The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-09
PARTY LINES SWEPT AWAY
IN ALL. FIFTY NINE SPEECHES
WE'RE MADE.
CATHOLICS ARE NOT FOR SPAIN
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Of Massachusetts, Resents the
Assertion by a Priest--The Ap-
preparation Not Threat but
Measure of Peace.

Measure of Peace.
Washington. ID. c., March SIN a
spirit of patriotism. with eloquent words
ringing in their ears every member of
the House of Representatives today re-
sponded to the Presidents first call to
meet the Spanish situation by casting
his vote for bill placing in President
McKinleyis hands fifty millions of dol
lars to he expended at his discretion for
the national defense. Party lines were
swept away, and with Il unanimous
voice Congress voted its confidence in
the administration. Many members who
were paired with absent colleagues took
the responsibility of breaking their pairs,
an unprecedented thing in legislative
annals, in order that they might go on
record in support of this vast appro-
priation TO maintain the dignity and hon
or of their country. Speaker Reed, who
as the presiding officer, seldom votes
except in ease of a tie, had his name
called and voted in his capacity as a
Representative. The scene OF enthusi-
asm which greeted the announcement of
the yote-ayes 3fl; nays none-haS sell
dom been paralleled in the House. All
day long the galleries were jammed
with enthusiastic spectators applauding
the Datriotism of the words of eloquence
which were uttered by he members
on the floor. The speeches were all
brief Although four hours we're al
lowed for debate. so great was the
pressure Tor the time that no one nom
ber was given more than five minutes
and most Of them had 10 content them
selves with beggarly fraction of al
minute. In all 80 speeches were made.
With one acclaim members from the
North and the South, the East and the
West, the States and the Territories,
battle SCARED veterans of the Union.
and the Confederate armies. all joined
in proclaiming their support of the conn
try's chief magistrate III the face of a
possible foreign war. In the whole de-
bate there was only slight discordant
note caused by the speech of General
Bingham. of Pennsylvania. who served
with distinction under Hancock. He
spoke too conservatively for the aroused
temper of the House, and when he in
sisted that our relations with Spain
were as friendly as they had been for
years. many of the members hissed him.
While almost every member who spoke
deprecated the possibility of war, a wide
divergence of opinion as to how close
were hostilities manifested itself in the
debate. The general contention by the
majority. among them the leaders on
both sides, was that this appropriation
by preparing for war would prove the
surest guarantee of peace. Others in
sisted that war drums would be soon
heard, and Mr.. Mann, of Illinois, declar-
ed that war actually existed in all save
name. The speeches which attracted
most attention were those of Messrs.
Cannon, Henderson and Doliyer, on
the Republican side, and Messrs. Bailey
and Sayers on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Cannon in opening the debate on
the bill said that in the present critical
condition of affairs the committee had
deemed it wise to appropriate this sum
placing its expenditure in the complete
discretion of the President. He referr-
cd TO the fact that the committee had
been unanimous in its action and had
only changed the wording of the bill he
introduced yesterday by making the ap-
preparation available until January l,
1890. instead of June 30. 1899.
I'VE have the money in the Treasury
TO meet this appropriation if it is ex-
pended" he continued, land therefore
there is not presented with this propO-
Sition one to borrow money or 10 in.
crease taxation TO which almost any
other nation on earth would have been
obliged to resort Tremendous ap-
plause.)
lie insisted that this appropriation
must not be construed into a threat.
Nothing was further from the minds
of those who reported it, he said. This
appropriation was TO be placed in The
hands of a wise and patriotic executive
TO make proper preparations to main
tain the national honor, nothing more.
1T is not war appropriation, said
he emphatically. Il say that in my
judgment, measuring my words that it
IS a peace measure. Great applause).
The government of the United States
world not, if it could trench upon the
rights of any nation on earth' (Re-
newed applanse).
Mr.. Sayers, of Texas, the ranking
member of the minority, followed Mr..
Cannon, his first statement, to the effect
that in the presence Of possible 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, declare. that it could not
be construed as threat. 1t was simply
wise and patriotic precaution--the
arming of the executive with power to
nlaintain our dignity after Congress
adjourned.
Mr.. Livingston (Dem., Ga.), supported