The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-17
TROCHA OF MONEY
Representative Norton of Ohio
Says Mckinley
Is Hedged in by InsurmOunta-
BILE Barriers
IN CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Stock JObbers of Two Cont.
nents, Says Mr.. Cochran,
Are More Powerful Than the
American People.

yesterday was almost lost track of in
the debate. For the first time the
Cuban-Spain question, which had been
kept in the background heretofore.
forged to the front.
Mr.. Cochran CDem., MOI brought the
question into the arena and in the
course of the debate that followed Mr..
GrOsvenOr (OhiO) took occasion to deny
emphatically the stories af1Oat to the eff
feet that the president desired an early
he might effect a settlement without
congressional interference. The sub
ject of Hawaiian annexation also came
in for more attention.
Mr.. Williams Dem., Miss.) was first
recognized and in a speech of 40 min
utes replied to the speech made by Mr..
Tawney in favor of Hawaiian annexa-
ton.
Mr.. Leeds (Dem., Wn.) declared that
Hawaii would not be annexed at this
session nor would we go to war with
Spain.
The administration" said he, ''is
trying to see how close it can get to the
line of war without crossing, in the
hope that under the cry of patriotism
the people at the approaching congress
siOnal elections may forget their
wrongs and rally to it's. support"
Mr.. Cochran (Dem., Mo- in comment
ing on the existing situation, declared
that those who stood close to the stock
tickers in London and New York SEEM
ed to be more powerful than the United
states ana solemn voices OF the amer
lean people which for months had been
crying out for the recognition of the
Cuban belligerents. Stock jObbers on
two continents had so far proved to be
the only actual Intervention in Cuban
affairs.
do you not believe we should rec
ogniZe the independence of Cuba?"
asked Mr.. Suther (Dem., n. W
4 do not" replied Mr.. Cochran. THE
recognition of belIigerency would
clOthe the insurgents with sufficient
power to negotiate honorable peace. If
we should intervene our troubles would
have just begun. I fear if the admins
tratiOn should intervene it would be as
the attorney of the bOndhOlders, rather
than as the friend of the insurgents"
In conclusion, Mr.. Cochran referred
to the current rumor that the president
desired an immediate adjournment in
order that he might be able to settle
the Spanish affair without interference
from congress.
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep., o. replied to
this statement Immediately. At first
he spoke in a semi-humorous vein. He
desired, he said, to make a brief state
ment in reply to this story which was
floating around to the effect that the
president was about to take the house
of representative by the throat abolish
the United States senate and proceed
to the settlement of all our foreign COM
plicatiOnS without the aid of the repre-
sentatives of the people. 1t should be
remembered, he continued, in weighing
such reports, that congress was an in
dependent power, the existence of
which could not be ended under the
constitution. 1t would probably contin-
ue longer than the Cuban question.
Within the last 80 days the sensation
al press of the country, he said, had
put forth propositions ten times more
absurd and stupendouS than this, yet
they had not attracted the attention
this had. Mr.. GrosvenOr said he spoke
of this matter with some hesitation, be-
cause after reading the newspapers he
1Gfi T10n fad n ITd ont
istence, when he spoke for himself they
insisted he spoke for somebody else. He
did not pretend to know more than the
humbleSt citizen yet he said, he took
the responsibility of stating that the
suggestion that the president had fixed
a date for the adjournment of congress,
or desired to fix date, or had express
ed a hope that congress would adjourn
by a certain time, was absolutely with
out foundation and ridiculous into the
bargain. Congress could not adjourn
except by a majority vote of it's mem
bers, and he had no doubt that every
member responsible to his conscience
and his country would do his duty as
he saw it, in the matter of adjournment
as in everything else.
Mr.. Norton (Dem., o. who followed
Mr.. Grosvenor expressed his amaze
ment that the Republican side of the
house had been so long silent in the
face of the outrages and indignties
heaped upon this government and upon
the flag by Spain. He could not under
stand why the Maine had Daen sent to
Havana barbOr. 1t was said to n2Ye
been the act of one friendly nation
toward another.
Mr. Chairman he continued. mo
foot of water nor of land over which
the Spanish flag ever AOated has been
for one hour friendly to the American
government (applause). From the hour
of the birth of the nation Spain has
that come to US should bring the blush
of shame, aye humility, modification,
remorse, anger, to the cheek Of every
American upon this floor. Think of the
Virginus case, and say that Spain has
any idea of being friendly to this gov
eminent. Her line is a crimson thread
running through the centuries. A line
of deceit and treachery to this govern
ment and every other she could deceive
or rob. In 1873 when she attempted to
murder So Americans, but only succeed
ed in killing u, Grant, God bless his
name, and all honor to his cOura ge and
manhood his bravery and his Ameri-
canism, was ready to intervene. Ham
ilton Fish said that the nation which
would permit such an outrage TO go I'M
punished, was not fit to live. Yet 16
months elapsed and then this govern
ment made a compromise that will be
a stain and a blot upon its escutcheon
for thousand years and accepted $780,
600 to pay for the insult to its honor.
Why? For the same reasons that pre-
vail now. I love the president of the
United States. He is son of OHIO and
Know llldL IL lell " H1llScA1 lie WOuIu
exercise his judgment, his honesty and
his patriotism as perhaps no other man
in the country would do, but as he is,
with a trocha drawn about him that
would require the strength, the courage
and the genius of God to SurniOunt
he, too will take the position of Grant
and Fish and see humiliation an1 dis
grace perch upon our banner. A few
days ago we surrendered the right of
congress by voting to the president an
emergency fund of $50 900, 600. If war
was not upon US we had no right to
make that appropriation and the presi-