The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-26

WASHINGTON. Jan. 25.-Not since
the stirring days before the declara-
ton of war, last spring. has the house
witnessed such an exhibition of excite
ment and such scenes of generous en-
thusiasm as today, when Mr.. Johnson
CRep., Ind and Mr.. Dolliver (Rep., Io)
locked horns on the question of eXpan
sion. 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 mediocrity into abso-
lutte brilliancy. Mr.. Johnson secured
time from the Democratic side to at
tack the position of the administration.
1t was not the first time he has broken
away from his party on public ques-
tions. On such occasions he has won
a reputation as a master of invective,
ard the knowledge that he was to
speak had attracted an enormous
crowd to the galleries. Today he ad-
ded to his reputation. With satire,
irony and keen thrusts his logic was
driven home. His words flowed from
him in a perfect torrent. He denounced
the proposition to annex the Philip
pines as subversive of every ira dition
dear to the American heart in the past,
and the Inauguration of a new policy
fer the republic. He expressed gratifi-
cation that the senate would sound the
death knell of all efforts Of those who
were trying to prevent the country
from rushing on to suicide, and de-
clared that if he were a senator he
would rot in his seat before 1t should
be ratified. He denounced the president
as the slavish follower of public opin-
ion, but warned him that the tide
would recede. 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
20 stop the applause which continually
broke out from the Democratic side.
Tor almost two hours his words poured
forth. He said:
thank God for the spirit of independence
su the senate OF the United States irrespective
OF party. Mr.. Bryan never made a greater
blunder than when he said the treaty should
De ratified and our policy determined after
wards.
Andrew Carnegie was near right, but he
said the treaty should be fought in the dark,
not in the open. I say we should fight il
from start to finish We should meet this
whole question at the threshold and strangle
1t to death. Public sentiment should be
aroused. 1t is being aroused as is evidenced
by great public meetings in New York and
elsewhere. and my word for it, 1t will not
be many months before the tide of public
sentiment which the president now vainly be-
lieves is carrying him to success, will reeede
and leave him high and dry. The very voice
Of the people will rebuke the spirit of con-
quest which has replaced the spirit of liberty
If the treaty is ratified uncoupled with a res
olution providing for the ultimate indepen-
dence of the Philippines it will be beyond our
powers to stop the torrent. He would vote
for bill to reorganize the army. but be-
fore God he would never vote for a standing
army of 100000 men, whose ultimate object
was TO establish a colonial system.
were in the senate 1 would rot
in my seat first; I would resist the de-
mands of state legislature and the clamors
OF a press. l would let them malign nv char
acter and misrepresent my motives. but 7
would never swerye from what 1 believe to
be right.
l am not here to speak for the ad-
minlstration," he continued. II belong
to the humtle ranks of my party and
nave not been in the White house since
the war with Spain began. But
might resent the statement that our
president. so accessible, is fntrenched
III the White house He is intrenched
IN the White house in the higher and
better sense and as securely as the
gentleman from Indiana is intrenched
IN private life QaughteD, brought, as
l believe, by his attacks and criticisms
of the Republican Dartyo
When Mr.. Doiliver paid a glowing
tribute to Admiral Dewey there was a
hearty round of applause.
A heated passage between Mr.. Dol
liver and Mr.. Johnson occurred when
the latter asked if the administration
believed in the foreible annexation of
the Philippines.
Mr.. Dolfiver sharply answered that
he did not speak for the president or
the administration. When he added a