The Portland daily press., 1898-02-19

but, Mr.. President, that quetsion is not
here. We face to face at this moment
with great national calamity. Inc
American people have received the aWIul
news of the sinking OF the warship
Maine with splendid silence and self
restraint, both in Congress and through
out the country. They are waiting stern
Iy, quietly to know the truth, and the
truth they will have. This is not ques-
ton which involves Cubans or Spaniards.
This is question which involves prave
American seamen, gone to their death IN
"a foreign port. In the presence OF that
calamity what we want is the truth.
How are we to get it? By the investiga-
tions of a committee Of Congress which
knows nothing. which has no witnesses
to summon, which has no expert knoWl-
edge which is miles from the place
where the disaster occurred? There is
only one way to get at the truth OF this
matter, and that is through the naval
officers who have been selected already to
perform that duty. Can anyone suppose
that the naval officers of the United
States, men whose career in the past and
whose conduct in the present there Is
not and has never been blenish, would
seek to conceal the facts in such a case
as this.
81 would rather trust this investiga-
tion to the officers of the American navy
than to any other men in the country.
Does anyone suppose that the captain
of that ship who, stunned by the expl'-
sion, remained the last upon the sinking
vessel and, who, in the midst of all that
terror and excitement, sent despatch to
this country showing a GOODNESS and
nerve which are an honor to the Ameri
can name? Does anyone suppose that
Capt. Sigsbee, capable of such splendid
conduct, is going to lie about his ship!
The secretary of the navy is snan of
distinguished ability, ssof honor and patri7
otism. If anyone imagines that Secre-
tary Long will not tell the truth and In
sist upon the whole of it, he little knows
the character of the man who has the
honor to fill that great post
81 think those who know Hon. Iheo-
dore Roosevelt, who is Mr.. Longs right
hand, would be slow to believe that he
would seek to conceal the truth in re-
gard to this disaster. Mr.. President, l
am sorry that any debate has arisen on
this question. 1t seems to me that the
attitude of Congress ever since that
awful news arrived has been in the high
est degree dignified and worthy-worthy
of itself and worthy of the American
people. We have not shrieked or talked.
We have waited in silence of much deep
er meaning than any words. We want
TO know the truth. If it was an accident
which destroyed the Maine then let us
provide so far as human foresight can
against. recurrence. Ii lG was treach-
cry, then the righteous wrath OF the Anne
rican people will take signal vengeance
for the treachery which sent that ship to
the bottom, and let no one think to. stay
it," ~ -,
Mr.. Mason, in making his reply, said
that misquotation and general spasm
would not drive him from the discussion
Of this question. He shared, he said in
the general admiration of the vessels
executive departments. He was only
sorry that while Mr.. Woloott was giving
lecture about the navy department he
did not give the treasury department
some praise He endorsed all that Mr..
Lodge said, but he said Mr.. Long could
not himself object to an investigation and
it was no part of friendship to him to try
to shield him from such an inquiry rs
was propose. He denied that his re-
marks contained any reflection upon Mr..
Longs integrity or honor, or the integ-
rity or honor of the officers of the navy.
He resented the intimation that he had
gone into the slums to IND words with
which to characterize the navy depart
ment. tEfAf
Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut pointed
out that the investigation of the catas-
trophe could not be made here III Wash
! ington. ayev.
absolutely to follow the senator FROM Hi.
| of the Cuban question as,s
II being after O'Clock, Mr.. Hale re-
marked that under the rules the resolu-
| ton would go TO the calendar
MIR. Bacon of Georgia introduced joint
resolution for. the preparation, under the
discretion of the secretary OF the navy
| and placing on the wall of statuary hall,
| in the Capitol building, a bronze tablet,
commemorative of the officers and men
| of the United States navy who persisted
| in the loss of the battleship Maine in the
barbor of Havana, February IS, 1898.
| Ia was referred to the committee on
naval affairs
At 200 p. m. the Senaue went into exc
cutiye session.
IN THE HOUSE.
! Washington, February 18.-There were
| exactly seven men when the House re-
s11med its session today at II O'Clock, to
which time a recess was taken last night.
The purpose of extending the session was
to afford more time for the discussion of
the bankruptcy bill.
| Mr.. Henry, Democrat of Mississippi
the frat speaker today, opposed the
measure.
There were thres other speakers before
| 70 O'Clock when the regular session be-
gan, Mr.. Rixey Democrat of Virginia,
for the bill, and Messrs. Linney, Repub-
lican of North Carolina, and Love, Demo
GRAFT of Mississippi, against the measure
Immediately after the reading of the
| journal at noon Mr.. Boutelle, Republi-
can of Maine, chairman OF the naval com
mittee. asked unanimous consent for the
consideration of the resolution prepared
by the navy department and which passed
| the Senate.
The mere mention of the Maine disas.
ter on the floor brought members in
crowds from the cloak rooms and Hobbies
and they thronged down the aisles to lis
ten. The spectators inathe galleries looked
| - III hrna thlesS interast nc Cnn.,a -.