The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-19

tomorrow-always tomorrow. That is
the Spanish motto, and we are falling
into it,"
In the meantime who knows but that
some more dynamite will be put in
and the evidences of the catastrophe
averted? He closed with an appeal for
a prompt inquiry and said that he
thought the senate, which had voted
100000 to save the property OF the
United States could and should vote
5000, ,00O, 900 IL necessary to save it's hon
or and its dignity.
MIR. wOLCOTT REPLIES.
Mr.. Mason had scarcely taken his
seat when Mr.. Wolcott addressed the
chair MIR. President" he said, and
the words shot forth like a bomb TO
be exploded in the senate. 1t was evil
dent in the Colorado senator's count
enance 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 redder, and his
brow more and more like thunder
cloud as the Illinois senator proceeded.
After he had vigorously refuted Mr..
Mason's declaration of lack Of confid-
ence in the government, he said FROM
the time of Paul Jones until now oilr
ships have sailed in every war, face
always to the foe. The records of our
naval battles are the most glorious
history in the page of any country for
the last hundred years, and from the
earliest days until now there has new
er been a step backwards. Today, as
always, the officers Of our navy are
honorable, courageous. upright men,
and above all they tell the truth. The
captain of this ill-fated battleship was
walking his deck at 10 o'clock on the
night of the 18th when this awful aT-
plosion happened. 1t may be that his
public career is ended forever, but the
awful disaster that overlook his ship
will count for nothing by comparison
with the degrading insinuation made
here that an officer of our country with
the oath and with the flag above him,
would lie and cast responsibility where
il did not belong.
MIR. President, | speak as one who
sympathizes deeply with the citizens of
that unfortunate island now engaged
in this terrible. deplorable conflict |
Weld to nobody in my desire 10 see the
conclusion of the war, but do say that
if ever there was moment when we
should abstain from outrageous and
gratuitous insult &c Il friendly nation,
that time is today. If ever there was
q time when we should lend our help to
every department of the government,
it should be today. If there was ever a
time when we should refrain from un-
NJ arifi finis e
All, Mr. President war may come. l
think myself the day may not be far
distant and when it comes we will fight
it alone, for there will be no other ma
ton to lift hand to fight with us.
When that day comes our course must
| be eternally grounded in the right, and
until it comes there is nothing so be-
Titles this people IN my opinion as
| these unjust and outrageous attacks
upon a friendly government. All, Mr..
| President, war is grim decision, and
when it comes ii must come so that the
people of the world, whether they fight
with US or not, can at least respect our
| conduct and our position, and above
| all. Mr.. President, it must come under
circumstances which make us respect
| ourselves"
Mr. Allen (Neb.) said he desired to
| secure a vote upon the resolution, but
he desired to reiterate the suspicious
| expressed by Mr.. Mason, that the in
| vestigation by the navy department
| would not be satisfactory to the coun-
| try.
| A resolution introduced at the re-
| quest of Secretary Long was also
| passed. 1t appropriates 100000 to OBJ
tain facilities to recover the remains
of the Names officers and men and to
save what remains of the ship.