The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17

aroused Four Of them demanded that
the resolution be read, as they had not
heard it. 1t was re-read and when com
pieted my explanation the resolution was
defeated by vote of y to 10. If hadh [
opened my mouth it would have been
adopted without a dissenting vote. | can
assure you that / know what To do IN
these cases now, and l never oner any
explanation
1T is like shaking a red rag before a
bull. this passing of the Platt amend
ment." said Representative Gaines. last
night. Who could ever expect that the
liberty loving Cubans would accept such
restrictions or grant such concessions as
those detailed in the amendment. | do
not believe even the strongest advocate
of the measure had any such hope. and /
am confident that those who introduced 1t
had an ultimate purpose which Is not
distinguishable at the first glance. 1t
seems to me that the purpose was to cul-
tivate an excuse for n disagreement. to
be followed by open hostilitieS. perhaps
a little fighting, and then absorption of
the island by the United States. the Tel
Ter resolution being relegated TO the back
ground as an obligation not to be con-
sdered
Il am not as pessimistic about political
life as / used to be-" remarked f. Bas-
com Shriff. OF New York. at the st. James
last night. Il used to think that touShs
and gOod-for-nothings went into politics
because, with it's methods of bulldozinS,
bossing. and bribing, it fitted in with the
shady characteristics OF their own modes
of life. a dozen years ago that criticism,
in all its force. would have been just
one, but a change has come. and things
are improving The better element Of So
ciety is entering politics. The ideal poll
tician is a man who does politics for
pleasure, and not for gain. In an ideal
Republic all public servants would be
without salary, and their service for the
Commonwealth would be merely an incl
dent in their life, and not the whole Of 1t.
In these days it is less the rule that
the gutter-roIler and ward heeler goes
into politics. Men of means, with
purely philanthropic motives impelling
them, take up the public service. ! am
especially pleased to see such men as o.
II. +. Belmont, who was recently elected
a member OF Congress. go into politics. for
they can afford to be honest and live up
TO their convictions. | was led up to this
train OF thought by noticing that Cor
ueius Vanderbilt was present at the third
annual dinner of the Twenty As
semby District Republican Club. given in
New YORK last night he was not a
STeaker, but took lively interest in all
that was said. If II were only possible
70 persuade the remainder Of the rich
New York men with brains that they can
best employ their abilities in solving ma
tonal problems. then the country would
ne progressing rapidly to the millennium.
The death Of Representative Brosius
was discussed with many expressions Of
regret by the Representatives stiu re-
manning in the city yesterday.
Representative Brosius oratorical
ability was more eulogistic than foren-
sic, said Representative, Mudd. He had
compelling power over words and a
sense of their beauty that made his
speeches particularly pleasant to listen
TO- His voice was not OF the silvern class,
but robust and full and resonant, partic-
ularly satisfying to the ear of his audi
tors. His power over the mechanics of
speaking was almost perfect and his
words came from his mouth with no evi-
dence Of greater effort than that of
breathing
For this reason he was particularly
successful as an orator upon festive pub
nc occasions, and especially times of pa
tIlotlc interest. lie las rarely. If ever.
without an engagement to make a speech
on the Fourth of July, Washington's
Birthday, or Memorial Day. His power
OF impressng the spirit of the day upon
MS listeners was remarkable. Most sue
cessful OF all his addresses was the one
which ne delivered at Arlington last Me-
mortal Day, | think ii was. He was es-
peclally pleased with his success ana Of
Ten spoke of II. He took pride In calling
attention to the fact that he was the only
time to deliver the Memorial Day ad-
dress at Arlington. and considered that
one or the facts in his life of which he
had Il right to be proud.