-
gun. I fear If the administration should
intervene it would be as the attorney of
the bondholder rather than as the friend of
the insurgents"
In conclusion, Cochran referred to the
current rumors that the president de-
sired an immediate adjournment, in order
that he might be able to settle the Spanish
affair without interference from con-
gress."
Grosvenor of Ohio, Republican, replied
to this statement Immediately At first he
spoke in a semi-humorous vein. He de-
sired, he said, to make brief statement in
reply to this story which was floating
around to the effect that the president was
about TO take the house of representatives
by the throat, abolish the United States
senate and proceed TO the settlement of
all our foreign complications without the
aid of the representatives of the people.
1t should be remembered. he continued in
such reports that congress was
an independent power, the existence oe
which would probably continue lonper
than the Cuban question. Within the Ia
thirty days the sensational press of tho
country, he said, had put forth pronost-
tions three times more absurd and SIN.
pendous than this, yet they had not at
tracted the attention his had.
Mr.. Grosvenor said he spoke of this mat
ter with some hesitation because aftor
reading the newspapers he sometimes
doubted his independent existence: when
he spoke for himself they insisted that he
spoke for somebody else. He did not prs-
tend to know more than the humblest citi-
zen, yet, he said he took the responsible
ty Of stating that the suggestion that the
president had fixed date for the adjourn
ment of congress. or desired to fix a date,