The record-union., 1898-02-23

icy unnecessary TO the material happi
ness Of our people, hurrying along .
I a. n Nhict was strewn with the wrecks
of emrires and of nations. (ApplaCse.l
He did not deny. he said. that the
acquisition of foreign territory had
added to the prosperity of nations. But
history showed it to have been ulti-
mately source of weakness. Cupidity
bred oppression; it piled up taxes; it
shed human blood; it was the first step
toward dismemberment.
LET the nations of the old world, -
he said, pursue this policy Of aggran-
dizement to their hearts content; let
them saddle their people with debt,
equip armies and navies and shed
oceans of blood Let England boast,
if she pleased, that the sun never sets
upon her territory. But let US remem-
ber that it never goes down upon the
misery her policy has created. Her
people starve in India Let wars and
rumors of wars bring anxiety to the
faces of her colonists, but let the flower
of her colonies which broke away from
her domination 100 years ago, and
which, by pursuing the opposite policy,
has outstripped her, continue TO stand
as an example to the civilized world.
While others seek war and its horrors,
let us soothe our people with enduring
peace.
Peace hath her victories no less re-
nowned than war. We are in the in
fancy of our resources; the morning Of
our material development. We will
be wise to develop our matchless toun-
try. The internal reforms which our
country demand present a field broad
enough to enlist our best Efforts
publication of the ballot, the crushing
of the rings and trusts which plunder
our people without stint, the restriction
of immigration, the establishment of
fixed and stable standard of value.
and the reform of our banking laws af-
ford work for us to do Let us not
be known and execrated as the bolster
ing bullies of the Western Hemis-
phere.' Our country is all-poweTful.
The world comedies our strength.
While / am pround of our navy"
continued Mr. Johnson, Il sometimes
think that the powerful battleships we
have built have bred feelings of intol-
erance and insolence. 1t is not more
true that a plethoric treasury breeds
public plunder than that a well-equip-
ped army and navy rashly leads to
friction and war. Let our equipment
insure peace rather than provoke war.
(Applause)
while il may seem that these re-
marks are premature, and that / have
| taken too firm a grip on the forelock
of time. it Is my purpose to sound the
alarm, that the House and the country
may understand the character of the
proposition pending in the Senate My
| information is that the treaty will fail
in the Senate, but it win be supplanted
by a joint resolution providing for the
annexation OF the islands, | DO not
doubt its passage by the Senate. and
that it viii come here. if the Senate
fails 10 do it's duty, let us. fresh from
the people, exercise our high preroga-
tive and send it to its doom. Gap
plause)
Il trust God it will not tie made a
party measure. With exalted patri-
otism and deliberate counseis. we will
reach conclusion worthy of this House
and the country, and erect a safeguard
| for the future. If we turn from this
temptation now and adhere to the
right. twenty-five years of peace and
f'N,bS va. iiicieeieS ooi pau aoai9iis
and posterty viii bless our memories.
/ Let Us have the moral courage to say
| No to a policy which viii lead, God
alone knows where"
| The demonstration which greeted the
conclusion of Johnson's speech was one
of the greatest and most spontaneous
witnessed in this Congress Many OF
| the Republicans Joined III il, and the
galleries. which were crowded. gave
evidence of approval Members
thronged about the Indiana member
when he took his seat and warmly con-
graduated him.
| The remainder of the day was almost
| entirely consumed with political
speeches.
| AT ) clock the House adjourned.