Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-07
GOV. SMITHS BROTHER.
Makes an Eloquent Speech on
Schley Resolutions.

The editors of the MESSENGER are in
possession of copy of the Shreveport
Tia Times of May 80 containing an ad
dress before the Legislature of that State
made by Representative I. Spence Smith
native of Worcester County and the
only brother of Governor Smith. He
has been resident of Louisiana for
thirty years or more and is cotton
planter. The Times gives the speech
aud comments as follows:
Representative Spence Smith fairly
electrified the house with his patriotic
oratory in behalf of the Schley resolu-
tions on Tuesday last. Mr. Smith is one
of the strong men of North Louisiana
and his address commanded rapt atten-
ton. 1t was decided to have his
speech spread out on the records and
forward a copy of It to Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt. president of the United
States. The address in full follows:
"Mr. Speaker and Gentleman of the
General Assembly: In rising to ask for
the final passage of the bill, l do so
with an innate pride and full con-
scientiousness of the Importance, and
justice of my cause, and in way to do
honor to a great, good and noble man,
and that man is Admiral Winfield Scott
Schley.
but l fear. Mr. Speaker. that will
prove unable to cope with the great
American spirit of liberty and justice.
that is pcrvading the hearts of the peo-
pie of this great commonwealth of ours
as well as the hearts of all our beautiful
Southland.
"All over this land, the people are
taking up the cause of Admiral Schley
in a way to do honor and justice, where
justice is due.
City after city. township after town.
ship. state after state. is passing resolu-
tons and laws forbidding any history
to be used in public school, that does
not give Schley full credit for the vic.
tory at Santiago on the third day of
July, 1898. In my opinion. Mr.. Speaker,
that is right. Let Louisiana do the
same.
1.-The passage of this bill Mr.. Speaker.
will be most potent factor for justice
to grand old man aud toward the pro-
motion of enlightened civilization. to
our children and our children's children
and to all future posterity.
mot the civilization. Mr.. Speaker,
that comes from government sur
rounded by all the pride, pomp and cir
cumstances of military show, but that
civilization that comes from Constitu.
tional liberty. free government and
civil law.
Not the civilization of the sword.
that reigned in Warsaw. that heralded
the doom of the liberties of nation.
mot the civilization that reigned
during the dark days of reconstruction
when dark fraud. open rapine and pro-
tected murder cried out against us.
when the carpet baggers, in their pas.
sage through this state. like the foul
birds of prey, i'll their flight left moth
ing behind them, except the results of
their obscene droppings and thus. did
their unbridled fury continue to rage
until checked in their Licensed spolia-
ton, by the flower and best blood of
New Orleans, on that memorable four.
tcenth day of September, 1874.
Not such civilization as this, gentle
men of the legislature, but that civil
cation that emanates from a good and
quiet government. distributing its bles-
sings, like the dews of heaven, unseen
and unfelt, save in the beauty and
freshness, which it contributes to pro-
duce.
Mr.. Speaker, | would have this bill
passed, because. if the emanations from
that man, McClay, in his history. should
be snstilled in the minds and hearts of
the youth of this country, it would be
better for us, that we should welcome
the fiery waters of the deluge in which
persisted the ante deluvian world. 1t
would be better for us, that we should
thrice welcome the fires from Heaven,
that smote and consumed Sodom and
Gomorrah, so that, in God S providence,
Il new and wiser and better race of
people may repopulate this North Amer
lean continent
Let us, then, Mr.. Speaker, do honor
and justice TO Admiral Winfield Scott
Schley, the grand old man-thc man
who led the stormers over the southern
rampant at Chemulpo, where victory
alone could save from death and per.
haps torture-the man who, on all occa.
sions, has shed fadcless lustre on the
American navy and the man whom it
is conceded was the hero, at the battle
of Santiago, on the third day of July.
1898, and the man whose name will 60
down in history with imperishable re-
nown.
admiral Schley is from that grand
old State of Maryland. myself am a
Marylandcr by nativity, but Louisi-
anian by adoption and feel that Mary.
land and Louisiana are twin sisters and
would feel proud for Louisiana to do
Ia ~, honor