Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-22
Tense Feeling
 in the Senate
CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT AT
 ALL NIGHT SESSION
STRONG PLEA BY ROOT
During Debate on Motion the Pass Resolution Recommended by Presi- dent Wilson on Mexican Crisis.

Washington, April Predetermined upon the passage of the administra- tion Mexican resolution before morn ing, the senate at midnight was in the midst of a grave and impassioned de- bate. Ultimate passage of the resolu- ton as reported by the foreign reIs- ttons committee was generally conced- ed. The house had recessed until 10 o'clock in the morning to await the senate action.
 Meagre reports of the engag cement at Vera Cruz had filtered to the capi- tai when the senate resumed it's ses- sion at o'clock. The four Americans dead in Vera Cruz, the twenty wound ed and the two hundred Mexicans re- ported killed in the taking of the city became the text of the talk, mentioned in hushed voices and greeted with a solemn silence throughout the senate chamber, packed to suffocation.
 As the shuttle of debate was thrown back and forth full quorum of the house Of representatives crowded the rear of the senate hall. Secretary of State Bryan, himself often referred to in debate, Secretary of War Garrison, Secretary of the Navy Daniels, Post master General Burleson, Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo and Secretary to the President Tumulty sat about the chamber. They listened eagerly and held whispered conferences as the discussion progressed.
 Senators Reed and James vigorous ly defended the committee resolution, declaring that the insult of the flag at Tampico justified all that the reSolu- ton provided for. As the night wore on and senator after senator demand ed an opportunity to be heard the at- mosphere in the chamber grew more and more tense. Senator Fall made | a lengthy plea for campaign that would cover the length and breadth of Mexico.
 Senator Roots Plea for Resolution. Senator Root said the foreign rela- | tions committee resolution, while omit | ting the name of Huerta, made it plain l that it was directed against him, He expressed the highest regard for the president and the highest confidence in his purpose"
 "But we are not asked to express our | confidence in him. he continued. We arc asked as a part of our 1 duty here to declare certain course | of action in certain conditions to be | justified We are called upon to do | our duty to the hundred million of people of this country and our duty to the civilized world"
 The resolution, Senator Root said, called for 'orceful armed cOmpulsion | of the de facto government of q | friendly nation to make amends for ar insult to the flag of this country l We cannot justify this," he eentin- ued, "on our confidence in the presi- dent. We must justify ourselves be- 1 fore the conscience of the people of our country and before the eyes of the 1 civilized world. What is that justifca- | tion? l ask what it is.
 1 We learn tonight that Vera Cruz has fallen; that four American ma- rines lie dead; that twenty lie suffer else but this dispute of the number or i guns-the form and ceremony of a sa- lute to justify the sacrifice of the American lives?
 Deeply as the president desires to 1 limit the scope of his action-the main l tenance of peace-all his tory suggests that once lighted, the fires of war can not be quenched at will. It is war in l its essence that we are to vote to jus tify tonight. When the result of these | incidents nc man can tell. Men will | diA-men dear to us will die because | of the action we are to take tonight 1 American homes will be deSolate; i; American children will go through life fatherIess because of the action we
 will take tonight. and when they turn l back the page to find why their fathers
 sied, are they to find that it was about the I.::mber of guns CT the form of sa- i lute?
 eve are to justify. What Is the l Justification? Is there none but that l We. the representatives of the great
 democracy that brides itself before the
 world that deInocracies can be peaceful
 and just Is there ne justification that
 we can lay before the world, before the judgment seat of history, except q dis pute about the number of guns?"
 As Senator Root proceeded he raised
 his hands heavenward and, turning to
 the senators about him, said;
 How can we justify ourselves il
 we have not Justification But sir
 that it is not all.> If it had been all
 the president would not have come tc
 the congress yesterday. If it had beer
 aIl we would not be discussing this
 subject here tonight. Back of this
 incident back of the special circum-
 stances of the resolution reported by
 the committee Is a great array o1
 fact"
 Senator Root asked what would have
 been done if a similar incident haG
 occurred in English. French or Ger
 man port. He said that any suct
 dispute could be settled by peaceful
 negotiations.
 If this dispute was all he said
 there should be no difficulty il reaching a peaceful conclusion.
 If this De all, how can we justify in our arrogance. our present atti-
 tude toward bankrupt. weak despair ing Mexico if this be all But this i.
 not all It is not all.
 There is a matter of Justification
 and the senator from Massa chusett:
 
 in his substitute for the preamble oi the resolution.
 Lying behind the insult to tho :, American flag are +zie lives of Amer } jeans destroyed, Americans reduced } to poverty because Of the destruction of their property. Lying behind it i!
 a condition of anarchy in Mexico, { } condition which makes 1t impossible to secure protection for American lif'
 and property. Lying back of this in. } cident is 8 condition of things il } Mexico which absolutely prevents the
 protection of American lives ant property except through respect fol l the American flag. the American uni
 form, the American government It i:
 that that makes necessary the demand } that public respect be made the f1as of the United States.
 There is our Justification. It Is g Justification lying not in Victoriane 1 ThIerts. in his conduct alone. blIl
 in the universal conduct of affairs ir Mexico; and the real object to be at tained by the course which we are
 asked to approve is not the gratif1ca- ton of personal pride: 1t Is not the satisfaction of a government or ar admiral, t Is the desire of the United