The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-01
FACE TO FACE With WAR.


COntIn ued from First rage,
Mr.. johnson said this government had
better allow the Cubans to pay $3.50, C00,-
900 to acquire their Independence than
that one drop of American blood should
be unnecessarily spilled. applause on
the Republican side and Kisses in the
gallery.)
whether I am Kissed or not. believe
we are standing on the verge OF volcano
and | hope to God that the ult1matum of
the President will not strike so suddenly
that it will create such resentment as to
provoke war. Still if it comes every eHort
of which l am capable will be thrown IN
to the scale in behalf of speedy conciu-
sion of that war. Let us upnold tne Fresl-
dent. He has brought the parties nearly
together, he is trying to avert war. l am
told by those that consult him that he Is
restless, anxious and concerned, that he
declares thar he feels it solemn duty to
the country to avert war. The American
people are not all for war. There is q
great conservative sentiment in the
country that is opposed to war as last
resort I appeal from the jeers OF the
cham Der with which my remarks have
been greeted, | appeal from the Kisses OF
the galleries which are not expected to do
the fighting, appeal to the cool, calm
Judgment of my countrynen which VIII
pass upon my utterances when the time
comes for calm and respectful consldera-
ton.
MIR. Bailey the Democratic leader re-
piled to Mr.. johnson:
II know" said he, 'the standing OF
the gentleman from Indiana in the coun-
sells of his party we'll enough to know
that what he has.spoken is entitled to be
considered almost as authoritative. When
ho says the President is trying to compose
the misunderstanding between this nation
and the Spanish government upon basis
which will compel Cuba to buy its liberty
from the butchers OF Spain. we are ustl-
fed in supposing that it is for that pur-
pose the House has been denied the oppor.
tunity to vote on resolution which de-
clares that the Cuban patriots have fairly
won their independence.
owe to the Republican party no kind
| ly offices, but warn it that if Its leaders
agree and the Republican party sanctions
Gods sun to buy that liberty which God
| has given them. that party will never
survive long enough to escape the odium
which will be fastened upon it by an out
ragged sentiment of the American people.
| Liberty is not a pui chasable commo-
| dity. There was a time in this republic
when no man in high station would have
| that another nation should be compelled
to buy it, 1t was birthright of men and
it is their duty to assert it, though war
be necessary in it's assertion. l am myself
as averse to war as any other man. On
this side twice, during the present session
we have walked up to the altar and
made willing sacrifice OF our political
advancement We know and you know
that war will be to the advancement OF
the party in power. Yet with this knoWl-
edge that we are pursuing policy to the
advantage of our political opponents you
must admit that we did all that you
asked us to do.
I'm the history of this republic no
party has nsver acted more patriotically
or unselflshly than the Democratic party
has during this crisis. applause from
the Democratic side. Six months ago,
if you had done as we urged you to do,
If you had recognized the right OF those
struggling patriots to fight for indepen-
dence, war would have been averted and
Cuba would today be an established fact
in the world. You refused to act and
the progress of even this has simply in
tensi1ed the situation. The longer you
postpone doing right the longer you post
bone action, the more certain 1t is that
war and war alone will eXtricate you.
GA representative OF the Cuban repub-
lie said to me: Give US recognition
VI Jul independence, u'teeo W. OeAiA SDIeAt -
arms and heavy artillery and in 80
days we will put an army OF hundred
thousand Cuban patriots in the field and
in 80 days more the flag of Spain will be
trailing in the dust of Cuba
"That is their spirit, why do we not
meet them in it? Werp You invite it
with all its horrors. ] know the horrors
of war as well as the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Johnson. I witnessed it's
desolation. My father and my kinsmen
came back from the battlefelds, rendered
historic by the courage of those who
wore the blue as well as those who wore
the gray, and on every hand they wit
messed the horrors and desolation of war.
We do not want war. We have twice
offered you the opportunity to avoid it.
But my voice, and the voice of those
with whom I have the honor to sit, is
Cuba free without war if possible;
Cuba free with war If necessary
Mr.. Grosyenor, Republican of Ohio,
whose utterances are given weight ow-
ing to his close friendship with the adj
mfnistration, answered Mr.. Bailey. Said
he:
'rhe gentleman from Texas warns
this side that if the President attempts
to force the Cubans to buy their freedom.
hell will break loose in about 10 seconds
on the Democratic side. Nobody pro-
poses to force the Cubans to buy their
independence The whole idle prattle of
this character in the newspapers has been
Just so much nonsense.