The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-17

WAsHINGToN, March Sin spirit
of patriotism, with eloquent words
ringing in their ears, every member
of the House of Representatives to-
day responded to the President s
first call to meet the Spanish situa-
ton by casting his vote for a bill
placing in President Mckinley
hands fifty millions of dollars to be
expended at his discretion for the
national defence. Party lines were
swept away, and with a unanimous
voice Congress voted its confidence
in the administration. Many mem
bers who were paired with absent
colleagues took the responsibility OF
breaking their pairs, an unprece-
dented thing in Legislative annals,
in order that they might 90 on rec
ord in support of this vast appropri-
alton to maintain the dignity and
honor of their country. Speaker
Reed, who, as the presiding officer,
seldom votes except in case of tie,
had his name called and voted in his
"a dPdSieN do d AoPiSoSAeA'A'S - Inv
scene of enthusiasm which greeted
the announcement of the vote-ayes,
311:navs, O-has seldom been paral-
leled in the House.
With one acclaim members from
the North and South, East and West,
the States and the Territories, battle
SCARED veterans of the Union and
the Confederate armies, all joined in
proclaiming their support of the
country's chief magistrate in the face
of possible foreign war.
While almost every member who
spoke deprecated the possibility of
war, wide divergence of opinion as
to how close were hostilities mani
tested itself in the debate. The gen
eral contention by the ma jority,
among the leaders on both sides, was
that this appropriation, by preparing
for war, would prove the surest guar
antee of peace. Others insisted that
wars alarm would soon be heard.
The speeches which attracted most
attention were those of Messrs. Can
non, Henderson and Dolliver, on the
Republican side, and Messrs. Bailey
and Savers on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Cannon, in opening the debate
on the bill, said that in the present
critical condition of affairs the COM
mittee had deemed it wise to appro-
pirate this sum, placing it's expendi-
ture in the complete discretion of the
President. He referred to the fact
that the committee had been unani-
nous in it's action and had only
changed the wording of the bill he
introduced yesterday by making the
appropriation available until January
1st, 1899, instead of June 3Oth, 1899.
'.We have the money in the Treas
ury to meet this appropriation if it
is expended" he continued, land
therefore there is not presented with
this proposition one to borrow money
or to increase the taxation, to which
almost any other nation on earth
would have been obliged to resort, y
tremendous applause.)
He insisted that this appropriation
must not be construed into threat.
Nothing was further from the minds
of those who reported it. he said.
This appropriation was to be placed
in the hands of wise and patriotic
Executive to make proper prepara-
tions to maintain the national honor,
nothing more.
ut is not war appropriation, y
said he emphatieally. Il say that IN
my judgment measuring my words,
that it is a peace measure. Great
applause,) The Government of the
United States would not, if it could,
trench upon the right of any nation
on earth" (Renewed applause.)
AROUSED TO ENTHUSIAM.
Mr.. Savers, of Texas, the ranking
member of the minority, followed
Mr.. Cannon. His first statement to
the effect that in the presence Of pos
sible danger this appropriation had
met with the hearty and unanimous
endorsement Of the appropriation
committee without regard to party,
aroused the House to enthusiasm.
He, too. declared that it could not be
construed as threat. 1t was simply
wise and patriotic precaution-the
arming of the Executive with power
to maintain our dignity after Con-
gress adjourned.
Mr.. Livingston, Democrat, Of Geor-
gia. supported the measure in Wig
orous speech He said he took this
position because he believed that an
emergency exists, but he contended
that if the administration had acted
as it should have done twelve months
ago in declaring a state OF belliger-
ency the present occasion for voting
emerg .ncy money would have been
avoided.
Mr.. Allen, Democrat, Of Mississippi,
was next recognized. He did not
make humorous speech. but a pa
triotic one. Il desire" he began
Ito say for the people Irepresent and
for the Southern section of the cOun-
try, for the entire country. that there
was never time when all were so
ready to give an administr alton all
the money it needs to preserve the
honor, the dignity and the general
welfare of the country, to say moth
ing of fair play and justice. The peo-
pie of the South" he continued.
- ask for nothing more. They do
not want to hurt anybody and are
not urging any rash action, but they
are ready to honor any draft whether
for men or money, to keep the flag
ahoat."
Mr.. Fitzgerald. Democrat. of Mas
sachusetts, took occasion 20 refer to
an alleged utterance of a Catholic
priest some time ago, to the effect
that If war came the symDathy and