The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-09
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
No Vote In the Negative on the Bill Fo
National Defense

National Defense.
Washington. March 9.-In a spirit of
patriotism, with eloquent words ringing
In their ears, every member of the house
OF representatives responded to the
presidents first call to meet the Spanish
situation by casting his vote for a
bill placing in President McKinley's
hands $50 900, 900 to be expended at his
discretion for the national defense.
Party lines were swept away, and with
unanimous voice congress voted its
confidence In the administration. Many
members who were paired with absent
colleagues took the responsibility or
breaking their pair, an unprecedented
thing in legislative annals in order that
they might go on record in support OF
this vast appropriation to maintain the
dignity and honor of their country.
Speaker Reed, who. as the presiding
officer seldom votes and usually only
in case of u tie, had his name called and
voted in his capacity as representative.
The scene Of enthusiasm which greeted
the announcement OF the vote-ayes. 3l1;
nays, 0-has seldom been paralleled in
the house.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., o.. in his speech.
aroused the house TO cheers by his glow
ing eulogy of the presidents patriotism.
He said: MIR. Speaker, no more in
spiring picture can be Witnessed any
where on earth than the demonstrations
which we have seen during the last 80,
so and 80 days of the power OF great
people. free government not only to
stand for the flag of their country. the
unity of the government, the supremacy
OF the constitution, but for their dignity
and calm exhibited in the face of the
world. The American people have had
a great deal TO stir the blood OF Sn-
| thuslasm n great deal to carry them
off the feet of their calm judgment;
but the picture that the world has
seen is the picture of nation calmly
studying every question as IL arose, and
| as step by step danger seemed To come.
threatening with it's dark. frowning face,
all distinctions fled away. 1t will he
| worth more than $50 900. 900 to the Amer
| lean people TO know that the great heart
| OF this people is a unit in favor of the
| government.
"A doubt about the American people!
| Hesitation about the character of the
! cxecutive-a man who marched and
| fought at Antietam and in the valley
of Virginia, who followed the fortunes
| OF Sheridan In the great charge of that
memorable campaign, who stood from
| his boyhood of Is years to his manhood,
In the face and fire of battle-does any
| body doubt where his loyalty is. where
his patriotism is where his courage Is?
| (Applause) Calmly and deliberately
| has he weighed every measure and con-
sidered every circumstance, and calmly
and deliberately behind him have stood
| 75 600 900 of people confident in him, con-
| fident in the patriotism of the people,
true and faithful TO the loyalty that has
| come to us from a thousand battle-flelds
| that saved the union. (Applause)
1T do not believe that war is hang
| ing over the American people. In this
republic our great aim should be for
peace. The truest patriot is he who
secures and keeps peace for his people.
IT is easy to be an animal; it is easy to
use claws and teeth and fight. He who
| can hold aloft i'm his country the white
| flag OF peace-not of cowardice-rises
nearer to his God. (Applause) No
| country on earth would seek to avoid
war as this country does. No country
on earth need fear war less than Amer
| lea (Applause) With our boundless
resources. with our great credit. with
| n people who no matter what their past
| nre absolutely united I'm standing as
| one man. / say that no country Is so
we'll armed for war as the United States
! OF America. do not speak for Ohio:
/ speak for the citizens OF the United
| States, and I believe today that we are
/ heart and hand together for what Is best
| for this republic. The young man who
| today pledges all the vigor Of his early
| manhood for his country commands my
respect, but I hope we do not have to
use Il. 7 have had letters from my
/ people wanting us TO take Cuba. TO pun
! ish Spain. I simply write back that
| no international law makes the United
| States the regulator of the wrongs OF
| earth. Cod mas written no motto on
! the banner OF our country that demands
! OF us the regulating OF the wrongs OF
other countries to their people. We all
sympathize with the lberty-loving and
| fighting Cubans, but they are the cit
! iSens of another country. SO long "a
that question Is before us. 7 follow the
advice OF Washington recommending
that we mind strictly our own business:
/ hut ~ they touch the rights of this coun-
try or dare TO lay unholy hands upon
/ our territory or our rights then I become
q fshtine Quaker"
Mr.. Fitzgerald Of Massachusetts, took
occasion to refer 10 an alleged utterance
- . Catholic priest some tine ago. 10