The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-05

manner in which he handled the grave
problem presented for his solution.
Mr. Perkins referred briefly to the
scheme instituted by Wcyler to starve
more than Il million of Spanish sub
jects into submission, and declared that
nothing in all history compared with the
atrocity and brutality that Weyler had
exercised against the Cubans. The
time for action had, in his opinion, ar
rived. Mr.. Perkins, who has had a life
time of experience in the handling of
great vessels. discussed the destruction
of the Maine from the view point of an
expert. He declared that our sailors
and officers had been beguiled by the
deception of the Spaniards to place
in a friendly harbor, and there, without
Il minutes warning, been blown into
eternity.
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 battleship was blown up, not only
from the outside, but with the cogniz-
ance of Spanish officials. for whose acts
the Spanish government was fully re-
spOnsibe. The explosion. whether they
Were in a mine or in a torpedo, were
placed under the Maine by officials of
tho Spanish government. The people
believe that they were exploded by de-
sign, and he was one who held to that
belief. 1t would have been impossible,
Mr. Perkins said, for any man or set of
men to place in the harbOr of Havana
mines or torpedOes without the knowl-
edge of the government authorities. No
impartial judge would fail. after con-
sidering all the facts presented, to place
the responsibility for the crime upon the
Spanish government through its author
lied officials. This most hideOus crime
of the nineteenth century" declared Mr..
Perkins yehemently, was an act of
war, and | believe that it 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.
The only honorable action for this
country to take was to intervene and
free Cuba from the yoke of Spain.
Mr. Mantle. of Montana. followed
with an extended speech upon the alb
sorbing topic of Cuba. in which he de-
clared that he favored the independence
of the Cuban people, who for years had
been struggling for their freedom.
II would said he, give my UNI
qualified endorsement and vote in favor
of directing the President to use the
armed forces, both land and naval, to
suppress the savagery that is now ram
pant upon that fair island"
The time for action had arrived and
4 H. A,I-. ~ InAt BON
would be for all concerned
Mr.. Rawlings, of Utah, said the case
between Spain and the United States
was made up. 1t was no longer for the
executive to decide what course to pur-
sue. With Congress rested the respon-
sibility of declaring war. and as this
was the pressing duty. the President
was no longer the party to be criticised
il anyone was to be. Congress can, if
it wills, he said decide to have peace
with incidental outrage and clandeStiue
murder. As for himself, fia did not
choose to accept peace under such cir
Mr.. Rawlings opposed fur
ther delay. The destruction of the
Maine and the clandestine murder of 266
of cur sailors had occurred 4S days
since; hut this was not ALL For three
years the Spanish authorities had been
and numbering American
citizens. OF these facts the executive
had been fully advised by the
consular reports, but these reports had
been withheld on the plea that it would
andanger the safety of our officials i'll
Cuba to give them out.
If this was true, it revealed a
state of affairs. Continuing,
Mr.. Rawlings said the delay had been
sought last week 10y the friends of the
President on the plea that q message
was soon to be sent in from the Presi-
lent which would meet all the demands
If the country. At the same time the
private and confidential secretary of the
President was sending a message to his
'r:ends urging them to the utmost eXei
ion to bring pressure to bear to secure
leace.
Mr.. Rawlings criticised our hating
yolicy in strong language, saying that it
vas such as to justify Spain in holding
he United States in contempt He add
ID that the crime of the explosion of
he Maine was due to our own indie
.ison and cowardiee, and that such~an
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