The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-13

racy, and would at all times oppose any
measure that involved untold woes to this
country as I believe this treaty does. This
question will not be settled or dwarfed by
mere personal considerations feelings.
Who Is 1t in the country that cares for me
or for any other man, or for my aspirations
or for his? Yet the senator from Colorado
(WolcotD made certain references to me in
a speech which he delivered on this floor"
Mr.. German then quoted the following
statement in Mr.. Wolcott's speech g Yet
while this critical condition of affairs exists
it has become evident within the last few
days that certain political leaders in this
chamber believe that new issue should
be brought before the American people to
be determined at the next presidential cleo
tion. They intend that the American people
shall be called to pass on the questions
arising out Of the war, and that this shall
be the issue of the next campaign
well, now," Senator German continued, 'T
suppose that fair Judgment, a charitable
judgment, would enable me to say that the
senator from Colorado, of all the senator's on
this floor, would be the only one capable of
making such an utterance while we were
considering such great question
Aspirations of public men amount to but
little. That the political desire for prefer
ment of any man would control his vote
he who entertains such an idea Is on a very
low plane in the consideration OF measure
so grave. l believe in parties. I believe in
my party. because 1 believe that the inter
ests of the people will be best served in the
end by its promotion to power and Its con-
troll of governmental affairs
Il have known gentlemen who float be-
tween parties, who have been strong advo-
Gates of public questions. and yet support a
party antagonistic to them 1 have seen
statesmen who were wild with the thought
of the free coinage of silver, and yet who on
every occasion found strength and a rest
ing place in the Republican party, and that
believes In a single standard of another
metal.
But l want to disabuse the senator's mind
of the false impression that he seems to
have, and those who have followed him.
ION the Sd of March next if I shall be
spared so long, will have served on this
floor eighteen years. During that whole
term 1 do not believe that 1 have ever ut
tered word that wounded the feelings of a
brother senator. I DO not believe I could
have been capable at any time of attempting
to affect public questions by criticism of
the personal conduct or views of any senator.
lone thing more: Now is the best and
the only opportunity probably I shall ever
have for stating 1t that may
misunderstood me. I have never had but one
aspiration, and that measure has been filled
by the people with whom 1 have been born
| and reared by giving me three terms in this
body. That has been, and that is. the height
of my ambition, and I leave the field By their
decree to another, who differs from me in
political sentiment. 1t is not in the mouth
Of any man truthfully to say that I have
sought to obtain any other or higher favors
hy any act of mine Had | desired alone no
| litical promotion, had I desired to advance
myself against the interests Of my country,
might have done so by crooking the pregnant
hinges of the knee that thrift might follow
| fawning. But did not do so. And now away
beyond any personal desire stands the great
question which We are facing-the disposition
of the treaty."