The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-26
SPEECH BY SENATOR MORGAN
WARNING THEM THAT THE PEOPLE
CANNOT BE THRILLED WITH,
And DenOuncing Their Action as ga
Which He WOuld Not be a Party.


take a final vote on the annexation resolu-
tons. The advocates of the resolution voted
down motions to go into executive session
and to adjourn and demanded the regular
order, The opponents of annexation were
determined not to proceed with the debate,
and for nearly an hour carried on flibuster-
ing tactics by entering motion after motion
to adjourn or go into executive session, and
demanding the yeas and nays on each mo-
ton. Several calls Of the Senate were sand
WICKED in between the various motions,
each, of course requiring roll call that
consumed time. The feeling was becoming
every minute more bitter and the explosion
finally came, when Mr.. Morgan, a member
F.. of. the foreign relations committee, and an
ardent anneXationist, took the floor and
made an attack on those who were conduct
ing the filibuster, denouncing the effort to
hold up the annexation resolutions a
miserable political trick and intrigue to
which he could never bring himself to be
party, He declared that the American peo-
pie were in no mood to be trif1ed with on
this question and that the men who were
parties to the filibustering tactics would be
spurned by their constituents In an indg-
nant reply to Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. White, the
leader of the opponents of annexation, de-
nounced as false the charge that he and his
friends. were filibustering against the Ha-
waiian resolutions. He maintained that
their opposition was being conducted hon.
estly and conscientiously, but that he did
not propose to be dictated to by anybody.
Mr.. Teller poured oil on the troubled
waters. but declared strongly for early ac-
ton upon the resolutions.
MORNING SESSIONS.
g.. 1aI, =
was not until fifteen minutes later that a
quorum was secured and proceedings began.
Mr.. Sewell called up and the Senate passed
the bill providing for a military secretary to
. the, secretary of war.
The conference report on the sundry civil
appropriation bill was called up by Mr.. Ali
son and adopted after two hours debate.
The Hawaiian annexation question was
laid before the Senate at 1:40 D. m. Mr..
Davis, chairman of the committee on for
eign relations, offered a resolution that here
after, until further notice, the Senate con-
Vene at IL a. m. 1t went over under oDJec-
when the Senate adjourn to-day that it be
until IL a. m Monday, and the motion was
agreed to--42 to II.
Mr.. Turley (renn.) then resumed his con-
stitutional argument against the annexation
resolutions. Toward the close of his speech
a diversion was caused by an interruption
Dy MI. VIII QueSllOllSO Aul. L ul
ley's position on the point OF the cession OF
territory,
MI. Foraker walked over to the Demo-
cratic SIDE, and from asking question he
fell into a general discussion with several
of the opposition senator's concerning the
nature OF treaties. he argued that in this
case it was more legitimate to proceed by
means of legislation than by treaty, be-
cause with the ratification of the treaty it
would cease to be binding, as when this
should occur one of the parties to the CON
tract would pass out of existence.
In the course of the extended colloquoy
between Mr.. and Foraker on the one side
and Mr.. Allen. Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Caffery
on the other. Mr.. Foraker maintained that
the annexation of Hawaii was not necessar-
lily an executive function Mr.. Foraker took
occasion at this point TO defend the action
of Minister Stevens, the representative of
the United States at Honolulu at that time.
He maintained that Mr.. Stevens had not
done thing during the revolution which
he had not been justified in doing.
AT the conclusion of the colloQuoy Mr..
to the resolution: That the contract labor
laws and all laws civil or criminal now in
force in said islands by. which men are
in punishment for crime whereof the party
has been duly convicted are hereby repealed
and all existing contracts are hereby de-
clared VOID
Mr.. Turley then resumed his argument
AT 4 O'Clock Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas, sug~
gested to Mr.. Davis that it might be desir-
able to have brief executive session and
then adjorun.
Il would ask the Senator from Arkansas"
inquired Mr.. Davis, whether or not he
would be willing now to suggest day when
lution?'
so far as 1 am concerned" replied Mr..
Jones, Il am willing to agree upon some
day next term for a vote"
THAT is quite illusory and impossible of
entertainment" said Mr. Davis. Can the
Senator not make it Thursday of next
week?"
THAT is even more illusory," responded
Then shall call for the regular order,
Mr.. President" said Mr.. Davis.
SYSTEMATIC FILIBUSTER.
A systematic filibuster was then inaugu-
rated. Mr.. Pettus moved that the Senate
go into executive session. The motion was
lost-34 to 10. Mr.. Allen moved to adjourn.
This motion was also lost-35 to 10, MIR.
Allen then moved that the Senate adjoErn
until II o'clock Monday. Mr. Morgan made
point of order against the motion and it
was sustained.
Then. for half an hour, Mr.. Allen, sus-
tanned by the opponents of annexation, con-
tinued to suggest the absence of a quroum
or enter motions to adjourn. The friends of
annexation stood fast and refused either to
adjourn or TO go into executive session
Finally the regular order was called for,
and Mr.. Berry insisted that a division had
been called for on one of Mr.. Aliens mo-
tons.
lar order, intimated that Mr.. Berry was en-
gagged in game"
This aroused the Arkansas senator and he
replied heatedly: II desire to say that L
have not been e- yed in any flibuster or
in any game. a y statement of that kind
by the senates Washington is entirely
unfounde Arranted.
Mr. Morass took the floor and de-
nounced as a MISERABLE political trick and
intrigue, to which he would never, be a
party, the proceedings which had charac-
torized the opponents of annexation during
the previous hour He declared that while
the army and navy of the United States
were fighting the battles of their country
senator's were sitting in the Capitol conduct
ing flibuster against measure that was
essential to proper conduct of the war
against Spain. 1t was the evident purpose,
he said, to block the progress of the Ha-
waiian resolutions by any possible means.
1T is the duty of the Senate, said Mr..
Morgan Ito take action upon this great and
solemn question. The American people are
III no mood to be trified with about it,
Mr.. Allen interrupted Mr.. Morgan TO say
that no fllibuster was being conducted by
the opponents of annexation but that
rather the f1libuSter came from the other
(the Republican, side of the chamber.
After further discussing the desirability
of acquiring the Hawaiian islands, Mr..
Morgan said: I'VE are representing here
and, instead of consulting our convenience
and pleasure we should be giving them our
earnest support II the members of the
Senate had TO go out TO defend this Capitol
tonight and were obliged TO stand guard
we would have more patriotism than some