The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-19
HOT SENATE DEBATE
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page)
mistaken. Il made no such statement
he said.
Mr.. Wolcott:
Il decline to be interrupted. | ask
to have the remark read from the re-
pOrters notes"
Mr.. Mason:
Il said that some people were losing
confidence in one department and"
Mr.. Wolcott:
Il decline to be interrupted. / ask 70
have the reporters notes read"
DEPART AIENT DISCRHDITED.
The reporters notes were then read as
follows:
Mr.. Mason: Mr.. President, / under
stand the great necessity of proceeding
deliberately and carefully in this mat
ter.
| also understand that the people of
this country are fast coming to the con
clusion that the real situation is not only
being concealed from the people, but
from the members OF Congress and
Senators. The people have right to
know something about the situation.
say that the people do lack confidence
in some of the departments of the gov
eminent and they sometimes, perhaps, do
in this department.
Mr.. WolcOtt then continued. The
Senate would, he said, bear him out that
he did not misquOte the Senator from
Illinois TO the extent of a single word
or a single syllable.
NAVAL OFFICERS DEFENDED.
Rcsuming, he said:
Il desire to resent as utterly unbound
ed the suggestion that there is a pa
triotic citizen in the broad confines of
this land who has not the fullest and
most splendid and glorious confidence
in every department of this government,
and in the department of the Navy par
ticularly. 1t has been true in every
administration since the time of Wash
ingt0n. The people of the United States
have never yet been called upon to dis
trust one of the coordinate branches Of
this government, and they never will
while the flag floats. Least of all is it
decent, in my opinion, that in this
chamber there should be inSinuatiOns
cast at this critical time that there is a
lack in the minds of the people of the
United States of confidence in the Navy
of our country. Mr.. President, from the
time Of Paul Jones until now our ships
have sailed in every war. face always to
the foe. The records of our Naval bat
ties are the most glorious history in the
page of any country for the last 100
years. and from the earliest days until
now there has never been a step back
ward To-day as always the officers of
our Navy are honorable, courageous, up
right men and above all they tell the
truth. The captain of this Inflated bat
tleship was walking his deck at 10
o'clock on the night of the 10th when
this awful explosion happened. 1t may
be that his public career is ended for
ever, but the awful disaster that over
took his ship will count for nothing by
comparison with the degrading insinua7
ton made here that an officer of our
country with oath and with the flag
above him would lie and cast RESPONSE
bility where it did not belong. All! Mr..
President. we stand much Of discussion
and debate, we can endure much of
public discussion when there should be
silence. but there is one thing this cOuhs
try can never stand, and that is to listen
and without resentment. to an insinua-
ton that the officers of our Navy are not
men of honor and integrity, and of truth.
The officers appointed to investigate win
do their duty. / do not know what
slums the Senator from Illinois may
have dragged to find the expression of
an opinion that there is lack of conti-
dence in the personnel of our Navy. but
| know he cannot find an honorable or a
decent or patriotic citizen who will
stand up before the country and en-
Icrse for al instant tbs utterances
which the Senator has made
A MOMENT FOR GOODNESS.
Mr.. President. / speak as one who
sympathizcs deeply with the citizens of
that unfortunate island now engaged in
this terrible. deplorable conflict. | yield
to nobody in my desire to see the con-
clusion of that war, but / do say if
ever they was moment when we
should abstain from outrageous and
gratutous insult to a friendly nation that
time is today. If ever there was Il time
we should lend help to every depart
ment of the government. it should be to-
day. If there was ever time when
we should refrain from UNJUST ana ig-
norant criticism it is today. All! Mr..
President, war may come. think my
self the day may be not far distant, and
when it comes we will fight it alone,
for there will be no other nation to lift
"A hand to hand fight with us. When that
day comes our course must be eternally
grounded in the right, and until it comes
there is nothing that so belittles this
people in my opinion as these unjust and
outrageous attacks upon a friendly gov
eminent All! Mr. President, war rs
grim decision, and when it comes it
must come so that the people of the
world whether they fight with us or not,
can at least respect our conduct and our
position and, above all, Mr.. President,
it must come under circumstances which
make us respect ourselves"
Mr.. Wocott was followed Immediately
NJ l., XAstlH Htaf