Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-06-22
HELM Of ALABAMA
JUSTLY REbUKEs CANNON
-Arouses Democrats to Pitch of En-
thusiasm in House Yesterday. Bril-
liant Speech by Southern Con-
gresham.

In the debate in the House yesterday
on the Bristow amendment to the reso
luton providing for the cleo ion o.
United States Senators by direct vote.
the remarks of Representative Thomas
J. Helm, OF Alabama, aroused the
democrats to pitch of enthusiasm not
attained during any previous discus,
sion.
Mr.. Hefiin addressed the House in
reply to ex-Speaker Cannon, WHO fer
vently favored the Bristow amendment.
In the course Of his remarks, Mr..
Cannon referred to the war between
the states, charging that the South,
because defeated, had been slow co for
get and to forgive. Mr.. Helm resented
the aspersions thus cast upon the South
in a speech OF about three minutes
length, but which stirred the democrats
as no speech during this Congress has
elected enthusiastic response. Mr..
Hefiin aid:
The war is over. DR.. Ellis, in the
history OF our country-and be is II
northern maJl-says that secession was
never settled author;tatively until set
died by the sword. Charles Francis
Adams, OF Mas achusetts, said that
prior to the war the universal opinion
vas that sovereignty resided with the
state, and that to it allegiance was due.
''Our people accepted the arbitra-
rnent Of the sword, and we have sup
ported the flag loyalty; but, Mr..
Speaker, the South was Inundated and
prosecuted after that struggle between
the states. The former Speaker OF this
House, who has referred to the war
between the states, has contributed to
that humiliation and that persecution.
He voted for the force bill and he
voted to reduce the South's representa-
ton III Congress, and he has also voted
against The election Of United States
Senators by direct vote OF the people.
He has been repudiated by the
American people, Inundated by his
own party that refused to make him
minority leader, and now he invites
upon his head the contempt OF that
section, the south land that gave him
birth.
Talk Of the war and OF our failure
to forgive and forget. Mr.. Speaker,
when | saw my country embroiled in
war with Spain, and l saw Fighting
Toe Wheeler stand side by side with
General Shafter and Fitzhueh Lee, by
the side OF President Grants son, Gen.
Fred Grant, and then when saw
Worth Bagley, Southern boy, spill
the first blood in that struggle at Cuba,
and tho stars and stripes wrapped about
his lifeless form and buried with him
in North Carolina, l said, thank. God
we have reunited country, the war is
over.
Mr.. Speaker, I wish to say that
gentlemen vino represent the trusts,
who do not want senators elected by
the people, can no longer deceive the
North and East, the West nor the
South by trying to stir up strife be-
tween these sections. Gentlemen. you
can no longer deceive the people with
that kind of stuff
Stand up aud show your hand. Do
not dodge behind a struggle dead and
gone. The south will follow faithfully
wherever Old Glory bares her beauty
to the breeze. And let us strike hands
about common centre for the good OF
the republic and bury this sectional
feeling forever. /"
At the conclusion OF his speech Mr..
Helm was surrounded by the demo-
Gratis eager to impress him with their
appreciation and approval, the north
ern democrats being especially elusive
in their aNnreSSiOnS