Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-15
57TH CONGRESS.
Wheeler, KY, Raises a Rum
pus in the House.
Denounces What He Calls "FIunky-
Ism" Toward Foreign Countries.
Assails President and Sec. Hay and Is
Promptly Called Down.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE monotony
of a private pension day of the House
was enlivened. today, by very sensa-
tional speech from Wheeler, KY, i'm de-
nunciation of what he denominated
"funkeyism" toward foreign countries.
He took the recent statements emanat-
ing from Continental cabinets regard
ing the attitude of Great Britain dur
ing the Spanish war as a text for
wholesale attack upon the trend of our
recent diplomacy. He severely scored
Secretary Hay and declared that if
Lord Pauncefote had sought to circum-
vent us during the war of 1898, as was
alleged, the sooner he was shipped
| across the seas the better He also
criticised the President for his report
ed intention to send his daughter to the
coronation of King Edward and pro-
| tested against the official reception of
Prince Henry.
His speech aroused the House to a
high pitch of excitement and elected
from Boutell, ILL.,, a spirited defence Of
Secretary Hay, whom he eulogized in
high terms. Several other members on
the Republican side took a hand in the
debate, and later in the afternoon Gros-
venor. Ohio, took Wheeler to task for
his "inopportune protest. and re-
hearsed the history of the visit of the
Prince of Wales to this country in 1860
| and his reception by President Bu-
chanan.
| During the day 125 private pension
bills were passed in 81 minutes.
When the House met it was agreed
that when it adjourned, today. it be &c
meet on Monday next. Payne. the floor
leader of the majority, gave notice that.
MONDAY, he would call up the bill for
Inc repeal OF the war revenue taxes. This
Delng pension day, the House then went
INTO committee of the whole and took
up the consideration OF private pension
DlllS on the calendar.
During consideration of one of the pri-
vate pension bills, Wheeler QKy.) deliv-
cred sensational speech in pronunciation
OF Great Britain, based on the recent rev.
Citations regarding that governments at
titude toward the United States during
the Spanish war.
Mr.. Chairman said he, Il have read
with lively interest the recent exposure
and criticism in the press of the attitude.
OF Great Britain and the other European
powers toward the republic during the
war of 1885, Divisions of public senti-
ment among the people of the United
States are to be desired. But until the
inauguration of the President in 1897
there never was any division of senti-
ment upon one great question, and that
was the splendid isolation of the republic
and its fixed determination to hold alOof
from all entangling alliances with foreign
powers. Then the belief and fixed judg-
ment of wellnigh every patriotic citizen
was overturned and for the first time
we witnessed a President of the United
States aided and egged on by a pitiable
turnkey in the state department, stretch
ing his arms across the water to embrace
the historic enemies of the American
people.
From that good hour until now VIC
have made ourselves a laughing stock at
every court in Europe because of our
fiunkeyism, our truculency and the dis
graceful sycophancy of the representa-
tives of the republic at the feet of Grea.
Britain, and now when it serves the pur-
pose of some other great nation, the pitt
able spectacle is presented that we have
been hugg1ng to our bosom during the
last five years a nation that has system
atically and persistently attempted to
destroy the liberties of the American peo-
pie since the battle of Yorktown.
I'VE find now, despite the fact that the
present administration is afraid, even in
the face of it's great ma jority, to ask an
appropriation of $4,000 or 100000 to pay
some shoulder-strapped. gold-laced fun
key to cross the water and bow the knee
and kiss the hand of some English king,
that while this very pitiabe spectacle is
being presented to us it is being heralded
abroad that in 1885, when we were seeking
to strike the shackles of serfdom from off
the heels of Cuba that nation was then
secretly in our own capital attempting to
form a coalition of the great powers of
the world to prevent that interposition.
Il have a respect for the pres
ent occupant of the White House,
but l frankly avow l think he
is too honest to be palatable to
the average Republican partisan. A
little quixotic. it is true. hasty tempered,
full blooded and not exactly desirable to
many of our citizens; and l indulge the
hope that that lingering element of
Anericanism will induce him at the first
opportunity to boot out that man in the |
state department who. in my judgment, |
has brought us to this humilating condi- |
ton.
1T may be well enough to treat the |
representatives of foreign powers with |
courtesy and consideration. j do declare |
that if the publication in the press is |
true, this man Pauncefote ought to be |
ordered to take the first ship and cross
the waters. We want no suchman in the |
republic. If he comes here to represent |
his government, well and good; but if he |
comes here to hatch conspiracies. to at |
tempt to force his wishes and his ideas |
upon the American people. the sooner We |
are rid of him the better it will be-
And the most unfortunate incident Is |
the Chief Executive of the republic |
Il
across the water for the purpose of par
ticipat ting in the coronation of king. 1t |
is unprecedented in our history and is, |
today. lamented on the part of every |
man in the republic. 1t is /
establishing a precedent that he ought /
not to recognize. and it is but one more |
link in the chain showing toward what i
end We are drifting.
zone other matter / wish to advert to. II
In the next few days We are to have a II
brother of a ruler come over to this cour- Il
try and take charge of a little tug ship. II
vessel, or yacht, whatever you please to
term it, built by some people up in New
York. We are appropriating thousands II
of dollars and the Anglomaniacs and the II
European maniacs are falling over each
other to get to see a little Dutchman II
come over and take charge of a little ship II
applause on the Democratic side. What II
difference does 1T make whether he is 4
Prince Henry or not? There are thous-
ands of citizens of this republic follow
ing the pillow noble. as honest, az in |!
tellgent as Prince Henry or prince any II
body else" applause on the Democratic
side). II
Grosvenor, Ohio-"If the gentleman had II
been living at the time Lafayette came II
to this country bearing the commission of II
the King of France. would he have over
ruled the action of George Washington
In sending commission to meet him and II
accompany him over the country
L.