The Portland daily press., 1899-01-26
ElOquenee Of Dolliver and Johnson
Arouse House.
NOTHING LIKEIT SINCE THE DAYS
BEFORE THE WAR.
Mr.. johnson Attacks the Position of the
Administration and Denoun ces the
President ss n slavish Follower of
Public Opinfon--Mr. Doliiver Fol-
lows In Defence OF tho Administrs-
ton.

lows In Defence OF inc Aumtntsurh-
ton.
Ewashington, January a5.-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,
Mr.. johnson of Indiana, and Mr.. Dolliver
OF Iowa, locked horns on the question Of
expansion. The army bill. which was
under debate, was swallowed up In the
broader question of our future national
policy and the debate was lifted from the
dead level of imediocrity into absolute
brilliapcy. Mr.. johnson secured time
from the Democratic side to attack the
position of she administration. 1t was
not the first time he had broken away
from his party on public questions On
past occasions, he had won reputation
as q master OF invective and the knowl-
edge that he was to speak bad attracted
an enormous crowd in the galleries. To-
day he added to his reput .tion. With
satire, irony and wit, the keen thrusts of
his logic were driven home. His words
flowed fIom him in q perfect torrent He
denounced the proposition to annex the
Philippines as subversive of every ira
dition dear to the American heart In the
past and the Inauguration of policy
that would end In the downfall of the
republic de said that the ratiiicationEof
the treaty by the Senate would sound the
death kneli 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 de-
nounced the President as the slavish fol-
lower of public opinion, but warned him
that the tide would reoede and the voice
of the people would in time rebuke him.
Members stood in the aisles ten deep
while he was speaking, but he tried 10
stop the applause which continuously
broke out from the democratic side
For almost two hours his words poured
forth. When ne had finished, MIR. Dolli-
YER came to the defense of the administra-
tion. One of the ablest debaters and per.
haps the most eloquent of the House, his
reply set the Republicans wild with en-
tnuhiasm. He described how the Presi-
dent had been fairly driven into war by
those who now sought to mbarrass him
before peace was definitely obtained and
his eulogy of the President. patiently
meeting all the perplexing problems
which beset him as the great events of
the last year moved on, aroused his side
and the galleries to cheers. These rang
out again and again when he paid an
eloquent tribute 10 Admiral Dewey, and
broke out in renewed volume when ie
declared that the course Of some me M bers
at both ends of the Capitol was lain ost
treason"
But the highest pitch of excitement
was reached when Mr.. johnson and Mr..
Dolliver got to close quarters towards the
end Of the latter's speech. Mr.. johnson
pressed the defender of the administra-
tion to DISCLOSE the Presidents ultimate
purpose regarding the Philippines. but
MIR. Dolliver for some time adroitly evad
ed direct response. AT last he content
ed himself with declaring that this was
not the point at issue, that the thing was
10 end the war by ratifying this treaty.
The future OF the Philippines was ques-
tion for the future.
1t was In every respect "a remarkable
debate. The other speeches today were
completely over Tshadowed by those of Mr..
johnson and Mr.. Doliver.
At the night session Mr.. Crumpacker,
Republican of Indiana, supported the
bill and advocated annexation. but
aruged that the natives of the Philip
pines by virtue OF annexation would be-
come citizens Of the United States He
opposed colonial system for outlying
possessions.
MIR. Rixey, Democrat of Virginia, OPP
posed the bill. A standing army Of 100, =
000 men, he declared, would be- the begin
ming OF q grand imperial army.
MIR. Linney, Republican of North Caro-
lima supported the bill. He thought 1t
wise to re- organize and enlarge th. stand
ing army. The war dogs We're growing
abroad. The wise man prepared shelter
before the storm. We needed trained
troops. He opposed the annexation of
the Philippines. 1t would raise another
race issue. The present race issue in this
country had cost more lives in North
Carolina at the late election than the war
with Spain. Why court another an more
vexing race problem? de did not think
the President contemplated the annex
alton Of the Philippines.
Mir. Knowles, Fusion of South Carolina.
and MIR. Stokes, Democrat OF South Caro-.
lima, both opposed the bill
Al II IN the Houee ad iournpl