Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06

gathered minds capable of firece
assault and skillful defense in
debate. Day in and day out there is
ever a combat on, merciless, bitter,
desperate at times, for upon the result
individual and even party prospects
often depend. Here no quarter is Civ
en-, none is asked. Wounds are left to
bleed unbound, and party knives are
always eager to inf1ict new wounds.
OF course the combat is waged across
the center aisle. This narrow space d.
vides the house of representatives, Re
publicans holding position on the west,
Democrats on the east. Let but one
word be flung across that aisle bear
ing in any degree upon the character
of a challenge and a dozen watchful
ears on the other side have caught 1t;
a dozen gladiators are on their feet to
fling it back, or else to fling back re-
torts more keen. sarcasm more biting,
irony more bitter.
In this arena as in all others there
are those who tower above their fell
lows. Grosvenor of Ohio by reason Of
his long experience and his complete
mastery of facts is a figure of this
class on the Republican side of the
aisle De Almond, of Missouri. holds
such a place on the Democratic side.
And with these two this story has to
deal. 1t is the purpose of this pen to
depict, If possible, the scenes surround
ing a short but decisive conflict this
week between these giants of the con-
gressional arena, conflict in which
the deep-voiced Missourian ''pinked''
his opponent so sharply that the Lion
of debate" as Grosvenor is called,
went down and out.
The urgent deficiency bill. called by
the Democrats "a raid upon the treas
ury," because it demands an extra
ordinary appropriation of over sixteen
millions Of dollars, was under discus
sion. An item in the bill providing for
the expenditure of 100000 for perma-
nent military barracks in Manila had
been caught by the Democrats and
used as a club in beating down the bill.
ut is a declaration that this coun-
try intends to hold. the Philippine Is
lands. permanently" they said. and this
they had accepted as a challenge Tor
fray.
All morning the battle had waged
across the aisle Eloquence rolled forth
and echoed even through the rotunda.
Nearly every seat on the floor held It's
congressman, as one member. after an
other arose and made an attack or
defense of the item. Through that
mysterious element abroad In WASH
ington which whispers over the city
that warm debate is on in he house,
the galleries were filled to overlooking.
The seats about the arena were packed
and every ear was strained to catch
the sound Of fighting in the ring. IL
was an intensely dramatic situation.
Cannon a battle-scarred old gladia-
tor from Illinois, had defended the
military barracks item with unusual
force and vigor. He had locked shields
once or twice with Champ Clarke, the
most sarcastic speaker on the floor.
For an hour Cannon had fought for
the bill and now he paced restlessly up
and down the rear aisle Of the cham
Der, painting, perspiring, yet watchfui
and. eager for renewal should an oppor-
tunity appear
Then De Almond arose. He asked
permission of the speaker to ADDRESS
the house. asked 1t in deep, solemn
voice that rolled around the gilded
galleries and called down every glance
upon him.
Il am prompted now to ask little
Of the time of the house. he SAID
prompted by the appearance OF a new
friend of the constitution Here MS
voice carried the EXTREMIST degree OF
IRONY. IAN unexpected appearance
an unheralded Appearances remarka-
HE apuearance. / refer. of course, 10
the appearance in this garb and guise
OF the distinguished gentleman from
Illinois (Cannon).
Cannon paused in his walk ana
smiled. People in the galleries. smi!ed'
congressman on both sides OF the alsie
smiled. DeArElond continued:
.This appearance is an event of some
inheritance There had not been any
suspicion abroad in the land. and GER
tatnlv none in the house, that the gem
fleman was going to declare any re-
rnarkable friendship for the consutu~
ton. for up to this date, as far as we
have been able to observe, ne mas hVI
evinced any"
pitched on this plane the remarks OF
the Missourian grew more ana more
interesting to the listeners. Ihey
leaned far over the gallery ralllng anu
those on the floor of the house leaneu
forward lest they lose some OF the
words.
was hit but not hurt.
De Almond made no gestures. he
stood like a statue of stone, except
for the movement of his lips. one
hand rested in the bosom of his coat.
In the other he held a copy OF the DILL
Lis Voice rose louder and louder as
he proceeded to ridicule the attitude OF
tne .en,blicans towards the Filipinos.
He scored them for forcing those
ueople to submit to our government at
3 the point of the bayonet. He lashed
them heavily for "stultifying ourselves
at home and abroad" He buried can
non especially beneath a great los'o
of sarcasm, none of which proved
more entertaining to the galleries thah
this bit:
The gentleman from Illinois is fur
Their ready, he tells US, to provide I'D
orally for a commission to go abroad
TO the coronation of the king OF Eng
land. He tells us how he adores the
Anglo-Saxon language; how sweet 10
senses and how soothing to his ears
are AngIo-Saxon words. How he loves
those words! He tells US how England
is the mother country and how It's CIV
iization is l. e same as ours. what Is
the. civilization which England is fur
nfshing to the world, in example. to-
day? What Is 1t? Upon the fields OF
South Africa behold as gallant people
as ever had an existence in the history
of the world. struggling and dying
man after man, and not only men, but
women and children, in the defense
of home, in the defense of country,
in the defense of liberty. in the de-
tense of a republic-against what?
against that civilization that is striY-
ing with might and main, in over
whelmng force, by all the arms and
agencies that mighty nation can
bring against a weak nation. by all
the force that aggressive wrong can
hurI upon defenseless right, not only
to crush out the life of the South
African republic, but to destroy utter