The National tribune., 1900-04-12

tory. Ihe pros and cons OF cnance o
war were freely discussed. That Grea
Britain would secure her demand by force
of arms many believed. Others -poohet
the idea. Debate ran riot in Congress.
Wall Street was agitated, State Stree
was agitated because a Democratic Presl
dent, sustained by Republican Congress
proposed to defend the National honor.
England played her part well by cater
ing to the financial leaders in this country
and so the messages flew swift and fas
into Congress from these men mot to pro
tect the honor of the United States, fol
fear stocks would go down."
At this juncture some argued the neces
sity Of a commission; others did not. i
seemed 10 be about an even thing. Nc
one could predict the result.
| Venezuela stood fair chance of being
left to the tender mercy of the English
maui. and the Monroe doctrine the English
, declined to consider. When excitement
was at its highest there appeared upon the
scene Member of Parliament-the Hon
Michael Davtt What follows we relate
as it came from his own lips.
With :. party OF friends at dinner the
evening after the vote in the Senate was
taken. Michael Davitt and Patrick Eagan
made 4 part Of the company. II was with
peculiar interest that We watched this man
who had been so long before the eyes OF
the world rs the great Irish agitatcr. We
heard his story Of his Imprisonment in
| England. and why; we heard what brought
him to America at this hour; of his hur-
ried trip across the Continent, leaving his
family in San Francisco that he might
reach the ear of SenaICrs before it was
| too late.
He told us the story of Salisbury's moves
| in this matter, and what he believed to be
England's insincerity. He said:
yes, she passed the arbitration bill
BY that she thought she had put the
Americans asleep and at rest; but some of
| us who have learned not to trust her too
much were on the watchtower.
The budget for war expenses. naval
and others. came up, and the appropria-
ton was made by Parliament for the
amount called for in lump. Some of us
called for the budget seriatim, and we
found, what we suspected, an appropria-
ton. larger by far than any other. 10 build
fortlticationS stronger than any in the
British possessions save one, and these to
protect the English in their hold i'll Eene-
Zuela. 1t was passed under cover. with
out suspicion that it would be discov-
cred, and that on the heels Of the arbitra-
ton bill.
81 arrived here in time; delivered my
message; they knew l was telling them
facts, and the vote to-day has saved the
United States in her integrity and Vene-
zuela in her possessions"
Patrick Eagan told few listeners after
ward that Mr.. Davitt. another friend and
himself were walking through the corri-
dors Of the Capitol after the Senate had
adjourned. Mr.. Dayitt stopped suddenly
and said: Excuse me, gentlemen; leave
tonight for England Before leave this
country of justice and liberty, want to
the United States"
He stepped into one of the doors opening
into the Senate Chamber, removed his hat
and made profound bow to the empty
house. He returned with his eyes dim.
and without word walked out Of the
Capitol.
We all know the sequel. The Venezu-
ella case was arbitrated by the United
States Government asserting her right,
and she proved herself Venezuela's strong
right arm.
DANIEL WEBSTER.
No man in Congress or out ever walked
the streets of Washington who SO univer-
sally attracted attention as Daniel Webster.
His kingly bearing, his forcetul stride as
he walked Pennsylvania Avenue gave the
impression to every passer by that there
goes a man whose name I must know.
When he signed the Ashburton treaty he
lived in the Swami house, on Lafayette
Square, which was provided for him by
his friends. He afterward preferred to
purchase with the baneficent allowance a
home in Marshfield. The property on La
fayette Square passed into the hands of
w. W. Corcoran
An early recollection of Mr. Webster was
of an Grafton given by him in Dunkirk.
n. Y, at the completion Of the New York
& Erie Railroad. There were thousands
in the assembly. The hills had sent their
riyulets, the valleys their rivers, and 10.
the avalanche was here to listen 10 the
great Webster.
1t has been said that no man lives that
has not Achilles's heel or weak point.
Webster had his. In anxious expectation
the assembly watched and waited. After
an undue time had passed the crowd began
to sway and give way. He was coming.
The horse was driven close to the platform.
and he was literally carried up the steps.
The President of the Day delivered his in
PRODUCTION, and the people held their breath
in expectation. Slowly Webster advanced
70 the front Of the platform, leaning heav-
ily on the arms Of his two supporters.
Everybody at sight knew his condition.
and their hearts quaked. But Webster
was one Of the few men in the world 10
whom this adage would not apply: when
wine is in. wit is out"
1t has been said that lie never could rise
TO his attainable Nights without his wine
We know this: He had not uttered three
sentences before his audience was at case
Webster was at his best For an hour and
= half never had that people listened 10
such cloqueace rs poured from his lips
The United States WAS the greatest corIn-
Try oG the earth, and its Government the
best, Its resources and its prospects were
incompatible, and the internal improve
ments which began with De Witt Clinton
and the Erie Canal, which had done mar
velous things for the Empire State, was
but the harbinger of things to come, Of
which the New York and Erie Railroad
was the index finger. No one left that
place that day but was prouder than
when they came that they were Ameri-