The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-19
MAY SAVE GUNS OF THE MAINE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

CONTINUED from First Page)
sentatives and two members of the Senate
be appointed to Investigate the disaster to
the battleship Maine"
Mr.. Hale expressed the hope that Mr..
Mason would not press his substitute. The
disaster, he said, was even now being
thoroughly investigated by the executive
department of the government, and as soon
as tangible results were reached the facts
would be communicated to Congress.
Mr.. Hale urged Mr.. Mason to withdraw
his substitute as it would tend only to en-
barrass the executive department. Il had
hoped" said Mr.. Hale, that this entire
matter might be disposed of to-day with
out debate. 1t seems to me that in the cir
cumstances and in the light of this most
melancholy affair it is now inopportune to
indulge in debate on it,"
Mr.. Hale said he was willing to with
draw his objections TO the resolution of
Mr.. Allen, but the sub stitute suggested by
Mr. Mason was even more Objectionable
in it's form.
Mr. Mason followed Mr.. Hale in a speech
replete with sensational utterances. He
said in beginning that he had no disposi-
ton to inflame a situation already so ex-
citing but he felt that his substitute was
fully justified by the feelings and desires
of the people Il understand" said he,
that the navy department is making an
Investigation of the disaster, but l also
understand that Congress has the authori-
ty to make an investigation. 1t is con-
gressional investigation that the people are
demanding They are fast coming 10 the
conclusion that matters concerning this
Cuban affair, including the De LONE letter
incident, and the loss of the Maine, of
which they ought to know, are being con-
cealed from them. The people want TO
know the facts and they will know them"
Mr. Mason said he did not desire 10 re-
fleet upon the motives or honor of any
body, but he suggested that the officials
of the naval department in making the in
yestigation would be trying their own
cases, and would naturally endeavor to
cover up any blame that might attach to
them.
THE trouble with us" declared Mr.. Ma
son with great vehemence. SIS that we
have adopted the Spanish policy of putting
everything off till tomorrow. Let the in
vestigation of this disaster to our navy
and to our country be thoroughly investi-
gated by Congress, and then we shall be
assured that it will be done right"
Let the people. said Mr.. Mason. have
the facts. They want nothing less than in
vestigation in their interest by the Senate,
and the House. Only in this way could
the facts which are locked up in the de-
partment be gotten out. The country was
tired of the secret consideration of such
questions
He was not willing to strike out of his
resolution the word Immediate" every
one was interested In knowing who blew
up the Maine, and all wanted that infor-
nation now. Why delay? Why adopt
the Spanish custom of putting off smith
tomorrow what should be done to-day?
We had already waited too long. We were
told three years ago to wait. We had
waited until night had followed day; win
ter had followed summer, and time had
gone on while the terrible cruelty contin-
ued. In the meantime, Spanish diplo-
mats here sat at our tables and had par
taken of our hospitality while we are still
waiting, and had continued to wait until
the series of cslamities had been crowned
by the Maine catastrophe with its loss CT
$50 precious American lives.
In view of, these facts. he could never
consent to striking out the word ''imne-
date" I'VE want an investigation" ne
said, land we want 1t now, now, the eter-
nal and everlasting now!
Mr. Hale here interrupted him to make
a statement. Mr.. Hale said that so far
from having any desire for
delay he was anxious to
have it go forward from this very time
as the investigation proposed by the navy
department would If not interfered with
There was no use to postpone the inquiry
He hoped the Senate would see the pro-
priety of not making this an occasion for
infammatory speeches and that all would
take the view that in the presence of the
great calamity which had befallen us, a
calamity which had appalled, the whole
world to-day was not the proper time for
an appeal to passion and prejudice.
calamity so great as a failure on the part
OF those in power to appreciate the real
situation when it was so serious as il now
is, and no sorrow so profound as that over
indifference 10 this situation. He was sur
prised that Mr.. Hale would admit that
the occasion was a solemn one surprised
that the Maine senator would admit that
any occasion In Cuba was of a sorrowful
character. For himself he had no desire
20 make this an occasion for anything; the
occasion was already made. What ne
was contending for was that the facts
should be brought to the surface, and he
could not see how a Congressional inves-
tigalion would in any way interfere with
the navy departments inquiry. He wanted
q Congressional investigation, and want
ed ii open TO the world.
He had letter from Julian Hawthorne
read to show as he claimed that murder
was the policy of the Spanish government
in Cuba.
He also had Mr.. de Lome's letter read
and asserted that the late minister had
been defended in the Senate until he had
confessed out of his own mouth that au-
tonomy was a fraud, and that he was the
authority of the letter quoted. This farce
of autonomy had been used to secure de-
lay on the part of the administration in
interference in affairs of the island, and 1t
was, for this reason, Mr.. Mason said, he
wanted an immediate report on the reso-
buttons. In view of Mr.. de .Lomes con-
fession there was no longer excuse for de-
lay. Autonomy he denounced as a sham.
a fraud, and delusion. and the De Lone
letter only served to emphasize the treach-
erous character of the Spaniard.
The record Of the Spanish nation, con
tinued Mr.. Mason, who appeared to be
laboring under considerable excitement.
is one OF continuous treachery, and we
have experienced that treachery in our
history for the past 100 years. 1t had
been made evident that the Spaniard
could not be trusted in any capacity and
for this reason we should now have Amer
lean divers investigating the hull of the
Maine, and not be depending upon those
of an unfriendly power.
He closed with an appeal for prornpf