The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-09
day by making the appropriation avail
able until January l, 1899, instead of

! 1--WE have got the money In the treasury
70 meet this appropriation If 1t is expend-
ed, he continued, 'and therefore there
IL not presented with this proposition one
70 borrow money or to increase taxation
| to which almost any other nation on
sarth would have been obliged to resort. -
tremendous applause
Inc appropriation, he continued, was
extraordinary. Its object was to empower
the President to provide for contingencies.
he insisted that this appropriation must
not be construed into threat Ih1s
appropriation was to be placed in the
hands of wise and patriotic executive
to make proper preparations to maintain
the national honor, nothing more.
1T is not a war appropriation, said
he emphatically. "I say that in my
judgement, measuring my words, that it
is peace measure. (Great applause
The government of the United States
rights OF any nation on EARTH" (Renew-
ed applause.)
MIR. Sayers, of Texas, the ranking
member Of the minority, followed MIR.
Cannon. eA
His first statement to the effect that
in the presence of possible danger this ap-
preparation had met with the hearty and
unanimous endorsement of the approprl-
alton committee without regard to party,
aroused the House to enthusiasm. he,
too declared that. 1t could not be construed
as threat. 1t was a most wise precau-
tion, the arming of the executive with
power to maintain our dignity after Con-
gress adjourned. Mr.. Sayers expressed
confidence that the money voted would
be wisely and economically expended and
closed amid great applause by saying
that he for one would be found giving
honest and sincere support to the Presi-
dent in his efforts to support the honor
and dignity Of the American nation.
Mr.. Dockery, Democrat Of Missouri,
began by saying that the hour for action
had arrived and the American people
must face an important emergency, an
emergency in which no American citizen
could falter or hesitate to do his duty.
At such time, he said party lines should
fade away and the country should act
as one man. The American people had
inherited the priceless boon Of freedom
from their ancestors, and there would be
heard no discordant vote in the opposit-
ion to the present demand.
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman Of the commit
tee on naval affairs, said that while no
argument was necessary on this measure
he desired to say that he had been in
structed by his committee to express the
hearty endorsement Of that committee
His only regret was that this appropri-
alton was not allowed to stand absolute
| ~ alone as proclamation to our coun-
| try and to the world that Congress stood
ready to vote millions to arm the exc
cutive to uphold the dignity of the flag.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts, de-
clared that no unjust inference should
be drawn from the objection of his COL
league, Mr.. Barrett. No people, he said,
4 L +-1
| the people of the Commonwealth OF Mas
sachusetts. Mr.. Fitzgerald took occasion
to refer to an alleged uttsrance of Ca
tholio priest some time ago to the effect
that II war came the sympathy and the
support of the Catholic church would be
with Spain because 1T was Catholic
| country While he said he did not be-
| lieve the priest had uttered such a senti-
merlt, 1t had attracted wide attention,
and as Catholic he desired to deny it..
If war came the people of no faith, he de-
| clared, would be more willing to shed their
blood in defence of their country than
those who had valiantly defended it in
the war of the revolution, the war Of 1912, /,
! the Mez loan war and the civil war.
| Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican Of Ohio in
his speech, aroused the House to cheers
| by his glowing eulogy of the Presidents
patriotism. He said: "Mr. Speaker,
| no more inspiring picture can be wit
messed anywhere on earth than the de.
monstrations which we have seen during
the last 80, 60 and go days of the power
| of great people, free government, not
only to stand for the flag, the unity OF
government, the supremacy of the con-
stitution, but their dignity and calmness
exhi bited in face Of war. The American
people have had great deal to stir their
| blood, great deal to carry them of the
feet of their calm Judgment. But the
picture that the world has seen is the
picture of q nation calmly study ing every
| question as it arose and as, step by step
/ danger seemed to come, threatening with
it's dark, frowning face, all distinctions
| fed away. 1t will be worth more than
S5O, 900, 900 to the American people to
know that the great heart Of this people
! ia unit in favor of'this government.
| (Applause have long thought that 1t
was possible that war might be benefit
to our country in this direction; but the
demonstration of the last 80 days and
it's elimination which is to take place
in this Capitol today and tomorrow,
takes the place in the Judgment of man.
kind. of war as an evidence of the unity
of mighty nation (Applause.) How
magnifcently has this duty been ap--
preached and performed ~ dounG ABOUT
character of the executive, 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 to his manhood,
in the face and fire of battle-does any
body doubt where his loyalty is9 where
his patriotism is? where his courage Isl
| (Applause.) Calmly and deliberately has
he weighed every measure and considered
every circumstance and calmly and de-
liberately behind him have stood 5,0O0.-
600 people confident in him, confident In
the patriotism of the people, true and
4 faithful to the loyalty that has come tc
us from thousand battle fields, that
saved the Union. 4 (Applause.l
| Mr.. Bingham, Republican OF Pennsyl,
vania, caused A the first note OF ,discord
that was heard. While supporting
the bill on general principles, he was
mon Interpretation Of the meaning OF
the bill, and in consequence he was Wig
orously hissed twice during the progress
of his remarks-once when he referred
to Gen. Lee, and at the close when he as
serted that the relations between the
United States and Spain are in no wise
strained. Mr. Bingham began by refer
ring to the days proceedings OF the y House
and as akin to the methods OF elbow
dog journalism He had no sympathy
he said, with the apparent tendency OF