The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-19

to face at this moment with great ma
tional calamity. The American people
nave received the awful news or the
sinking of the werSMlp Maine with Il
splendid silence and self restraint both
IN Congress and throughout the coun-
TRY. They are waiting stcrnly, quietly
To know the truth. and the truth they
Will have. This Is not a question which
involves Cubans or Span!ards This Is
Il question which involves brave Amer
lean scamen gone TO their dcakh in n
foreign port. In the presence OF tina.
calamity what we want is the truth.
How are we to got bp I would rather
trust this investigation to the officers
OF the American navy than to any other
men in thc country. Does any one
suppose that the captain of tina; ship,
who, wounded, stunned by the axplo-
sion. remained the last upon the sinking
vessel and who, in the midst Of all Tint
awful terror and excitement with every
duty nobiy done. sent n dispatcl to this
country showing Il GOODNESS and nerve
Whlcn arc an honor TO lhe American
name-Tocs any one suppose that Cap
tain SigSbee, Capable of such splendid
conduct, Is going 20 liz about his ship?
'nhe Secretary OF he Navy is a man
of distinguished ability. Of honor ard
patriotism. If any one inlaSines that
and Insist upon the whole OF II, he little
knows the character or The man who has
the honor to I'll that great post OF the
head Of the navy. for one trust that
Congress will await :hc action DC the
proper department; charged with this
inquiry and will not attempt to do
anything which could in III. laas. de-
gree derGgHte from. the altitude which
'she American people ana Congress
oh Il, I,.
ity SD dire and so tragic aS that which
befell the bat.leshi3 Maine -
Mr.. Lodge also paid 81 tribute 10 AS
sistapt Secretary 't1oSavcit
Mr.. Allen (Nebraska) said he desired
u secure vote upon the resolution
but he desired 10 reterate the suspic-
ions expressed by Mr.. Mason that the
investigation by the Navy Department
would not he satisfactory to the coun-
try.
Can the Senator give the grounds for
his suspicions?" inquired Mr. Gray
tDelawarc). His statement is import
| ant"
My statement Is important" Mr..
| Allen replied. ~ want TO say that ]
have not in my five years experience in
| the senate known one Of these invest-
| cations To result in anything"
| Tending Il motion by MIR. Hale thai
|
Bacon (Georg.a). introduced the fol
| lowing joint resolution:
| That there shall he prepared under
| the direction of the Secretary OF the
Navy and placed upon the wall OF stat
! uary hall in the Capitol building, a
| bronze tablet. commemorative of the
| Qllcers and men of the United States
navy who persisted in the loss of the
battleship Maine in the harbor Of Ia-
vania, February 18th. 1898
The said tablet shall contain the
names OF said officers and men, and
| shall be an enduring memorial to eheir
honor and perpetual token of the sor-
| row of the nation"
Referred TO Committee on Naval Az
| fairs.
| AT $40 p. m. The Senate adjourned
| until Monday.
HOUSE.
| The House to-day promptly and unan-
| i7pously voted the $4,000 asked for Inv
| the Secretary "f the Navy to recover
the bodies lost In the Maine disaster and
| to raise the wrSck If thai, Is deemed al :
| 1.fc cn,