Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-25

SNEE6ED Al The PRESIDENT,
HELD UP TO CONTEMPT THE
MOTIVES THAT IMPELLED HIM,
IMPUGNED HIS HONESTY OF
PURPOSE, AND CHARGED HIS
CABINET ADVISORS WITH IN
,COMPE TENCY-THE UTTER
ANCES WE'RE HIGHLY SENSA-
TIONAL AND CREATED A
GREAT STIR IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, February 24.-During
the general debate upon the army ap-
preparation bill in the House to-day,
Mr.. Johnson rep, Ind, who made
several notable speeches violently at
lacking the policy of of the admins
tration during the consideration of the
army reorganization bill a fortnight
ago, returned to the assault and deliv-
cred against the President and some
of his advisers the most scathing phil
ippic heard in the House for months.
He sneered at the President and the
influences which he alleged controlled
him, impugned his motives, questioned
his sincerity and likened him to Dick
ens's most contemplate character;
charged his Secretary of War with in
competency and predicted that the
President would in the end be engulfed
by adverse public sentiment. Al
though his utterances were far more
sensational than those in his former
speech and dazed some of his auditors
by the impetuosity with which they
were delivered, the speech did not
raise about him the storm of his for
mer speeches. Mr.. Lands, one of his
Republican colleagues from Indiana,
briefly stated to the Huose that Mr..
Johnson's constituents had repudiated
him, and the two members had a
wordy duel. Later in the day Mr..
Marsh rep, Ills.) replied to some of
Mr.. Johnsons structures, but the Re-
publican leaders had evidently decided
" ISIAOlC tllC ciIOetChS VI lliC IhuLdl1CIl
and no general reply was made to his
speech to-day. The army appropria-
ton bill to-day was lost sight of in
the general discussion of the policy
of the government relative to the
Philippines, and several notable
speeches were made, particularly that
of M Settle Dem., Ky). The gem
eral debate upon the bill closed to-
day, and tomorrow the bill will be
taken up for amendment under the five
minute rule.
WHEN MR.. JOHNSON AROSE
for his remarks he at once attracted the
attention of the House. "a few even
ings ago." he began, "the Home Mar
ket Club, of Boston, gave banquet at
which the President was the principal
guest. From the newspaper accounts
of the affair, it was an exceedingly
elaborate one. the table at which the
Chief Executive sat, in particular, be-
ing loaded down with rare and fragrant
flowers. Sweetest music lent it's
charms to the occasion, an ode to the
President was sung by the banqueters
to the tune of America" and a
vast concourse of people looked down
from the galleries upon the festal
board
'The Secretary of War was in at
tendance, he, whom the Boston popu-
lace had Kissed upon the street a few
hours before, ere they turned to greet
with rapturous applause, the Chief who
had bestowed upon him his official
character. We can hardly blame them
though for this, Mr., Chairman, for
they were only following the precedent
set them by some of the leading Re
publican newspapers of the country
which for months past have been
fiercely attacking the Secretary, and
yet have lacked the courage to lay their
axe to the root of the evil and censure
the gentleman who, to reward him for
his political services and disburse-
ments in the campaign of 90, appoint
ed him to his present position and has
maintained him there ever since, not
withstanding his incompetency and
against the righteous complaints that
have been made against him.
THE Secretary of the Navy also
graced the occasion with his presence
and so far
FORGOT HIS USUAL COURTESY,
so far belied his New England training
and associations as to repeat the stale
and untruthful charge that those who
opposed the ratification of the infa-
NOUS treaty of peace with Spain were
responsible for the bloodshed that oc-
CURED in the Philippines.
when the Chief Magistrate had ceas-
ed speaking another member of his Of
fetal family, the gentleman who pre-
sides over the PostofTlce Department.
arose in his place and proceeded to