The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-02-22
NOTHING TO RETRACT.
So Says Congressman Wheeler with
Reference to His Recent Speech
in the House.

Washington, Feb. 19.-The speech of
Mr.. Wheeler CKy.) in the house last
Friday, when he bitterly assailed Sec
rotary Hay and Lord Pauncefote, and
criticised the official preparations for
the reception of Prince Henry, had
sequel in the house Tuesday during
the debate on the Indian appropria-
ton bill. Mr.. Gillct Mass.), in half
hours speech, declared that the in
temperance of Mr.. Wheeler's language
carried its own condemnation. Never
theless, he (Gillet) grievously deplored
such an affront to foreign country.
During the course of the speech two
democrats-Robinson Qnd.) and Thay
err (Mass.) disclaimed any sympathy
with Mr.. Wheeler's utteranccs. These
disclaimers drew from Mr.. Talbert Is.
CO. the statement that he desired to
share in the responsibility of the
speech, every word of which he said
he Endorsed.
Mr.. Wheeler replied to Mr.. Gillet.
He disclaimed any idea that on last
Friday he had spoken for any one eN-
cept himself, though he believed that
many people believed as he did. He
said he had innumerable letters and
kilograms from different parts of the
country containing unstinted praise of
his speech. For himself, he said, he
preferred to tell the truth, no mat
ter how unpalatable it might be. Adj
verting to the statements made by
Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. Gillet last Fri
day about the visit of the prince of
Wales during the Buchanan admins
tration, Mr.. Wheeler declared that
those statements were absolutely in
correct. He said President Buchanan
had received the prince as private
individual and had borne the expense
out of his own pocket; he had even
paid the cost of government revenue
cutter used on that occasion.
He said that he never had objected to
receiving a distinguished foreigner
with proper consideration. What he
objected to was the spirit of trucu-
lency and sycophancy that had char
acterized this and the preceding adj
ministration, especially in the con-
duct of the state department. Refer
ring to the communications that he
had received he said that nine-tenths
OF them were from northern states,
and great majority of them from re-
publicans.
Mr.. Wheeler continues:
Before the American people say I'M
hesitatingly that have not a word to
retract. I sincerely believe we are drift
ing to position hostile to republican
ism. [ do not believe to occupy a great
position in the world it is necessary for
| us to sacrifice our traditional principles.
1 am the son of a foreigner and my love
! or the republic was born and bred in me.
l have been charged in the press with
being an ignorant agriculturist.' I am
proud of being the son of a farmer and
the son of a foreigner, but am ashamed
of the boot-licking that characterizes the
! official class in the republic to-day
Mr.. Wheeler then began to read
some of the communications he had
received. In reply to question from
Mr.. Boreing (Rep., Ky.), he said that
few of them were from Kentucky.
"Have you anything there from Ed
ward Atkinson?" asked Mr.. Shattuc
(Rep., o..
"No, not yet" replied Mr.. Wheeler
amid derisive ieers on the republican
side. ooh! You may laugh" he add.
ed, "but when those who laugh SO
derisively have been gathered to oh.
livion the name of Edward Atkinson
| will be remembered"
Anything from Aguinaldo?" asked
Mr.. Mercer (Neb.).
"To one who would be guilty of the
discourtesy of that question" retort.
ed Mr. Wheeler, 81 will say T had
rather number Aguinaldo among my
friends than such as he."
Mr.. Wheeler said he had heard that
his speech of last Friday was to be
circulated as republican campaign
| document. He declared that if the
republicans thought they could make
campaign capital out of it he would
lat his own expense. circulate it in
their districts, together with n copy
of the speech of. Mr.. Grosvenor, and
would debate the question on the