The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-19

will make the investigation, but I also
understand that an investigation could
be made by this branch Of the govern
ment, and that would not in any way
interfere with the naval investigation.
also understand that the people of this
country are fast coming to the conclusion
that the real situation is not only being
concealed from the people, but from the
members OF congress and senators.
'sThe people have a right 10 know some
thing about the situation. 1 say the peo-
ple do lack confidence in some depart
ments Of the government, and they sonny
times, perhaps, do in this department.
What possible harm can it be to have a
fair and full investigation. The two de-
partments of the government are inves-
timer"
CONFIDENCE IN THE NAVY.
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 single
syllable Resuming, he said:
Il desire to resent as utterly unfounded
the suggestion that there is a patriotic
citizen in the broad confines of this land
who has not the fullest confidence in every
department Of this government, and in the
department of the navy particularly. 1t
has been true in every administration
since the time of Washington.
The people of the United States have
never yet been called upon to distrust
one of the coordinate branches of thIs
government and they never will while the
Ill t. 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 salied
in every war face always to the foe. The
records of our naval battles are the most
glorious history in the page of our coun-
try for the last one hundred years, and
from the earliest days until now there has
never been a step backwards. Today, as
always, the officers of our navy are hon
orable. courageous, upright men, and,
above all. they tell the truth. The cap
tain of this Inflated battIeship was walk
ing his deck at 10 o'clock on the night
of the 18th, when this awful explosion
happened. 1t may be that his pubic
career is ended forever, but the awful
disaster that overlook his ship will count
for nothing by comparison with the de-
graded insinuation made here that an
officer of our country, with the oath and
with the flag above him, would lie ana
cast responsibility where it did not be-
long.
MIR. WOLCOTT WARNS UP.
"Ah. Mr.. President, we can stand much
of discussion and debate; we can endure
much of public discussion when there
should be silence, but there is one thlns
this country can never stand, and that Is
to listen, and without resentment, TO an
insinuation that the officers of our navy
are not men of honor andinte gritty and OF
truth. The officers appointed to lnvestl-
gate will do their duty. 1 do not know
what slums the senator from limos
may have dragged to find the expression
of an opinion that there is lack or con-
fidence in the personnel of our navy, but
he can not find an honorable or decent
mr. natriOtic citizen who will stand up
before the country and endorse for an
instant the utter dliNtsS "iAANiA 49,
has made. I don't underrate the import
ance of this branch of the government
| believe in it's dignity and its import
ance. and in the openness Of its discus
sion. but what we need now, in my opln-
ion. is a decent and dignified reticence, IN
the face of the appalling calamity that
has fallen on our people. There are tunes
for speaking and times for silence ana
this is the time, when we face the aWIui
calamity that has overtaken us, Wheh
we should retain any expression OF an
op.nion, or our belief sto how TINS aW-
full disaster was brought about, until IN
a proper. regular and formal way an IN
vesrigation may be had which we all know
vii 10 conducted with the utmost up
richtness and the utmost integrity
UNJUST AND IGNORANT
"Nr President, 1 speak as one who SYM
nathizes deeply with the citizens OF tha'
unfortunate island now engaged in TINS
terrible depIorable conflict. L yield to no.
body in my desire to see the conclusion
Of that war, but I do say, if ever there
was a moment when ives hould abstain
from OUTRAGEOUS and gratuitous insult to
a
ever there was a time when we should
tender our help to every department OF
the government, it shold be today. II
there ever was a time when we should
refrain from unjust and ignorant criti-
cism il is today. All. Mr.. President, wal
may come 1 think, myself, the day may
not be far distant, and when it comes we
will fight it alone, for there will be nc
other nation to lift 4 hand TO fight US
When that day does come our course must
be eternany grounded on the right, and
until it comes there is nothing that so be-
Titles this people, in my opinion, as these
unjust and outrageous attacks upon g
friendly government. All. Mr.. President
war is grim decision, and when 1t 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 oul
EAEeAAJAnG