The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-19


The Hon. Augustus octavius Bacon,
| Senator in Congress from the State OF
| Georgia, is not a silent man. He has (as
very properly he should have) his own
| ideas as TO what is expected of United
| States Senator and he carries them out by
| discussing every question which comes be-
fore the Senate. fully and freely. This
| policy has endeared him to most of his
colleagues. but even those who believe in
putting businecs before pleasure have been
affected by his never failing courtesy. Mr..
Bacon speaks often, but he has never yet
refused to be interrupted; and the
vice which impels one Senator to inject
poison into another Senator's speech be-
comes a virtue in the Senator who in
variably permits it.
On Tuesday last the Senate met as usual
and took up the Army bill. Mr.. Bacon, as
was his duty, Immediately began to speak,
| and among other things said:
''Mr Bacon Mr. President the Sena-
| tor from West Virginia (Nr ScotD asked me
! question which promised to answer, and that
was as to whether or not the American people
had not in the last election passed upon this
question of army of hundred thousand
men. | do not think that they did i do not
think. Mr.. President, that the American people
passed upon the question of the creation of a
Regular Army of one hundred thousand men, nor
do think they passed upon the question whether
or not this country should be converted from
free Republic into imperialistic government,
holding colonies outside of the Constitution of
| the United States; because, Mr. President, the
| dominant party which succeeded in that election
studiously avoided those issues and studiously
| deayored TO make the American people believe
| that they not involved in the contest.
They took advantage of what proved to be
| serious mistakes of a political character com
mitted by those with whom they had to contend.
/ and they made the most of them in the most
skilltul manner. They won the election upon
| those issues and not upon the ones to which
! have alluded. Does anybody doubt that They
/ won the election upon the financial issue. Does
anybody doubt that? They the election
| upon the financial issue, issue that really
| was not in the campaign, because conditions
had changed utterly, and there remained no
! longer anything practical in that issue In that
! issue what true in 1895 longer true
in 1900. And vet they placed their line of battle
| upon the same line that they had occupied four
! years before. They very skillful in doing
it. They took advantage OF the mistake of their
political opponents. They the fight, the
! Senator from Ohio CsIr. HANNAH knows. on the
| financial question and a full dinner pail, and
| mir Hanna-will the Senator allow me an
interruption
'.Mr Bacon-Certainly.
''Mr. Hanna-As he appeals to me, suppose
he meal- me?
'Mr Dacon-Yes; of course.
mir. Hanna-He spoke as to the line of battle
adopted by the Republican party in the last
election.
..Mr Bacon-I paid the Senator compliment
in that connection.
''Mr. Hanna-Everv issue that made by the
Kansas City convention met and disposed
of, beginning with the Philippine question and
they themselves had ignored and put aside the
financial question until the people demanded
that the whole question should be considered.
'Mr. Bacon-I do not know whether the Sena-
tor was properly quoted or not at the time when
he made that meteoric and brilliant oratorical
tour through the West The newspapers quoted
him repeatedly as saying that there was no issue
of imperialism in the campaign ! suppose they
misrepresented him.
mfr Hanna-I did not hear the question asked,
| and the question OF Imperialism not urged.
''Mr. Bacon-I beg the Senator's pardon; did
not hear him.
not the question. The question was whether
the policy of the Administration up TO that time
should be supported by the American people.
| That was the question, and it was pretty well
supported that side.
''Mr. Bacon-I recur even on that statement of
the distinguished and eloquent Senator, TO the
statement | made that the issue OF imperialism
not passed on by the American people, be-
! cause the Senator himself from the platform
! of train of cars on which he was transported
all the country. repeatedly. If the newsPa-
pers properly represented him. stated that there
! was such issue of imperialism
| Mr.. Hanna-I beg to correct the Senator, If
/ he will allow me II said anything upon that
| subject directly. it that there was no such
thing and could not be any such thing as i'm
| perialisnl--
'.Mr. Bacon-of course the Senator did say
| that
'.Mr Hannah the United States
''Mr. Bacon-And could not be, therefore. Mr..
I President-
"Nr Hanna-And that the cry proposed by
the party the other side simply a fake.
| That is what ! said
True for you. Mr.. Hanna. and your Eng
| lish is as good as your Americanism.