The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-05

Senators Frye aud Chandler have q
Spirited Tilt Over the Presidents Ac
tion-A Heated Discussion in the house.
Mr.. Johnson's Pleadings for Peoce-Mr.
Bailey Pleads for Cuban Independence
and Outlines the Democratic Position
SENATE.
Washington, March 31.-Tne appar-
emily simple request, made in the SCI
ate today by Senator Frye, of Maine,
on Gehalf of the foreign relations COM
mfttee, that the resolution calling upon
the president for the Cuban consular
reports lie on the table until UGH time
as the committee desired to call it up
unexpectedly precipitated a discussion
on the Cuban question 1t finally led
to q passage al arms between senator
Chandler, New Hampshire, and senator
Frye, in which the former made some
sarcastic references to the onduct Of
IN. foreign relations committee and
to the attitude of the president. Con-
corning the latter, Senat Chandler
said: Il mare confidence that the pres
ident intends to pursue a patriotic and
righteous course in the present emer-
gency and l shall thank God when he
reaches a conclusion Of some sort, or
another. Therefore, l am not in rebel
liOn, as yet, against the powers that
be"
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, made
abe request Of Senator Frye the oc-
casiOn of a speech upon the general
Cuban question in tine course CT which
he reviewed his own on the subject and
declared that III stood now just where
he had always stoOd-in fayor of the
absolute Independence of the Cuban
people from that ''hideOuJ monster
among nations" Spain.
Upon the conclusion of the Cuban
discussion the Sunday Civil Apprcpria-
tiOn bill was taken up and thlrty-flVe
pages of it were disposed of.
The measure was then laid aside and
Senator HaWley, of Connecticut, of the
military affairs committee, presented
an amended form the joint resolution
Offered by Senator Bacon, of Georgia,
concerning the erection of temporary
Qualifications. He said that the re5Clu-
tion as now amended met all objections
that haL been raised against the OIzfgi-
nal ONE. 1t is as follows:
"That in case of emergency, when,
in the opinion of the president, the
immediate erection of amy temporary
fort or f~ortificaltion is deemed impOr-
dant and urgent, such temporary fort
br fertilization may he constructed
upon written consent of the owner of
the land upon which such work is to he
placed, and the requirements of
section 355 of the Revised Statutes shall
not he applicable in such cases."
The resolution was PASSED.
Then the senate. at 4 o'clock p. m.
went into executive session and at APO
O'clock D. m. adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
For three hours today the packed
galleries and excited members of the
house listened 20 a passionate Outburst
of oratOry on the Cuban question, dur
ing which the intensity of feeling was
alternately manifested by cheers, jeers
and Kisses. Time and again the eXcit-
ed thrOngS in the galleries were ad-
monished to be silent. AT n time,
at least, it seemed as if a motion would
Ibe made to clear them. The three
speeches which stirred the aSSemblage
10 it's depths were made by Mr.. GrOs-
VenOr, OF Ohio, who it was assumed
spoke for the administration and who
practically pledged it to the cause of
free Cuba; Mr.. Bailey, of Texas, the
democratic leader, who announced the
democratic position as for Cuba with
out war, if it could he avoided, but
with war if necessary, and MIR. John
son, of Indiana, who spoke for peace,
declaring that it was our duty to &C
to the extreme in m~agnanimity tC
avoid the hOrrOwS of war.
MI. Lewis, a democrat from Wash
ington, provoked the speech of Mr.
Johnson, which aroused the members
and the galleries to the fever pitch OF
excitement. Mr.. Lewis had denounced
the proposition that Cuba purchase
her freedom from Spain, which, it was
alleged, the administration was foster
ing.
Then it was that Mr.. Johnson, in a
brilliant speech pleaded for peace. He
faced the storm of Kisses which swept
down upon him from the galleries like
a Spartan and with passionate utter
ances adjured members to aus before
they plunged the unit into war, the
evils of which would follow after in
endless train. The house has had be
fore Illustrations of Mr.. JOhnSon'S fear
1esSness, but none so striking as today
when he espoused the unpopular cause
and pleaded to let diplomacy ave its
way. AT the same time he gave it as
his opinion that if an ultimatum had
been sent to Spain it meant war, as
SPANS pride would not permit her tC
humiliate herself before the world. He
~eulOgized every influence that made
for peace and declared his belief that
the Cuban junta would agree to pay
500, 600, 600 for the independence of the
island
Mr.. Bailey, the democratic leader, re-
piled to Mr.. Johnson. Il KNOW" said
he, the standing of the gentleman
from dian in the councils of his own
party, inc before the country, well
enough to know that what he
has spoken has been spoken with
deliberation and hat it is en-.
titled to be considered almost as au-
thoritative. When he says that the
president is trying to compose the mis-
understanding between this nation
and the Spanish government, Upon a
basis which will compel the island OF
Cuba to buy it's liberty from the butch
ers of Spain we are justified in suppos.
ing that it is for that purpose the
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