The age-herald., 1898-03-30

aSn electonS are as rotten as SpanlSn diplomacy we had not better wait. Let us awake" said MT. Mason in conclusion, ito go to war did our fathers-a war that shall insure the honor and respect of our flag all over the world.' Senator Mason said he believed 1t was due to the general expression and the irl- tention of members Of the senate that while he would not apologize for discussing the Cuban question at this time, he did not intend by so doing any disrespect, either to the administration or the committee on foreign relations when he said he was tired of the dilatory tactics that had been employed for three years to prevent any assistance from the United States to the starving Cubans.
 He continued: ''More than two years ago the plan of the Spanish government to starve the women and children and non combatants was begun. Every intelligent man, woman and child was informed of it through the ordinary channels of informa- ton, the papers and by the statements of those interests. Day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year of this course received practically no attention from this government until some members of this body visited the scene of death and distress and brought back thedr words of honor that no picture had been drawn by the press that fully stated the horrors of the situation. Like It Was New Discovery
 "Then the gentlemen and newspapers who had pretended at least to discredit those statements in this body began to talk about as though 1t was a new discovery within nine miles of our shore. For two years they had continued to murder women and chil dren. When nearly g. year ago I called attention to the situation as given at that time and since corroborated by four of our colleagues upon this floor, from personal observation the statement was received with cheers by many of my colleagues, and I had the pleasure of being insulted over the wires by stock brokers and scalpers in the markets. For two years the process of imprisonment of the reconcentrados and their starvation had proceeded yet any one who dared to call attention to the fact has to take the assaults of those controlling the press, who denied in their editorial col umns what they printed in their news col umns. Thousands had been starved, mill lions of dollars of our legitimate commerce had been swept from the high seas and the man who worships the eagle on the dollar and does not see the one on his flag says be silent; think of the horrors of war and dangers to business.
 "When the order of concentration came they cooped at least 800 American citizens with the reconcentrados and refused to al low them to go out and earn a legitimate and honest living. It immounted to impris- onment, we claimed so at the time, yet many professed not to believe until the honorable senator from Vermont described the dead-line and gun of the Spanish sol dier that kept the reconcentrados together. Any other self-respecting nation in the world would have ordered their release and better treatment, they would have opened the gates of hell on Moro Castle.
 American Bread on Spanish Soil
 'sThis government, however, upon the suggestion of the president, took $50, GOO of the peoples money of the treasury of the United States and begged permission of Spain the poor privileges Of feeding our citizens American bread on Spanish soil I am not complaining, I am not criticising there is not another such record in the history of the world. I only repeat this humilating statement to call attention to the fact that every effort that has been made by the president has been construed by Spain as an act of cowardice and ab- solute and conclusive evidence that we are afraid of that mighty power, and every such act of careful consideration on our part has made Spain more cruel to her own people and more insulting to us.
 Mr. Mason then turned his attention to the destruction of the Main. "fhe battle ship Maine, our gallant ship, went down and 26S of our. gallant soldiers with her. At the time every citizen of the United States familiar with the Spanish charac- ter felt confident that it was Spanish treachery. Our ship was there by right of custom, of tendered hospitality and also bys treaty contract she had an absolute right to be there The day closed and she rode the harbor, a messenger of peace.I No mes- sage had been sent by our executive in consistent with the national honor of Spain. Our only offer was to try and restore peace alike honorable to all Our treasury, has been opened to feed our people. Definite plans were not even suggested by the pres ident, fearing to injure our relations with Spain. Spain could not conquer her own insurgents. Had we been grasping nation we could at any time within two years made aggressive and forcible annexation, taking the advantage of Spain and the misfortunes of Cuba.
 Night Brings Spanish Bravery
 The night came on, a dark gloomy night, natural and proper time for spanish pray cry. Our men were asleep in friendly harbor; they were never challenged to try their courage. They were not whipped in honorable battle, but choked, burned, strangled and drowned without chance to die fighting for life. without a moment to say prayer In the twinkling ofs an eye they stood in the presence or inelr Maker Suppose ninety of them had been United States senators; suppose the bal ance had been members of congress- or made of judges, leading professional and business men, would forty days nave elapsed before war began? or supposed each senator had a son or father there. ,t
 They were not senators; they were sail- ors. Their widows and orphans cry aloud to us, the appeal of 26S seamen comes to us again and again saying we are flesh of your fiesh bone of your bone, and blood of your blood, we loved and died for the flag that shields you. What is to be our answeE shall we answer with money? sd .'r
 Mir President, speak only for myself, l and I am for war. But, gentlemen may say: Don't say you are for war; say that you are for armed intervention which means war e.re
 Call It by Right Name 5
 q believe in calling things by their right name, If we believe the murdering of our men, sinking of our ship and lowering of our flag is not cause for war, say so and refer 1t, as they did the Virginius affair. and allow your brothers to be sold like stock for gold. If 1t Is cause for war. let us assume the responsibility put upon us by the constitution and say so, not only to Spain. but also to the whole world. Let us not say one thing and mean another. Tor God's sake let lis not SpaniShiZo our