The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
Call Office, Riggs House,

It was frankly and openly charged in 1 the Senate to-day by Perkins of Cali sfornia, iy a set speech, that Spain was responsible for the Maine disaster, as it had been brought about by Spanish machinations and Spanish treachery The speech of Perkins was only one of four prepared addresses on the Cuban question delivered in the Senate to- day. Clay of Georgia, while hoping for a peaceful solution of the problem the country is now facing, declared strong ly in favor of the independence of the Cubans, and pledged to the administra- ton the loyal support of the South, which, in the event of war; would have to bear the brunt of the conflict. Per kins took substantially the same grounds, and his vigorous treatment of the Maine disaster aroused the crowded galleries to enthusiastic applause. Mantle of Montana, while expressing confidence in the administration, main tained that the time for action had now arrived and that action must be to the end that Cuba should be free. Rawlins of Utah entirely eliminated the Presi- dent from consideration in his speech, holding that the case against Spain was already made up, and that with Con- gress rested the responsibility of de- claring war. Forcing us to wait longer was only to invite criticism. He de- Clared for the most vigorous action i'm mediately.
 Perkins of. California, In a speech on the Cuban question. declared that the blowing up Of the Maine by the Span ish officials was an act of war, and he believed it was so regarded by the na- tions of the world. Perkins referred briefly to the scheme instituted by Weyler to starve more than a million , of Spanish subjects into subjection and declared that nothing in all his tory compared with the atrocity and brutality that Weyler had exercised against the Cubans. The time for ac- ton had in A:s opinion, arrived.
 A little more delay said he, "a little more waiting, and the United States will become an accessory to the greatest, the most appalling crime in history. The patience of a great na- tion has its limits. so in this case the limit has been reached. The time for the horrors in Cuba to cease has come and cease they must.
 Right, justice and humanity de- mand that this Government should intervene to stop the cruel warfare being waged by Spain against the Cuban insurgents-a people who are struggling for their freedom within ninety miles of our own shores"
 Perkins, who has had a lifetime ex perience in the Nandling of great yes sells, discussed the destruction of the Maine from the view point of an eX pert. He declared that our sailors and officers had been beguiled by the de- ception of the Spaniards to a place in pria hoT-hn- nd thpra will a minutes warning, been blown into eternity. Captain Sigsbee. in com municating to this Government the news of the awful disaster, had made himself famous in the eyes of the civilized world by the diplomacy and calmness of his language. There was no proof of the treachery of the Spaniards, but while the people of the nation believed and still believe that the catastrophe was due to Spanish devices. Captain Sigsbee besought all to suspend judgment until the facts could be known.
 For forty days and nights the people had suspended judgment. but now, that the facts have been laid before them, the verdict, he said, is unanimous that the great battle-ship was blown up, not only from the outside, but with the cognizance of Spanish officials. for whose acts the Spanish Government was fully responsible. The explosives, whether they were in a mine or a tor pedo. were placed under the Maine by officials of the Spanish Government. The people believe that they were ex- ploded by design, and he was one who held to that belief. It would have been impossible, Perkins said, for any man or set of men to place in the harbor of Havana mines or torpedoes without the Knowledge of the Government au- thOrities. No impartial judge would fail, after considering all the facts pre- sented. to place the responsibility for the crime upon the Spanish Govern ment through it's authorized officials
 This hldeous crime of the nineteenth century ,declared Perkins vehemently. was an act of war, and I believe that 1t is so regarded by the nations of the world"
 No offer of reparation could wipe out the feeling of the people of this coun- try upon the matter, and intensity had been added to that feeling by the al- most frivolous manner in which the disaster had been treated by Spain.
 Perkins said that while he favored arbitration, individuals never attempt ed to arbitrate questions of honor, and nations could not afford to submit such questions to arbitration. Gold could not atone for the loss of those precious lives. The only honorable action for this country now to take was to inter yene and free Cuba from the yoke of Spain, which she had so long borne
 Mantle of Montana followed with an extended speech upon the absorbing topic of Cuba, in which he declared that he favored the independence of the Gu ban people. who for years had been struggling for their freedom. 'I would" said he. give my unqualified indorse- ment and vote in favor of directing the President. to use armed forces. both land and naval fO +t,o 1Fery that is now rampant upon that fair island" He had the highest regard for the present occupant of the White HoHse. but it was perfectly evident to ah that the time for diplomatic nego- tfatione C~ the Cuhqn duestion had passed. The time for action had ar rived. and the sooner it was taken the better 1t would be for all concerned. spain had violated every principle of civilized warfare and had thrown hu- manity to the winds. Mantle said 1t was now time that the cry of humanity