The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-19

American divers investigating the hull
of the Maine, and not be depending up
on those of an unfriendly power.
We are told, he said, that the naval
board may be able to reach Havana by
next Monday.
''Manana," he exclaimed, ''Manana-
tomorrow, always tomorrow. That is
the Spanish motto, and we are falling
into it
In the meantime who knows but some
more dynamite will be put in and evil
dence of the catastrophe destroyed. He
repeated that he wanted immediate act
ion, but did not want to be on the COM
mittee.
He did not want to be anywhere that
a Spaniard could reach him. There
were, however, senators who would be
safe among the Spanish, and he was
willing that they should take the
chances involved in the service in the
proposed committee.
He closed with an appeal for prompt
inquiry and said that he thought the
senate, which had voted $500, 900 to save
the property of the United States, could
and should vote 5000, 900, 900, if necessa-
~, to save it's honor and its dignity.
Mr.. Mason had scarcely taken his
seat, when Mr.. WOlcott addressed the
chair.
words shot forth like a bomb to be ex-
ploded in the senate. It was evident
from the Colorado senator's counte-
nance and manner, to say nothing of
the intensity of his voice, that he was
laboring under considerable feeling.
He had listened to Mr.. Mason with ILL
concealed feelings of emotion, his face
growing redder and his brOws more and
more like a thundercloud as the Illinois
senator proceeded. He spoke at great
rapidity and occupied only a few min
utes of the senate'S time, refusing to
be interrupted, and, speaking very
sharply, Mr.. WOlcott said:
''NTr. President: The resolution of the
senator from Illinois, however inoppor-
tune it may be at this time, in the opln-
ion of some of us might well nave been
permitted to pass without comment had
it not been for the remarkable utter
ances which he has given to the fact
that the people of the United States
have lost confidence in one OF the great
departmentS of the government.
Mr.. Mason had resumed his standing
position, and he interrupted to say that
the senator from Colorado was entire
~ mistaken.
Mr.. WoIcott: Ct decline to be inter
rupted ask to have the remarks read
from the reporters notes"
Mr. Mason: Il said that some people
were losing confidence in one depart
ment and"
Mr.. Wolcott: Ct decline to be inter
rupted. I ask to have the reporters
notes read"
The reporters notes, quoting Mr.. Ma
son, were then read
Mr. Wolcott then continued. The
senate
he did not 1nisquote the senator from
Illinois to the extent of a single word
or a single syllable. Resuming, he said:
ssI desire to resent as utterly inbound
ed the suggestion that there is patrl-
otto citizen in the broad confines of this
land who has not the fullest confidence
in every. department of this govern
nent. and in the department of the ma
w particularly. 1t has been true IN
every administration since the time OF
Washington
''The people of the United States have
never vet been called upon to distrust
one of the coordinate branches of this
government, and they never viii while
the nag floats. Least of all is it decent,
in my opinion, that in this chamoer
there should be inSinuatiOns cast at TINS
critical time that there is a lack in the
minds of the people of the United states
of confidence in the navy of our coun-
try.
ssMr. 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 pages
of our country for the last 100 years,
and from the earliest days until now
there has never been a step backward.
Today, courageous, upright men, ana
above ali they told the truth.
THE captain of this Inflated battle
ship was walking his deck at 10 O'Clock