The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-19

Mr.. Mason had scarcely taken his seat
when Mr.. Wolcott addressed the chair. "Mr.
President" he said, and the words shot
forth like a bomb to be exploded in the
Senate. 1t was evident from the Colorado
senator's couftenance and manner, to say
nothing of the intensity of his voice. that
he was laboring under considerable feel
Ing. He had listened to Mr. Mason with
ik-concealed feelings of emotion his face
growing redder and his brow more and
more like a thundercloud as the Illinois
senator proceeded. He spoke with great
rapldlty and occupied only a few minutes
or the Senates time, refusing 10 be inter-
rupted, and speaking very sharply when
colt spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, the resolution OF the SEN
ator from Illinois, however inopportune it
may be at this time, in the opinion of some
OF us might well have been permitted TO
pass without comment had it not been for
the remarkable utterance which he has
gwen 10 the erect that the people of these
United States have lost confidence in one
OF the great departments of the govern
Mr.. Mason had resumed his standing po-
sition, and he interrupted to say that the
senator from Colorado was entirely mis-
taken. Il made no such statement" he
said.
Mr.. Wolcott-I decline to be interrupted.
ask to have the remark read from the re-
porters notes.
Mr.. Mason-I said that some people were
losing confidence in one department, and
Mr. Woicott-L decline TO be interrupted.
l ask TO have the reporters notes read.
The reporters notes, quoting Mr.. Mason,
were then read, as follows: I understand
that the Navy Department will make the
investigation, but / also understand that
an investigation could be made by this
pranch OF the government that would not
IN any way interfere with the naval inves-
tigation. l also understand that the people
OF this country are fast coming to the con-
clusion that the real situation is not only
DGlng concealed from from
the members of Congress and senator's.
The people have a right to know something
do lack confidence in some Of the depart
ments OF the government, and they some
times, perhaps, do in this department.
What possible harm can 1t be to a fair and
full investigation that two departments of
the government are Investigating the same
thing at the same time?"
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 q single word or q single syl-
liable. Resuming, he said: Il desire to re-
sent as utterly unfounded the suggestion
that there is patriotic citizen in the broad
confines of this land who has not the fullest
confidence in every department of this gov
ernment. and IN the Department of the
Navy particularly. 1t has been true in ev-
cry administration since the time of Wash
ington. The people of the United States
have never yet been called on to dstrust
one of the coordinate branches of this gov
eminent, and they never will while the flag
floats. Least of all is it decent, in my opin-
ion, that in this chamber there should be
there is a lack in the minds of the people
of the United States of confidence in the
navy of our country.
TRIBUTE TO THE NAVY.
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 battles are the most
glorious history in the page of any coun-
nv he lact
from the earliest days until now there has
never been a step backwards. To-day. as
always, the officers of our navy are honor
able, courageous, upright men. and above
all, they tell the truth The captain of this
Inflated battle ship was walking his deck
at ~ O'Clock on the night of the 18th, when
TINS aWIul explosion happened. 1t may be
that his public career is ended forever but
the awful disaster that overlook his ship
VIII count for nothing by comparison with
the degrading insinuation made here that
an oHcer or our country with the oath and
with the flag above him, would lie and cast
responsibility where it did not belong.
Ah Mr. President, we can stand much of
discussion and debate, we can endure pub
nc discussion when there should be silence,
never stand, and that is to listen and with
out resentment, to an insinuation that the
o1ncers OF our navy are not men of honor
pointed to investigate will do their duty
i do not know what slumS the senator from
limos may nave dragged to find the
preston of an opinion that there is lack
of confidence in the personnel of our navy
but l know he cannot find an honorable or
decent or a patriotic citizen who VIII
stand up before the country and indcrse for
an instant the utterances which the senator
mas made. do not underrate the impor-
tance OF this branch of government. be-
lieve in its dignity and its Importance and
In the openness of it's discussion, but what
we need now, in my opinion, is a decent and
digni1ed retcence in the face of the app
palling calamity that has fallen on our peo-
pie There are times for speaking and there
are times for silence, and this is a time,
when We face the awful calamity that has
oVertaken us, when we should restrain any
expression of an opinion or expressions of
our DeIef as TO the means by which this
awful disaster was brought about, until, in
a proper. regular and formal way, an in
will be conducted with the utmost upright
ness and the utmost integrity.
Mr. President / speak as one who SYM
pathizes deeply with the citizens of that
unfortunate island now enga, IN this ter
rible, deplorable conflict. 20 nobody
in my desire to see the conc of that
war, but do say, If ever the las a mo-
ment when we should abstai.. from out
rageous and gratuitous insult to a friendly
nation that time is to-day If ever there
was a time when we should lend our help
to every department of the government it
should be to-day. If there was ever time
when we should refrain from unjust and
ignorant CRITICISM it is to-day.
AN, Mr.. President, war may come |
think myself the day may be not far dis
alone, for there will be no other nation to
lift hand to fight for us. When that day
comes, our course must be eternaIly ground
ed in the right, and, until it comes, there
IS nothing SO belittles this people, in my
opinion as these unjust and outrageous at
tackS upon friendly government.
All, Mr.. President, war is 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.. Presi-
dent, 1t must come under circumstances
which make US respect ourselves"