The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-17
Mr.. Cochran Repeats n RumOr that
the President Wants Congress to
Adjourn Immediately.
DENIAL FROM Mr.. GROSVENOR
WHO SAYS THE REPORT is RIDIC-
ULOUs AND WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
Mr.. Norton Full of Wrath Because Me-
Kinlcy Has Not Unfolded All His
Plans to the World.

WASHINGTON, March 16.--The postof-
flee appropriation Bill, which was techni-
cally the subject before the House, was al
most lost track of in the debate to-day
AS on yesterday. numerous topics were dis
cuSsed, but to-day, for the first time, the
Cuban-Spanish question, which had been
kept in the background heretofore, forged
to the front. Mr.. Cochran brought the
question into the arena and in the course,
of the debate that followed Mr.. Grosvenor
took occasion to deny emphatically the sto-
ries af1oat to the effect that the President
desired an early adjournment of Congress,
in order that he might effect settlement
without congressional interference. The
subject of Hawaiian annexation also came
in for more attention to-day. Mr. Williams
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Berry, all members of
the foreign affairs committee, made
speeches on the subject, the former in OPP
position and the two latter in favor of the
proposition.
Mr.. Williams Dem., Miss) was first rec
ognized, and in speech of forty minutes
replied to the speech made by Mr.. Tawney
yesterday in favor of Hawaiian annexation
Mr.. Williams is a member of the foreign
affairs committee, and his remarks re-
ceived close attention. He directed his at
tack particularly against the contention of
Mr.. Tawney that the traditional policy of
this government was not opposed to annex
alton. He thought there was no occasion
for alarm even if it were true that if we
should not take the islands some other
country would. The idea of the foreign
ownership of group of islands two thou
sand miles from our shores had no terrors
for him. He said the Hawaiian islands
were now in the control of a carpet-bag oil
garchy. The States of the South had I'M
dergone bitter experience with carpet-bag
government and did not desire to indorse it
anywhere. The Hawaiian islands would be
a menace instead of a safeguard to the
United States. He asked his friends who
recently played in the International chess
match against the British Parliamentary
team what they would think of accepting a
pawn in the middle of the board from their
adversaries on condition that they should
defend it throughout the game? Great
Britain had given pawn for peace in the
shape of Canada. Why should we weaken
our already strong position? This country
already had a race problem. To take the
Hawaiian islands would be to annex an
other race problem and pay $4,0O0,O0O for the
privilege of doing it. In its remote effects,
MI. Wlll1aInS Sd1u, ne T6SdIQGu the COIISCt
solution of this question as more impor-
tant than all others before the American
people. The currency question, the coinage
question the tariff question-all important
questions in themSelves-if settled wrong,
could be reconsidered and settled right.
But the mistaken step of Hawaiian annex
alton once taken could never. be retraced.
The American people would never give up
one foot of territory they once possessed
except after sacrifices so great as to break
down the national pride.
Mr. Adams (Rep., Pa), also member of
the foreign affairs recommittee, replied to
Mr.. Williams, pursuing much the same
line OF argument advanced by Mr.. Tawney
yesterday.
Hawaii would not be annexed at this SEES
sion nor would we go to war with Spain.
1.-The administration" said he, lis trying
to see how close it can go to the line, of
under the cry of patriotism the people at
the approaching congressional elections
may forget their wrongs and rally to its
support"
COCHRAN STARTS THE DEBATE.
Mr.. Cochran (Dem., Mo-, in commenting
on the existing situation, declared that
those who stood close to the stock tickers
in London and New York seemed to be
more powerful than the united and solemn
voice of the American people, which for
months had been crying out for the recog-
milton of the Cuban belligerents. Stock
jobbers on the two continents had so far
proved to be the only actual Intervention in
Cuban affairs.
do you not believe we should recognize
the independence of Cuba?' asked Mr.. Sui
II do not" replied Mr.. Cochran. 1.-The
recognition of belligerency would clothe the
insurgents with sufficient power to nego-
tiaise honorable peace Ii we should inter
vene our troubles would have just begun
fear if the administration should inter-
vene it would be as the attorney of the
bondholders, rather than as the friend of
the insurgents" In conclusion, Mr. Cocn-
ran referred to the current rumor that the
President desired an immediate adjourn
ment in order that he might be able 10 set
tie the Spanish affair without interfer-
ence from Congress.
Mr.. Grosvenor CRep, Ohio, replied to
this statement Immediately. At first he
spoke in a semi-humorous vein. He de-
sired, he said, to make a brief statement
in reply to this story which was noauug
around 10 the effect that the President was
about to take the House of Representa-
tives by the throat, abolish the United
of all our foreign complications without the
aid Of the representatives of the people. 1t
should be remembered, ne continued, in
weighing such reports, that Congress was
an Independent power, the existence of
which could not be ended under the Con-
stitution 1t would probably continue long
er than the Cuban question Witnln the last
tlrty days the sensational press of tie
country, he said. had put forth propositions
than this, yet they had not attracted TIE
attention this had. Mr.. Grosvenor said he
spoke of the matter with some hesitation
because after reading the newspapers he
sometimes doubted his independent exist
ence-when he spoke for himself they in
sisted he spoke for somebody else. He did
not pretend to know more than the hum
blest citizen. yet, he said, he took the re-
sponsbility of stating that the suggestion
that the President had fixed a date for the
adjournment of Congress, or desired to fix
a date or had expressed hope that Con-
gress would adjourn by a certain time was
absolutely without foundation, and ridicu-
lous into the bargain. Congress could not
adjourn except by a majority vote of it's
members and he had no doubt that every
member responsible TO his conscience and
his country would do his duty as he saw
1t in the matter of adjournment, as in ev-
erything else.
NORTON HONING FOR WAR
Mr.. Norton Dem., o., who followed Mr..
Grosvenor, expressed his amazement that
the Republican side of the House had been
so long silent in the face of the outrages
and indignities heaped on this government
and on the flag by Spain. He could not UNI
derstand why the Maine had been sent to
Havana harbor. 1t was said to have been
the act of one friendly nation toward an
other. "Mr Chairman" he continued. mo
foot of water or land over which the Span
ish flag ever fioated has been for one hour
friendly to the American government. Cap
plause) From the hour of the Birth of the
Nation Spain has been hostile to us. The
recollections that come to us should bring