The record-union., 1899-12-12
MASON CHAMPIONS
CAUSE OF Beers.
Appeals TO the Senate to Give an
Expression Of Sympathy
For the South African Republics in Their
War With Great Britain.
The Resolution Upon Which the
Speech Was Based Referred, at
the Conclusion of the Senator's
Address, to the Committee on
Foreign Relations for Consid-
Grafton.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-An appeal
by Mason of Illinois for an expression
of sympathy for the Transvaal r public
in its war with Great B.ita n was the
feature of the Senate proc5 edings to-
day. 1t was the first formal address
delivered in the Senate this session,
and was listened to with thoughtful al
tention by both the members and by
a large gallery of auditors. The reso-
luton upon which Mason ba.ed his
speech was referred, at the conclusion
of the address, to the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee, Lodge of Massa chu-
sets considering it too delicate a -ques-
ton, in view of the position of this
Government, to pass upon without seri-
Gus consideration. No business of i'm
portance was transacted by the Sen-
ate.
In the absence of President Frye,
Plat of Connecticut was designated to
occupy the chair.
Hoar presented the resolutions of the
Massachusetts, Legislature in favor of
a constitutional amendment providing
for uniform hours of labor in manufac-
tories in the United States.
Platt of Connecticut presented reso-
lutions of the Legislature of Connect
cut opposing the admission Of polyg-
amists to Congress.
| Cockrell of Missouri directed the at
tention of the Pension Committee to a
bill introduced by request by Pettus
of Alabama, providing for the payment
| of a pension to freedmen.
| Gallinger, Chairman Of the Committee
on Pensions, expressed the opinion that
no such measure should have been pre-
! sented to Congress. I'm my judg-
| ment," said Gallinger, this is the bill
that ought not and will probably not
receive the favorable consider alton of
the Pensions Committee. The promo
tiers of the bill are deluding thousands
of poor people, and are simply trying
to keep this agitation alive for their
own benefit
| Cockrell urged that the bill be re-
ported back adversely as soon as pos
Ssble.
1t was referred to the Pension Com
mittee.
Pettigrew of South Dakota offered a
| resolution calling on the Secretary of
War for all orders relating to General
Merriman's action relating to the Occur
d'Alene miners, reciting charges
against General Merriman in his con-
duct Of the affairs.
Chandler objected to the immediate
consideration of the resolution, and it
went over.
Mason of Illinois then called up the
resolution he introduced few DAYS ago.
expressing the sympathy of the Senate
with the South African Republics in
their war with Great Britain. and ex-
tending to them the hopes of the Sem
ate for the success of their arms.
While his address at times was We
hement-almost passionate-he confined
himself during the greater part Ct the
time closely to his manuscripts speaking
at all times with force and yicor. In
opening, he said:
1.-The war between monarchy and re-
publicanism began in earnest July 4,
1ll6, and no treaty of peace has ever
been concluded, nor ever will be, I'M
til the question is settled right The
monarchial trust company, though Oft
en- quarreling among themselves, have
always agreed on one thing, that a re-
public is a mistake
After quoting extensively from Daniel
Webster's speeches in support of his
position, Mason continued:
But we are told that England was
our friend in the war with Spain How?
Her people were our friends because
her people are a Christian people; her
Government has never been our friend
except for purposes of it's own J have
no desire to twist the lions tail. but
7 +ho
rs our interests are concerned. for the
last half century the Government of
England and the people OF England
have been divided. You remember 1871
Tne Government did all it could TO di-
vide the Union, but the brave. starving
weavers refused to resolve against us,
saying they would starve before they
would say a word for slavery But
even suppose she We're to-day our best
friend, are we to be silent and upheld
wrong in consideration of that friend
ship? We the Republicans are charged
with a secret alliance with England
1t cannot be true, and the vote which
this or similar resolution receives
VIII answer the charge"
| Mason maintained that, under the
Monroe doctrine and on presidents
previously well established, the United
States had the same right to extend
| its sympathy and hopes for success to
the Beers in their struggle for liberty
as it had to interfere with spasn in it's
conduct of affairs in CuDa He urged
that the interest of this country was
aroused by the fact that the South
African war was a struggle between
democracy and royalty-bctween the
divine right of Kings and the divine
right of man.
IF we should speak," he declared,
land speak quickly, it would sting the
politicians who brought on the war for
greed of gold, and cheer the poor,
brave Dutch defender of his home''
Mason contended that the question in
viewed in the controversy between
Great Britain and the Transyaal prior
to hostilities was simply one OF SUI
prcmacy in South Africa, "and I ask
said he, Sin common justice what right
! has Great Britain to be supreme in
South Africa? 1t is a fight to contro,
J South Africa, and the only way Eng-~