The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-26
DEBATE In
THE HOUSE
Johnson and DOIIiyer Locked
Horns on the Expansion
Question.
SPEAKING WAS BRILLIANT
Indiana Representative Attacked
the Administration for
Its Attitude.
DOLLIyER DLFENDS M'KINLEY
Branded the Course of Some of the
National Legislators as Al
most REASONABLE.
DOLLIvER DLFENDS M'KINLEY

WASHINGTON. Jan. S.-Not since the
stirring days before the declaration Of
war last spring has the house witnessed
such an exhibition Of excitement and
such scenes OF unbounded enthusiasm as
occurred today. when two republicans.
johnson, the Indiana member, and Dolll-
Yer, OF Iowa, locked horns on the ques-
ton of expansion. The army blI which
was under debate, was swallowed up In
the broader question OF our future nation
al policy. and the debate was lifted
from the dead level Of mediocrity into
absolute brilliancy.
johnson secured time from the demo-
cratic side TO attack the position Of the
administration. II was not the first time
he has broken away from his party on
public questions. On past occasions he
has won reputation as a master Of In
vecIve, and the knowledge that he was
TO speak had attracted an enormous
crowd 10 the galleries Today he added
10 his reputation. With satire, irony
\ and wit, the keen thrllsts Of his logic
were driven home His words flowed In
a perfect torrent. He denounced the
| proposition to annex the Philippines as
subversive Of every tradition dear 10 the
American heart in the past and the in
angur1i0n OF a policy that would end
In the downfall OF the republic. He said
the ratification OF the treaty by the SEN
ate would sound the death knen Of all
the efforts Of those who were trying to
prevent the country from rushing on
to suicide, and declared that, II he were
| a senator, he would rot in his seat before
Il should be ratified.
He denounced the president as slavish
follower Of public opinion, but warned
| him that the tide would recede and the
voice of the people would In time rebuke.
Members stood in the aisles 10 deep while
| he was speaking but he tried TO stop the
applause which continually broke out
from the democratic side. For almost
tEo hours his words poured forth.
When johnson had finished, Dolliver
Icame to the defense of the administra-
tiNn. One Of the ablest debaters, and
perhaps the most eloquent member Of the
house his reply set the republicans wild
with enthusiasm. He described how the
, president had been fairly driven into war
by those who sought to embarass him be-
FORE peace was definitely obtained, and
his elougy of the president, patiently
meeting all the preplexing problems
which beset him as the great events OF
the year moved on. aroused his side and
the galleries to cheers These rang out
again and again when he paid an elo-
Quent tribute to Admiral Dewey, and
broke out in renewed volume when he
declared that the course Of some mem
bers at both ends OF the capitol was "al-
most treasonable."
But the highest pitch Of excitement
was reached when Johnson and Dolllver
got to close quarters toward the end of
the latier's speech. Johnson pressed the
defender of the administration to dis
close the presidents ultimate purpose re-
garding the Philippines, but Dolliver for
some time adroitly evaded a direct re-
sponse. At last he cOntented himself
with declaring that this WAS not the
point at issue-that the first thing was to
emu the war by ratifying the treaty. The
failure of the Philippines was a question
for the future. 1t was in every respect
a remarkable debate.