Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-07-17


exclaimed in a burst of exuber-
ant confidence that relief for
Cuba is as certain as fatev 1t
was dead easy to say thing like that
but it will be interesting to know what
Hon. Stephen Benton Elkins of West
Virginia and the rest of ''the senatorial
Boxers" who put Cuban reciprocity to
sleep in the senate at the session just
closed think of that declaration. They
hold the balance of power, and they
know their advantage. Can any sane
man believe they will not use it to the
utmost? The president might just as
well have announced that the Missis-
sippi would just as certain as fate be
running into Lake Itasca before Christ
mas. He put up a great bluff; that's
all. He can't bulge 'the Boxers"
They know that the Cuban reciprocity
bill, if enacted into law, would be the
first hole in the tariff dixie which
would finally cause the whole dixie to
topple over, and they do not propose
that that hole shall be made, not if
they can prevent it by fair means or
foul There is not a pound of beet
sugar produced in West Virginia, but
EllSins knows that while the sugar
procity bill, if that passes other sched-
ules will be attacked. So he is fight
ing the scheme alb initio.
LittIefield Versus schley.
In the last letter I told how Mr.. Lit
tlefeld of Maine, leading Republic
an, in replying to me in running de-
bate imputed cowardice to that great
naval hero Admiral Winfield Scott
Schley; also how he was hissed by
Democrats on the floor and by the
patriotic people in the gallery. l also
stated that Judge De Almond of Mis-
souri, blistered Mr.. I.ittlefield in his
reply, but l did not then give De Ar
mondS caustic speech for want of
space. That portion of it devoted to
the Maine congressman's attack on
Schley will be found below. Personal
ly l regret for Littlefield's sake that
he made such a bad break, for like
him as man and admire his talents.
The Chicago Record III erald gives this
account OF how Littlefield got into the
scrape:
Loud Kisses on the Democratic side fol-
lowed an assertion by Representa- tive Lit
tlefeld of Maine in the house that Ad-
miral Schley was cowardly during the
battle of Santiago. The dullness in con-
gress during the final consideration of
L, IL. ~ L.,
Champ Clark of Missouri in a humorous
speech in reply to Mr.. Landis of Indiana.
His wit and satire quickly filled most of
the seats upon the floor, and the members
thoroughly enjoyed his remarks. He grew
serious in refuting the charges that the
Democrats had turned their backs and
run away from the Philippine question
and reviewed briefly the record of his
party in refutation.
Mr.. Littlefield replied. Mr.. Clark had
mentioned Dewey Schley, General Joe
Wheeler, Hobson and several other he
roes of the Spanish war to emphasize his
statement that the Democrats had got
as much glory out of it as the Republic
ans, had fought as bravey and had
brought as much glory to their country's
flag. When Mr.. Littlefield reached that
part of Mr.. Clarks speech. he referred
disparagingly of Schley, and the Kisses
followed.
Replying, Judge De Almond said:
The gentleman from Maine seems to be
in the business of making suggestions in
regard to running away and he seems
to suggest that Schley made 1.-The loop
in order to escape danger. The gentleman
must have said that without thought
He did not mean, l think, to make an at
tack upon Admiral Schley. He did not
mean that the man who comman nded the
American fight the Whn fQr
Americas arms the great victory down at
Santiago, was a coward.
Schley and "the loop!" Let us dwell a
moment on that. Let us dwell for mo-
ment on the man who stands in the naval
history of this country with reference to
these recent events second only to the
hero of the battle of Manila Bay. Making
a loop to get out of danger! Taking the
towards part! Surely the gentleman from
Maine could not have meant that. What
he said must have been said in the wild
exuberance of his enthusiasm, in the ex-
ultation with which he was exploiting
something through the feeling upon him
of the necessity of magnifying and ex-
panding. because he has too good an in
tellect to mislead him into the belief that
he was really intending to talk so. His
intellect is altogether too good for him to
have intended to say anything about 1t
The gentleman really. l think. made his
aDOul OCUley WllIlOuL tllOuSul anu
without meaning. He did not think. but
he talked, and unfortunately he slandered
an American hero when he did it.
Mr.. Chairman. If all of us could be as
safe in history and as prominent in his
tory as Admiral Schley: If there could be
attributed to us no shortcomings and no
evidence of cowardice which may not be
attributed to him; if we might be credited
with the same candor and the same man.
hat ba yod nd bU
possibility our services to our country
could be as valuable and as glorious 10
all our fellow citizens as his. and il
page of the worlds history could be IL
lumined by anything which we might do
to a thousandth part of the extent to
which it has been gloriously illumined by
what he did, fortunate indeed would we
be. l am satisfied that the gentleman
from Maine would do well-not justice to
Schey and Schley's record. because Schley
and Schley's record and Schleys achieve
ments are far above the reach of flippant
words or evil designs-but will do justice
to himself SO that he will not pose as the
slanderer of Sehley.
Judge De Almonds irony to the ef
feet that Mr. Littlefield had spoken un-
advisedly and the fact that the latter
did not seize that opportunity to re-
cant prove that his assault on the
fame of Schley was made deliberately
and that to assail Schley is part of the
Republican programme Will it win?
Can it win? Not SO long as Americans
love honor. admire courage and de-
mand fair treatment for the men who
fight valiantly and achieve stupendous
victories battling under the American
flag on land or sea.
Speech by John Sharp Williams.
Truth to tell. the oratorical scrap in
which Mr.. Littlefield charged cowardiee
to Schley was redhot from start to fin.
jsh-lasted three hours and was par
ticipated in by several of the heavy
weights. There is no ADLER man in the
house of representatives than John
Sharp Williams of Mississippi. He is
graduate of both the University of
Virginia and the University of Heidei
berg. His power of luminous state
ment is truly wonderful. He has no
superior as debater and brings to
the discussion of any question perfect
courage. absolute candor, wealth of
learning and marvellous skill. He de-
liyered five minutes speech which
has rarely been excelled. Here it is
verbatim:
Mr.. Chairman. much has been said here
in the last two or three days about run
ming away much about cowardice" and
..weaklings" and much about our facing
.1eif facfs ns-A fpot ms