The times., 1898-01-19

If it were competent to oner this
amendment, ii would also be competent
to offer an amendment to declare war
against Spain or any other country.
Mr. Colson, of Kentucky, in a very
spirited speech, said: There is no
question OF the right of the great
American people taking action in re-
gard To Cuba. We have delayed too
long. The history of the Cuban insur
rection viii forever remain a black
page in the records of the nineteenth
century. and the fact that the Fifty
fifth Congress has taken no action, will
forever remain to the discredit Of this
Congress.
When will the Committee on For
eign Affairs allow the House OF Repre-
sentatives to vote on this question? l
shall vote in this instance TO oppose the
decision of the chair. and / warn my
Republican colleagues that they have
deferred consideration OF this question
too long already, and that the Ameri-
can people will hold us responsible for
our failure to take action in this mat
ter. If we do not terminate this un-
holy warfare, shall expect to see the
next House of Representatives have in
ii many faces we do not see here today.
| also warn my Republican colleagues
that unless the Committee on Foreign
Affairs gives this question chance to
be acted upon. i am one who join in
the most revolutionary tactics to get
an expression of this House
The vote on the appeal stood 152 for
the affirmative. and ia for the mega
tive. The decision of the chair was
thus sustained. and the lower house of
the Fifty-tffth Congress went on record
as opposed TO the patriot struggle for
liberty in Cuba
In the course of the debate the ques-
ton was put to the Republican side
plainly: do ycu intend at any time
during the present session to give
members an opportunity to vote on the
question of Cuban belligerency?' and
the query was evaded.
Speaking for his colleagues, one Of
the Democratic members said;
Il would be willing to refrain from
vote upon the question of order, as
the gentleman from Missouri intimates
he would, if il were within a reasonable
expectation that the naked question of
Cuban belligerency would ever be pre-
sented To the consideration of this
House. And | stand here now on be-
half of this side and pledge ourselves
that we will withdraw this amendment
if the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
HitD will rise in his place and say that
within d reasonable time he will pre-
sent the Senate resolution.
'Wiil he do it2 He is as silent as the
Republican party has wanted him to be
upon this question. They have prom
ised over and over again that this
question should be met. Why, sir, the
distinguished gentleman from Ohio,
when we Were trying to force the con-
sideraIion OF this question during the
extraordinary session, assured us, or,
rather, aassufed-the country, with some
thing of dramatic effect, that in his
own good time the President would
take this matter UP and settle it to the
satisfaction of the American people.
What influence that assurance may
have had upon the House l am unable
to determine. but do know that either
under that assurance or under a whip
and lash, more powerful with the 9TH
er side of the House than the assurance
of the Presidents friend from Ohio, in
some way Republicans who had pre-
fesse the friendliest interest in Cuba
We're deferred from joining us in pro-
curing her a hearing"
Mr. Lewis. Of Washington, took part
in the debate on the question of
whether Mr.. De Almonds amendment
was ger7mane or not and cited prece-
dent to prove that it was. He said:
The gentleman from Maine insists on
his point of order that the amendment
offered by this gentleman from Mis-
souri, is not germane- In order to SuS-
tain himself he asserts that there is
not q gentleman on this side of the
House who viii contend that the
amendment is germane or sustained by
precedent or. justified by any practice
of this House. For myself / assert that
the amendment is not only germane but
is sustained by precedent precisely
parallel which arose on the floor of this
House and was sustained under eX-
actiy similar conditions as is the one
offered. bN. the. gentleman from Mis-
souri,. and 1 accept, deferentially of
course the challenge of the gentleman
from Maine.
Il invite the attention OF the MEM
bers of the House 10 the fact that on
the 9Th of February. 1872 QaHghter) an
appropriation bill--Mr. Chairman, | do
not marvel at this mirth Everything
anc lent in liberty and fixed in justice
is ever sneered at. by the other side
daughter and applause by the Demo-
cratic side)
Il repeat that on the 9Th of February,
1872. upon an appropriation bill pre-
sented in this House proposing an ap
preparation for the consular service and
foreign relations, Henry Clay offered
an amendment which l will now read
The amendment read by Mr.. Lewis
was substantially similar to the one
offered by Mr. De Almond
Others who took part in the debate
were Bland Dinsmore, Simpson, Ding
ley, Cannon, and Hit.