Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-26

Il am not here to speak for the ad-
| miniStra ton. l belong to the humble
| ranks of my party and have not been
| in the White House since the war with
| Spain began. But l might resent the
statement that our President SO Access
| sible is ''intrenched in the White
House" He is intrenched in the White
/ House in the higher and better sense
and as securely as the gentleman from
Indiana is intrenched in private life.
| Uaughte) brought there. as I be-
| lieve, by his attacks on and criticisms
of the Republican party"
Dolliver said that he had hoped that
congressman would approach this ques-
ton in the larger and broader spirit IN
which the war had been entered upon
The war had brought all sections ard
parties together in a common cause
Now that it was over the treaty signed
and ready for ratification. it would
| seem that the same spirit should %
| preserved But. on the contrary the
Congressional Record and the maya
zines were being filled with views more
numerous and more varied than the
islands we had captured from the en-
envy.
In the Spanish war. for the first time
in our history. what was done was
done in the spirit of common people
in the spirit of lofty and national life
| In his Judgment the grandeSt day in
| our history was when every member
| of Congress without regard to party
voted confidence i'll the President ana
authorized him to use the public treas
ury for the national defence.
1t was sorrowful and discouraging
he continued. that no sooner was the
protocol signed, when the nation need
ed, and the public safety demanded
the support of all. then there arose be-
Wildering confusion of tongues. What
ever responsibilities existed, today. ne
declared, dated from the final ultima
tum we had given to the ministry at
Madrid. All the treasure that had been
expended. all the victories that haG
been won. all the possessions We had
gained were part of the context of the
resolution Of April %. 1898. If we were
wrong then. us his friend from Indiana
was sure we We're. if our action in Con
gress was II blunder and Il crime, it
was Il wear too late to 80 back ard be.
gin over. (Appiause.)
If he tJ0hnSOn> supported the presi-
| dent then. he should nave the grace
now. in the troubles that had arisen
! out Of these troubles. to have met the
| situation With generous soicitude. in
stead of anger and indignant protests
| Almost alone in this Capitol the Presi-
dent had pleaded for time for a peace
full solution against those who were us
| ing their influence to iniiame the pas
siuns of the hour against the resources
of diplomacy
Those who We're then taking this
! side by the scruff of the neck and drag
ging us into war" said he, have much
to learn of the ethics. if not the eti-
| ouette Of craftsmanship. Great APP
plauSe)
Dolliver said he had heard the Pres-
| dent of the United States insulted twice
| on the floor of the House in the last ses-
| sion by a member from the President
own state Uentz>. Today, he had heard
another insult when the gentleman from
Indiana asserted that the President slav-
! ishly followed public opinion; that he
slavshly found out what the people want
ed before he acted,
.'Unintentionally." Dolliver said. 'the
gentleman had paid to William Mckinley
the tribute which a grateful country mad
placed on the grave Of Abra nam In hinc com
trymen. The President was absolutely
without responsibility for the Spanish
war The initial responsibility. rested
with Congress and the people The con
gressional action HAD been national ac
ton. and the American people. counting
no cost too heavy. had stood by. approx
ing witnesses of all that was done.
Speaking Of the war revenue bill h
criticized Bailey, who. he said. voted witt
his following against the bill becaus
! the ways and means committee would no
vote 100000 600 more Our demand upol
Spain was that it should get its army ant
navy out of Cuba If Spain had acqu.
esced. both that country and this wou!c
have been spared the unfortunate eXperl
ence which followed She refused AM
her army in eastern Cuba was forced /,
1 capitulate. while her ships were wrecked
g., and sunk along the coast Of Santiago. /
nothing else had happened. that wouit
I have ended the war. But men and gov
l ernments. once they have invoked thu
. larbitrament of the sword. cannot Away,
! regulate the scope Of war.
G Referring to the antl-eNpansion element
= DoiltNer characterized is Il quaint com
. bination OF bewildered polit cans an,
statesmen without constituencies VIII,
e of the nation. Their arguments and am
munition were drawn, he said from Gen
! crll RanCo himself
When Deliver paid a glowing tribute II
y admiral Dewey therc WAS hearty rouli,
. of applause. y heated passage bctwerl
Deliver ana Johnson occurred when tn
latter asked If the administrative b l;avp.
o in the forcihle annexation Of The Philip
= pines. polliver sharply answered shat h
did rot speak for the President ~ ~
! administration. When he .tddel a gan
4 ing eulnSy of the President. who a.nidl
The nrrnlc Mites nf The hour WAS prrssin
steadily forward With the inrNorabf
course Of human events, there WAS ion