Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-03-30
MARSH SCORESLENTz
Bitter Speech Made On Floor Of
House By Illinois Man.
WAS VIRTUALLY A CHALLENGE
Army Appropriation Bill Wa' Under
Consideration and Debate Took
WIdc Range.

Lively VoOdles CO'cAAb6 HiNO AouSO
of topics, including Porto Rico, the
Philippines and the Boer war, occu-
pied the time Of the house Tuesday
while the army appropriation bill was
under consideration. At the outset
Mr.. Talbert, of South Carolina, COM
planned of the measures vast extrava-
gance and replied to structures on his
course as to private pension legisla-
ton. The published interview with
aB-unnsmed Republican representa-
dive charging that the Porto Rico tariff
was the result of bargain for cam
paign funds was again brought up by
Mr.. Pierce, OF Tennessee.
Mr.. Steele wanted to know how the
Porto Rican tariff bill could be used to
raise a campaign fund.
Mr.Pierce replied tn at he could not
give the exact steps, but that vast
sums of money had been raised by fhe
Republican party in 1896 from various
quarters could not be denied. The
contributors in one instance had even
logged the memory of the secretary of
the treasury and he had not dared to
resent the insult. Democratic ap-
plause
Mr.. Lentz, of Ohio, q member of
military affairs committee, discussed
the evils of militarism. The e1pen-
ditures for the army had grown, he
said, until they now absorb one;fifth
of the gross expenditures of the gov
eminent. The machinery of the gov
eminent costs the people now $40 per
capita against so cents in the days of
Thomas Jefferson. The Monroe doc
trine under which seventeen republics
had been built up south of US, was no
longer to be held sacred.
Turning his attention to Philip pine
questions, he produced an array of facts
to show that the soldiers in the Phil
ippines had no heart in the war against
the insurgents and desired to return
home. He challenged the presidents
statement that the volunteers had
willingly remained after their terms of
enlistment expired.
He read letter from Assistant Sec
rotary of War Meiklejohn, in reply to
a request for the discharge of soldier,
denying the request and saying the
war department was flooded" with
such applications. He read a letter
from one of the medical officers serving
In the Philippines calling attention to
the frequency with which soldiers
were being incapacitated by self-iD-
fiicted wounds and suggested the advis-
ability of boards such as investigate
cases of desertion. He also mentioned
the reports concerning the alarming
frequency of insanity among the SOL
diers.
Mr.. Marsh, of Illinois, replied to
Mr.. Lentz. He spoke with great
heat, No Vituperous enemy of his
country, he said, could have uttered
more diabolical sentiments.
81 DESIRE" he continued, with flush
ed face and emphatic gestures, ''to
characterize hrs speech, from begin
ming to end, rs & disgrace to the Amer
lean congress and violation of all
the decencies of this house. He has
misrepresented his country, misduoted
history and misstated the position Of
this eide OF the house.
"He has exhausted his whole vo-
cabulary in unjust aud false accusa-
tions against his country. And
make these statements, said he, look
ing at Mr.. Lentz, upon my response
bllity as a member here aud as a gen.
tleman outside Of this house. One of
the beautiful things about the consti-
tuition" he went on sarcastically, sis
that no man can be punished under
the law for words spoken in debate
here. So the gentleman from Ohio
goes scot free, Notwithstanding the
false charges he has m1de."
Mr.. Lentz interposed at this point
to challenge Mr.. Marsh to show the
falsity Of the official documents from
which he had quoted.
/ Mr.. Marsh replied that he had gone
as far al he could in his characterize
ton OF Mr.. Lentz's remarks. If he
had any language at his command
more emphatic, he would have used
It Continuing, he denounced the
course Of the Democratic party which,
ne said, IN time Of peace, was hell
for war;" and in time Of war, Twas
hell for peace" He maintained that
our title to the Philippines was as
complete as our title to Florida, and
it was as much our duty TO suppress
rebellion there rs In Florida.
The general debate was then closed
and the clerk began to read the bill
for amendment under the five minute.
rule.