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

| SCI. 10 il that neither they nor the de
] pandents Of those who persisted, or were
4 wounded. shall be allowed TO suffer fol
| any necessary comforts within the power
! of this great nation - supply.
! GOVERNOR BLOXHAM, or FLORIDA
My personal opinion on the heroism dis
| played by the officers and sailors Of the
| Maine is. that the officers and sailors o.
| the battleship Maine did their full duty
| Duty thus performed is all that can be
| done Patriotism can ask no more.
While honOring the survivors. let us
enshrine i'm our hearts the memory Of the
dead, and rear a monument which, witt
tonguelcss cloquence. shall forever tell
they died IN their country's service and
at the post of duty.
GOVERNOR POWERS, OF MAINE.
] have been on board Of several Of the
warships of the United States during the
past summer. l had the honor OF re-
ceiving Admiral Sicard when in Portland
and also when visiting DO feet.
/ do not believe that tLere is one par
ticle Of foundation for the statement that
there is a lack of discipline in the navy
of the United States. ] believe We have
as intrepid. gallant, and competent Off
GERS and as brave and trustworthy men
as any navy in the world.
SENATOR W. a, HARRIS.
The GOODNESS. courage. and devotion to
duty, displayed by the officers and
men of the Maine in the face of the sud
den and terrific catastrophe will forever
remain an immortal tribute to the honor
and glory of our country, which should
be. preserved in story and in song for
all time.
II it should be officially decided TO have
been the result of Spanish treachery. I
should not be satisfied with less than the
complete expulsion Of every vestige OF
Spanish power from Cuba. the surrender
of two of her best battleships, and such
an indemnity for officers and men that
no Spaniard would forget 1t in a hundred
years This should be the basis of the
demand for the sake of peace and regard
for the innocent, but / should hardly
feel sorry should the gods make Spain
mad enough TO refuse.
The President cannot go so far or be
so severe but that will heartily support
him. nor will be satisfied with less than
indicated.
CONGRESSMAN HENRY X. GIBSON
The entrance OF the great warship
Maine into the harbor of Habana was
thrilling scene i'm a grand drama. The
eyes of the American people rested on
her with patriotic pride; and. when the
startling news came that an explosion
had destroyed her, and that she was at
the bottom OF the sea. shock OF horror
and amazement shocked the heart of our
nation.
Amid the scenes Of death and destruc-
ton. enveloped in darkness and uncer-
tainty first doomed the commanding
figure Of Captain Sigsbee, giving orders
without pallor on his face or a tremOr on
his tongue Then appeared the marine
anthony coolly reporting 10 his captain
1.-THE ship has been blown up and is sink
ing" Next we see the other officers and
men. who had survived the explosion,
acting without panic and without disor.
der. in obedience 20 the commands OF
Cantain Sigsbee. who was himself the
last TO leave the sinking ship.
The heroic GOODNESS OF the captain OF
the Maine and OF his surviving officers
and men. and the admirable discipline
they exhibited amid the scenes OF death.
destruction. and darkness surrounding
them, overwhelmingly refute the asser-
tion OF General Weyler that there was 4
lack OF vigilance and discipline on the