The record-union., 1898-04-01

which, in a time of national conflict,
tend toward peace and toward ultimate
victory.
Il believe that if this House had been
as patient as it has heretofore been, and
if the Senate had been as far seeing as
heretofore, and if they had given to the
President time to press all diplomatic
and moral suasion that will not inter
fere unduly with Spain thirty days from
this time would not have elapsed until
Cuba would be an independent State.
Spain knows she cannot conquer the in
surgents, and that if she proposes 10 do
so now, it will be war with this nation.
Men may talk about influence of the
bankers and the monetary and business
interests of the world as they please,
but before God I will not criticise any in
fiuence, monetary or otherwise, hat
can make for peace. I say again, if the
President has sent an ultimatum to
Spain, it means war. If you tell her to
get out. she win make war. You ex-
cite the Spanish pride. You leave Sa-
gasta in a condition that he is not able
to complete negotiations. You will shed
American blood You will expend mill
ions of treasure in achieving independ-
ence. At what a cost? Stop and reflect
a moment"
NOT SPEAKING FOR THE PRESI-
DENT.
Johnson said he had been accused OF
speaking for the President, and this
he denied, and continued:
He has by his personal acts ana
by his exalted patriotism won the re-
spect of the people. north, south. east
and west, without regard TO party ties.
Shame on the men on the other side
of this chamber who dare to make par
ty capital out of this matter.
Johnson said this Government nad
better allow the Cubans to pay S2c0
coo 600 to acquire their independence
than that one drop of American blood
should be unnecessarily shed. cap
plause on the Republican side and
Kisses in the gallery)
1T does not make any difference TO
me whether | am Kissed or not. L be-
Iieve we are standing on the verge OF a
volcano, and / hope to God the ultI-
matum of the President will not strike
so suddenly that it will reach such
resentment as to provoke a war. But
if it comes, every heat of my heart, eV-
cry effort of which 1 am capable, VIII
be thrown into the scale in behalf OF
a speedy. victorious conclusion of that
war. [ hope TO God that the repre-
sentativeS of the American people on
this floor, the Senators who represent
the sovereign States at the other end
of the Capitol will pause and see where
we are standing. Let US uphold the
President. He has brought the parties
nearly together He is trying to avert
war I am told by those who consult
him that he is restless, anxious and
concerned; that he has declared that
he feels it is a solemn duty he owed
to the country to avert war
let no man mistake the tempera-
ment of the American people. They
are not all for war. Many men OF
good sense and judgment are misled,
and they are in favor of war But there
is a great conservative element in the
country that is opposed to war, except
as a last resort. 1t is not the tenn
porary applause of the multitude that
they seek; it is a calm, COOL dispas-
sionate Judgment that will be approved
when the danger has passed, when the
war cloud has drifted away.
Il appeal from the misguided sentl-
ment of these persons; l appeal from
the jeers from the chamber, with which
my remarks have been greeted; | ap-
peal from the Kisses of the galleries,
which are not expected to do the fight
ing: 1 appeal to the cool, calmer judg-
ment of my countrymen, which will
pass upon my utterances when the time