The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-05
SPAIN RESPONSIBLE.
Senator Perkins Says She is Guilty
Of Maine Disaster.
THE CHARGE OPENLY MADE IN
SENATE YESTERDAY.

Mr.. Mantle Declared That Time Has Come
for Action and MIR. Ra Wins ii cid That
the Case Against Spain Was Already
Made Up.
Washington, April Alt was frankly
and openly charged in the Senate today
nv Mr.. Perkins Of California in a set
sueech that Spain was responsible for the
Maine disaster as it had been brought
about by Spanish Vaccinations and
Spanish treachery.
The speech of Mr.. Perkins was only one
of four prepared addresses upon the Cuban
question delivered in the Senate today.
Mr. Clay of Georgia, while hoping for
a peaceful solution of the problem the
country is now facing, declared strongly
in favor of independence of the Cubans
and pledged to the administration. the
loyal support of the South which in the
event of war would have to bear the
brunt of the conflict. Mr.. Perkins took
substantially the same ground and his
vigorous treatment of the Maine disaster
aroused the crowded galleries to anthu-
siastic applause.
Mr.. Mantle of Montana. while express
ing confidence in the administration
maintained that the time for action had
now arrived and that action must be to
the end that Cuba should be set free.
Mr.. Rawlins of Utah entirely eliminated
the President from consideration in his
speech, holding thatythe case againstSpain
was already made up and that with
Congress rested the responsibility of de-
cIaring war. For Congress to wait longer
WAS only to invite criticism. He declared
for the most vigorous acti on Immediate
ly.
After the Cuban speeches had been de-
Iivered the Senate resumed consideration
of the sundry civil bill and finished 33
pages before adjournment.
Washington, April 4.-The intense in
terest manifested by the people in every
thing that pertains to the Cuban question
was again manifested today at the Senate
end of the capitol Despite the specific
statement that the Presidents message
WOulQ uOU NC eOtlu W OOASiooo oOofsy3 dhei
the inferential understanding that the
subject of Cuba might not be referred to,
the people came by the thousands. AS
early as s O'Clock many were sitting or
standing on the steps leading up to the
capitol entrances.
Some of them carried lunches. 1t was
a great audience that looked down upon
the chamber when the Senate convened.
Every seat in every gallery except the
diplomatic was filled.
The chaplain, in his invocation, re-
ferred feelingly to the death of the wife
of Associate Justice David J. Brewer, of
the United States Supreme court
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska presented and
secured tn 9 adoption of a resolution
directing the secretary of the navy to in
form the Senate as to the total number of
lives lost in the Maine disaster, the total
number rescued and the total number of
bodies yet uurecovered.
Mr.. Turner of Washington introduced
resolution which he asked should go
over until tomorrow, eff in the meantime
The resolution directed the committee on
foreign relations to report at the earliest
moment without waiting for the con-
currenoe or advice of any department of
the government, what action, if any, in
view of the Maine disaster and of the de-
plorable condition of Cuban affairs should
be taken to preserve the honor and digni-
ty of the country ss
When the resolution offered last Friday
by Mr. Chandler of New Hampshire re-
questing the secretary of state TO send to
the Senate the Cuban consular CORE
spondence, was laid before the Senate,
Mr.. Davis, chairman of the foreign rela-
lions committee, asked that the resolution
go over till Wednesday.
To this Mr.. Chandler asSented.
The resolution presented by Mr.. Quay
Of Pennsylvania calling for a report from
the foreign relations committee on the
Cuban question by Tuesday, also went
over at the request of Mr.. Quay.
Quite unexpectedly a discussion of the
Cuban question was preoipitated and two
set speeches were delivered upon it.
No allusion was made to the pending
crisis between Spain and the United
States.
Mr.. Pettigrew presented petition pre-
ssnted by more than 100 of his con-
stituents reading:
"All parties here want Spanish torpedo
dotilla turned back or destroyed. Patience
exhausted.
Mr.. Gear of Iowa presented resolution
of the Iowa legislature endorsing the
action of the President and Congress up
on the Cuban question and pledging its
support to the administration.
Mr. Clay of Georgia based his remarks,
he said, upon the resolution submitted by
Mr.. Foraker Of Ohio, resolution in favor
of independence and II necessary armed
intervention. While he was fully prepared
to support the administration in action
upon the Cuban matter he was DESTROYS
that war should be averted if it could be
by any possibility. Mr.. Clay felt that
the administration ought to be afforded
every opportunity to bring about diplo-
matic solution of the pending trouble and
he felt certain so long as the legislative
branch OF the government was assured
that the President was acting with judg-
ment and patriotism, it would await his
recommendations.
He fully realized that in the event Of
war the South would be a greater sufferer
than any other part of the country. Her
seacoast cities would be open to attack by
the enemy, her people would be first