Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-20
The American SoIdier-Cheer Him Where
Duty Calls.

| The American SoIdier-Cheer Him Where
| Duty Calls.
Many gem of rarest thought finds
expression in the halls of national
legislation that escapes notice. else
where. During the closing session OF
the last congress when so many elo-
quent words were spoken on the burn
ing issues that involved the nation g
policy and welfare at what has proved
a turning point in her history, the
| ears of statesmen were not electrified
with language more eloquent or logic
more conclusive than came from Hon.
James Hamilton Lewis, member of the
house from the state of Washington
on the 25th of February. Represent
alive Lewis was speaking on the pol
icy of the government as it affected
the soldiers of the republic sthen
| still IN the service in Il far off country,
as well as of the constitutional rights
of house members TO retention of
their seats even though they had gone
| into the service of their country. Mr..
Lewis having been one of those who
after congress adjourned last summer
| went to the front as volunteer without
in Porto Rico, spoke to some extent
in his own behalf, but the main trend
of his remarks was of the soldier re-
tanned in the Philippines in the carry
ing out of new departure as far as
this country is concerned. Mr.. Lewis
address was summed up in the senti-
ment: The American soldier-The
democratic party speaks one voice. 1t
is the prayer of the nation: Oh. God,
make righteous his cause; give victory
TO his arms; and rest his gallant soul
in heaven" In the course of his re-
marks Congressman Lewis said:
Mr.. Chairman: Whatever differ
ences / have entertained from my dis
tinguished friends on my right IRE
publican side). or in matters of or
ganiZatiOn with my own party. l
know that the theme upon which
purpose occupying this floor for a
moment must meet their unanimous
appreciation. / rise to speak of the
soldier; the American soldier. My
relation to the volunteer by associa-
ton, also because of short service in
the late war, entitle me to say this
word. Before proceeding further let
me add that there has been frequent
suggestion calling forth the statement
of the attitude L bore and relation
occupied to the late Spanish-Ameri-
can war. In what / trust was in no
wise an unpleasant encounter between
the distinguished gentleman from
Ohio Mr.. Grosvenorl and myself a
reference was made to this subject.
The gentleman from Tennessee GMr.
Gaines requested that L put in the
Record my status. This grew out of
my actions in condemning certain
commissary-called beef while l was
serving in the discharge of my duty.
l append to the conclusion of my re-
marks the information, that those in
terested may understand that it is
not alone as a democrat, but as an
American who has more than a pass
ing interest in the welfare of the
country and it's soldiers, that intrude
myself at this time upon the house.
Mr.. Chairman, / can not longer sit |
amidst this injustice to the spirit of |
without a protest.
What means this attempt by our OPP
ponents to hold the democratic party |
out to the world as questioning |
Filipino soldier or an |
American soldier be rightP Can such |
issue ever exist among
men who are first and always Ameri- |
cans? Applause. The democratic |
party IS a party of American patriots. |
They will not know, far less claim, |
the man who is less. From our hon
orable opponents may come the accu-
sation of Indifference to the sons of |
our soil-the children of our national |
from our record, out of |
our hearts springing from our adj
miring soul. ever returns the immut-
able answer, that the democratic |
party on this floor, as in this nation,
was the first to foster the rights of
the volunteer, and shall be the last to
desert them. Applause Whether
in field of action or in camp of repose.
the soldier is to US the object of our
praise for his valor, our gratitude for
his sacrifice. TApplause.l No, gen.
Llemen, you can not, your eminent
journals shall not, confuse the issue.
10 mistake our stand. We. the demo-
,ratic party, as citizens of America,
oppose the injustice of the order
which compelled our boys to languish
n distant lands, to die on stricken
ields. But to each of these heroes
We send our hope of glory as they
light, our ceaseless prayers as they
all. [Applause.1
But. sir, are we in this house not
confusing the issue? Are we not I'M
permitting the unthought-
ul to place us in mistaken attitude?
)ur critics from without have an APP
'earance taken from US upon which
hey assail our patriotism.
Sir, we must resent from all sources
hat we, an American house of repre-
entatives, would ever tolerate from {
ourselves or from others comparison |
f the followersiof Aguinaldo with the
offenders of our flap Let il now be :