The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-02
SHARP DEBATE ON HAWAII
SENATORS PETTUS AND CAT
ferry HAVE A WARM TILT
Former FavOrs Building a Navy
That VIII Command the Respect
of the WOrld-Mr. Mason, of I'LL
nofs, COntempIates Remaining
Away From the Senate for a Time
News of the Big Battle Read.


WASHINGTON. July 1.-For nearly six
hours today the senate had under discus
sion the Hawaiian annexation resolutions.
The first formal speech In favor Of the reso-
iutlons was delivered by Mr.. Pettus Dem,
Ala). In opening his argument bearing d.
rectly upon Hawaiian annexation, he said 1t
MAGE ~ so by one man or few men. Even
II II were party question:" said he, 1--WE
We're all Americans and. hope, patriots. be-
lore we Joined any party
Mr. Pettus then entered upon a legal and
constitutional argument in support of the
resolutions, In the course Of which he took
sharp issue with Mr.. Bacon (Ga) who an
tagonized the resolution on constitutional
ground. He maintained that no lawyer, no
court, could construe correctly a provision Of
the constitution without including all parts
Of the instrument.
Mr.. Pettus took issue with Mr.. Caffery
Ua-), who had argued that the acquisition
of Louisiana territory by act Of congress was
unconstitutional. He ridculed the argument
that the question ought to be submitted to
the people of Hawaii. He said such an argu-
ment had moral but no constitutional bear
to children in the nursery, it would have no
force with senators. 1t too adolescent.
Mr.. Gallery replied tartly that rs between
the adolescent expressions OF sympathy and
senility of age he would prefer the former.
Mr.. Pettus, stung by Mr.. Caffery's retort.
said: 1.-The senator from Louisiana has made
use OF a custom OF Cne senate LOT RrOSslV
improper purpose. He rose to ask me ques-
ton, and under the fraud Of asking me
question, he sought to denou1c3 ne person-
ally Senators ought not to do such small
things No interruption is proper except for
the purpose of question or of obtaining in
formation. And the man who joas interrupt
another for the purpose Of Offering an insult
well, Mr.. President, l was brought up
Presbyterian and cannot properly character
lie such conduct"
Mr.. Caffery-Will the senator permit me
to interrupt him?
mo. will not" declared Mr.. Pettus. Il
will not again be interrupted. l am an old
man, Mr.. President, but this Is the frs. time
l was ever insulted in the United States SELL
ate by such language. and DOM intend to
tolerate it."
Mr.. Caffery absolutely dlsclajmed that he
had intended his remark as en- insult. It was.
he said, merely call off to Mr.. Pettus'
statement regarding adolescence.
Mr.. Pettus had begun discussion of the
present war when he was interrupted by his
ated Press dispatch from Playa del Este, an
nouncing that battle near Santiago had be-
gun, and fighting was progressing all along
the line
fight has begun along the whole line, and
it behoo ! every man, adolescent or sen1le,
to suppo. the government the army and
navy Of the United States in all his actions.
We ought to support the president Of the
United States. How many will die in the
those brave men Of ours. If die they must.
may die with shouts of victory in their ears"
When Mr.. Pettus had concluded, Mr. Ma
son Qll) gave notice that If there was no
agreement to vote on the pending resolution
nor move made to change the rules. he
would not stay in the senate to keep up the
useless farce of the majority governed by the
minority.