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

Il
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 s
| 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 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 a volunteer without
pay and was with Gen. Grants corps
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
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: On. 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. hai
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. NY
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 l
occupied to the late Spanish-Ameri-
can war. In what l trust was in no
wise an unpleasant encounter between
the distinguished gentleman from
Ohio Mr.. Grosvenorl and myself
reference was made to this subject
The gentleman from Tennessee MIR
Gaines] requested that / put in the
Record my status. This grew out of
my actions in condemning certain
commissary-calle beef while l was
serving in the discharge of my duty.
l append to the conclusion of nv 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 pass
ing interest in the welfare of the
country and its soldiers, that intrude
myself at this time upon the house.
Mr.. Chairman, / can not longer sit
amidst this injustice to the spirit of
Americanism without protest.
What means this attempt by our OPP
ponents to hold the democratic party
out to the world as questioning
whether Filipino soldier or an
American soldier be right? Can such
miserable issue ever exist among
men who are first and always Ameri-
cans? [ApPlause.] The democratic
party IS party of American patriots.
They will not know, far less claim,
the man who is less. From our hon.
orable opponents NAV come the accu-
sation of Indifference to the sons of
our soil-the children of our national
mother-but 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.l 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. Applause No, gen.
tlemen, you can not, your eminent
journals shall not, confuse the issue. |
We will not allow any man of earth |
TO mistake our stand. We. the demo-
cratic party, as citizens of America, |
oppose the injustice of the order |
which compelled our boys to languish |
in distant lands. to die on stricken |
fields. But to each of these heroes |
we send our hope of glory as they |
fight, our ceaseless prayers as they |
fall. [Applause.]
But, sir, are we in this house not /
confusing the issue? Are we not I'M
guardedly permitting the unthought-
full to place us in a mistaken attitude?
Our critics from without have an APP
pearance taken from US upon which
they assail our patriotism
Sir, we must resent from all sources
that we, an American house of repre-
would ever tolerate from
ourselves or from others comparison
of the followers of Aguinaldo with the
defenders of our flag. Let it now be
known throughout the breadth of the
world that unto US, democrats, re-
publicans, all. as American represent
ltives, soldier of that flag, follow
ing the orders of his country or firing