The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-27
An Eloquent Tribute to Admiral Dew
ey and All Omcers and Men of
the Army and Navy.
EXECUTIVE SESSION DEBATE
ANTI-EXPANsION SENATOR'S CRITI-
CISE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
Asserting They Had n Right to All
Documents Bearing on the Peace
Negotiations at Paris.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2G.-The third day
of the debate on the bill for the reorgan-
ization and increase of the regular army
passed without notable incident. It's fea-
ture was an hours speech by Mr.. Grosvenor,
of Ohio, whose utterances, rightly or wrong
ly, are frequently supposed to reflect the
views of the President. Mr. Grosvenor de-
clared most emphatically that the present
situation in the Philippines was due to the
open opposition in this country to the rati-
fication of the peace treaty. He announced
that the future of the islands was mat
ter for Congress to decide, and that for the
President to announce policy would be for
him to usurp the authority of Congress. The
friends of the bill continue to express great
confidence in the passage of the bill, but
they admit that some important modifica-
tions may be made. The advocates of a
general staff detailed from the line may
be successful and the size of the infantry
companies may be reduced. The other
speakers at the days session were Messrs.
Bromwell (Rep., o., Stewart (Rep., N. j.,
Tongue Rep., Ore.), in support of the bill;
Messrs. Dinsmore (Dem., Ark.) Jett (Dem.,
1lL), McRae Dem., Ark), Simms CDem.,
Tenn.), in opposition to it, and Mr.. Marsh
(Rep., Ill., in favor of the bill with certain
notifications.
In beginning his speech, General Grosve-
nor said he would approach with due solem-
nifty the measure fraught with such far
reaching consequence. He should aim SIM
ply to point out his own position, distinctly
disclaiming that he spoke for any one else.
He did not wonder that there was a wide,
distinct antipodal difference upon the ques-
ton said to be involved in this bill. Those
who imagined 1t threatened an assault upon
their liberties naturally opposed it vigor-
ously. Despite this alleged horror at the
prospect of militarism, but twice in the his
tory of the country had the regular army
been used save in war. He recalled the
action of President Cleveland during the
Chicago riots in sending troops there, on
the advice of Secretary Olney, saying that
that act commended itself to him more than
any other of the Cleveland administration
The idea that the army might be invoked
to subvert our liberties was man of straw
which gentlemen set UP. 1t was slander
upon the American people.
JOHNSON'S SPEECH DENOUNCED.
General Grosvenor characterized Mr..
Johnson's speech yesterday as the fercest
and most vindictive attack on the admins
tration he had heard on the floor of the
House. The trouble was that the founda-
tion upon which the whole magnificent sup
erstructure was built was false. The argu-
ment he had made answered itself as soon
as the intelligent mind recaptulated the
history of the past few months. Mr.. Gros-
venor eontended that the purpose of the
administration had never deviated from the
time the declaration of war was adopted,
with the absurd provision in it which no
one here would support now. From that
day. to this this government, under the
guiding hand of the administration, had
never deviated from its purpose. and stood
to-day simply executing the orders and de-
crees of Congress, of civilization and of
Almighty God
Does the gentleman mean the Teller
provision as the absurd provision in the
declaration of WARP asked Mr.. Dinsmore.
4 mean the provision that the people of
Cuba were and of right ought to be free
and independent replied Mr.. Grosvenor.
Proceeding, MIR. Grosvenor declared that
the foundation of all our troubles originated
May /, l%s incidentally at this point he
mentioned the desultory discussion in the
press of Admiral Dewey as the Democratic
candidate for the presidency in 1900. And
yet, he said IL was Dewey who had got
the country into all this trouble. At that
time he continued. there was not thought
Of the Philippines; there was not one on
many islands were in the archipelago At
that time, when we had no thought of the
Philippines, continued Mr. tirosvenor
Dewey was instructed to find the Spanish
heet and destroy or capture it. The most
brilliant page in our history was the an
to those instructions. But when he had
executed his orders he found himself DOW
eriess to get out of Manila bay was
there. he asked, anyone who would undo
Manila and tear those shining pages from
the history of the country?
TRIBUTE TO OUR FIGHTERS.
AT this point Mr.. Grcsvenor paid an elo-
Quent tribute to our soldiers and sailors,
officers and men. and said that no one
should stain, with his consent, their honor
until proofs were produced, not of mis-
takes. but of derelictions Of duty. IAp-
plause.] He spoke feelingly of the Presi-
cents difficult task during the l20 days of
the war and defied any one to show that he
had failed in any duty that he might have
discharged. lie described his sleepless vigil.
with Adjutant Geenral Corbin at his side.
and incidentally paid the latter an exalted
tribute. which was heartily greeted bv mem
Defs on the noor. No man had ever done
his duty, he said, better than Henry c. Cor
bin After the protocol was signed Mr.
Grosvenor said, the President had sent 10
Parls a peace commission which fully and
grandly represented the best type OF Amer
lean manhood. What had that commission
done which II should not have done? The
President had been criticised for not inform
ing Congress of his ultimate purpose re-
garding the Philippines. The President was
never usurper; he had never sought and
never would seek 10 usurp the authority of
Congress. The future of the islands was a
matter for Congress 10 decide. The blood of
those who might be sacrificed in the Phil
ippines now, he charged. would be upon
the heads of those who opposed the Preei-
dent policy. The President had nobiy dis
charged his duty when he found himself
Philippines"
IF we were in possession of the Philip-
pines asked Mr. Terry Dem., Ark why
should we pay Spain $20000.O00 for them 20
Why. let me ask you" responded Mr.
Grosvenors answering the question by ask