The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-21
Yellow I'm the Senate.

We do not believe that in this crisis there
r. q lack Of confidence In the Administra.
tion and In the Navy Department and the
naval service on the part Of any patriotic
American citizen whose opinion is worth
ten copper cents. We do not include
In the number Of those citizens whose
opinion is worth ten cents either the
human fiytrsp who tands OF tho curb
stone agog for the latest lie Of the
sensational press, or the Senator Of the
United States who so far forgets the dig
nifty Of his Office, and the respect and for
bearance due now, Of all times, to the ex-
ecutive branch Of the Government, as to
arise in the Senate and record imputations
like these in the speech Of the Hon. WILL
LIAM e. MASON Of Illinois:
.I understand that the people of this country are
fast coming to the conclusion that the real situation
b not only being concealed from them but from mem.
bcrs OF Congress and Senator'S"
* az say that the people do lack confidence in some
Of che departments Of the Government, and they
sometipes perhaps do in this department"
"s II not true that this srea, and terrible calamity
came TO the Navy Department. Is Il not possible that
you arc willing to admit that men are human. and
en0t WnhteVer the leEittmntA ana true cause OF this
disaster may be. II We are ut fault, and II It was the
mistake OF this Government. 10 there not danger that
that department. in Investigating ftself, will b, try.
ting is OWE cause. and possibly involve US in trouble
with other nations by finding Q state OF facts that
does not exist?"
"Iti Ia all very wen for the Senator from Maine to say
that when the facts are determined they will be re-
ported to Congress-. It 10 all very well for us to have
that high idea OF duty and that high conception that
every one else in the discharge Of his duty will do the
right and proper thing"
"Are we 10 have q few distinguished naval ON.
GERS, behind closed doom, In executive session-a 10
the Senate Of the United states-to hear such testi.
mony and give ont as much Of It to the people as
they like7"
"Let tho investigation be made so that each day we
will know when the man goes down in the diving bell
whether he goes down in advance arranged with by
BLArco and his followers TO report to US that the ex.
plosion was from the inside and not the outside"
So far as It is possible to understand these
incoherent shrieks of suspicion from Sena-
tor MASON Of Illinois, these disgraceful re.
Elections upon the integrity Of the Admin.
istration and the officers of our naval ser.
vice, he believes one minute tina the re.
port Of the investigation by the Samp.
son Board now about to begin will b
falsifed to shield Capt. STasBEE and
Tho officers Of the Maine from re.
sponsfbility for carelessness, by fixing
the crime on the Spaniards and the next
minute he believes that the Administration
will seek to acquit the Spaniards by a lying
report at the expense of our own service.
II Is difficult to discover just what idea
was in Mr.. MAsoN's head. The one thing
perfectly clear is that his mind has been
turned by the recent performances of yellow
journalism, and hat he has appointed
himself to represent in the United States
Senate the methods of discussion and agi.
tation which fortunately ave ceased to be
taken very seriously on the sidewalks and
ferryboats and In the lunch rooms of his
metropolis.
The excited Senator from Illinois was i'm.
mediately rebuked In effective and digni-
hedfnshion by senator HALE, Senator VOL
COLT, Senator HAwLEY, Senator LODGE,
Senator HoAR, n others. In measured
words, but with the same patriotic and
truly American earnestness, these Senators
expressed the sentiment which to-day gov.
ems and restraints the American people;
namely, that the officers of our navy may
be trusted, that Secretary LONGS depart.
mcnt may be trusted, and that President
McKINLEY's Administration may be trust
ed to prosecute the inquiry at Havana and
Ak the crime of treachery, If treachery there
was.
And with full confidence in the honesty
and sufficiency of the investigation already
instituted, the American people, without
shrieking or talking, but with a fixed pur-
pose in their hearts, are waiting for the
facts, tn use Mr.. LODGES phrase, in a silence
of much deeper meaning than any words.