Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-07

within At any event, the people oil our
, country Nil ..4. soon IDIEei tue men " 49,
went down ON the Maine. / trust d M
siye monument will be erected at WASH
ington 90 perpetuate their Vaior
GOVERNOR RAMSDELL, OF NE"
HAMPSHIRE.
From the best information L can OBJ
tain. the representatives, Of the United
States on board the Maine from the
officer I'm command 10 the latest enlisted
man. bore themselves at the time OF the
explosion. and afterwards, in "a manner
creditable to themselves and TO the gov
eminent whose honor they so nooly ur-
held.
GOVERNOR STEPHENS, OF MIS-
SOURI,.
| believe every patriotic and loyal citi-
zen of the United states resents in ms
bosom all the insnuations of the Spanish
press that the officers and sailors or the
Inflated Maine were derelict IN duty'
cowardly in behavior. and incident IN
nature This Is the first aspersion cast
upon the valor of American seamen. and
such SANDER could only emanate from
those who are themselves guity-from a
people who were once the master OF the
high seas and almost had Europe at their
feet but now have dcgencrated INTO
sluggish class, whose only occupations
are the amusements of the cockpit, the
bull ring. and an all-day siesta under the
orange-tree. Surely none OF the blood
Of Charles V. or Phillip H., Is coursing
through the veins Of the miserable con-
spirators who so basely detiled the honor
of their country in the ignominious
treachery which resulted i'm the untimely
death of 260 brave sailors. ! am informed
that these men had been subjected to
drill and discipline indispensable by
those of any battleship, were skilled in
the science of naval warfare, and were
eager to surrender their lives, If neces-
sary. for the preservation of their cOun-
try's honor.
Little did they expect that their lives
would be blotted out by reason of so foul
a plot, and their memories should be the
more revered and respected by our SYM
pathetic nation. To the bravery displayed
by Orderly Anthony and the GOODNESS
shown by Captain Sigsbee we Mis-
sourians doff our hats with admiration.
and express the hope that higher honors
are awaiting them for the future. May
all the survivors of the unfortunate
Maine live long and prosper, but IL
disaster should, in the course Of events.
overtake them, let them succumb on an
honorable battlefield. and not as victims
of ignoble treachery.
CONGRESSMAN +. r. RIDGELY.
Ny views on the Maine disaster and
General Weyler's bitter comments on the
conduct of the officers and sailors of that
Inflated ship are, that Weyler has proved
too contemplate for comment
/ believe the people of our nation have
every reason to compliment the conduct
of the brave officers and sailors of the
Maine ] see no cause to criticse them
In tha least nor have / Seard any critf- |
cism expressed. They certainly did their |
full duty, and we should. and believe as
a nation do. give them full credit. while |
we mourn for the disaster. and. / believe |
treacherous fate which befell them. The |
special bravery of Marine Anthony, also |
that of Lieutenant Jenkins. who lost his /
life while bravely discharging his duties
enlist our special admiration. We also /
the brave men who lost their |
lives. and especially do we pity the /
while our sympathy goes out |
Tor their relatives and friends. l feel /
We should look carefully TO the comfort /
ana care Of the suffering wounded and y