The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-03-04
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Feb. 27, 1898
Prudence, patience and patriotism
have characterized every act of Presi-
dent Mckinley and every member of
the Cabinet since the awful news was
received of the blowing up and sinking
of the battleship Maine, in Havana
harbor, and the death of $50 of it's
crew. In the midst of the excitement
consequent upon the sensational
rumors of Spanish treachery, they
have not for minute lost their heads.
A Naval Court of Inquiry was at once
appointed to ascertain whether the
loss of the Maine was caused by acci-
dent or by design, and by the time
this is read it will be at work. Until
it succeeds in getting at the truth, the
administration oins with brave Cap
tain Sigsbee, of the Maine, in asking
for suspension of public judgment.
Not scrap of news concerning the
catastrophe received by the admins
tration, or an order issued by it has
been codcealed, and nothing will be
concealed. That the President is fully
alive to our every interest is shown by
his promptly refusing the request of
the Spanish authorities at Havana to
participate in the investigation, and
that he is calmly performing his usual
duties was shown by his departure for
Philadelphia, to deliver an address be-
fole the faculty and students OF the
University of Pennsylvania, on the
22nd inst. in accordance with an en-
gagement made months ago. His ex-
ample should be followed by good
citizens everywhere.
Senator Wolcott, of Col, has more
than once shown himself to possess
the faculty of calm judgment in
times of public excitement, and to be
real, not a buncomb patriot, but
never more strikingly than in the
short speech he made against the mis-
guided attempt to publish to the world
distrust of our Navy Department, by
providing for Congressional investi-
CATION of the wreck of the Maine. Mr..
WolcOtt said: ri desire to resent as
utterly unfounded the suggestion that
there is patriotic 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 in particular, and it has
been true in every administration since
the time of Washington. The people
of the U. S. have never yet been called
upon to distrust one of the coordinate
branches of this government, and they
never will while the flag floats. The
officers appointed to investigate this
tragic disaster will do their duty.
do not under rate the Importance of
the legislative branch of the govern
ment; believe in its dignity and in
its wisdom, and in the openness of its
discussion of public questions; but
what we need now, in my opinion, is
decent and dignifed silence in the face
of the appalling calamity which has
fallen upon our people. There are
times for speaking and there are times
for silence. and at this time, when we
face the awful event that has over
taken us, we should restrain any ex-
preston of opinion or expression of
our belief as to the causes of this terri,
BILE disaster until in a proper, regular
and formal way, an investigation may
be had by the Navy department.
which we know will be conducted with
the utmost uprightness and the utmost
integrity"
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 recur-
renee. If it was treachery, then the
righteous wrath of the American peo-
pie will take a signal vengeance for
the treachery which sent that ship to
the bottom. And let no one think to
stay it. Congress showed its good
sense by confning its action on this
subject to making an appropriation of
100000 to be used in trying to save
as much of the costly equipments of
the Maine as possible.
The House, by vote OF 159 to I24,
passed the Bankruptcy Bill which was
reported from the Committee as sub
stitute for the Nelson bill, which was
passed by the Senate at the extra ses-
sion.
The Southern cotton mill owners
have been protesting against the pro-
posed constitutional amendment CIV
ing Congress authority to regulate the
hours of labor in all the states. A
resolution providing therefor is now
being considered by the House Judici-
ary Committee.