Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-28
HIS BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE.
The Speech Of Representative Cousins. Which
Stirred the Lower House Of Congress.

The fun text Of the eloquent tribute
J paid ~ Representative Robert G. cous-
/ ms Of Iowa. to the heroes OF the Maine
on the floor of Congress on Monday is
given below The Washington Post thus
| describes the occasion: AS Mr.. Cousins
| stood in the midst of his silent audience.
| speaking slowly. but distinctly, with his
voice quivering with emotion, using no
| gestures, he seemed the embodiment Of
| an aNenging Nemesis against Spain. His
| beautiful tribute to the memory of the
men who had lost their lives. his asser-
| tons that money could not compensate
| for the horrors experienced by those who
lived or make cool the lives Of those who
| had been lost, his picture of the vultures
! hoy cring above the mysterious Havana
| haEbor, while the eagle searched with
| piercing eye to discern the truth, led
| through Il series of graphic sentences to
| his climax. He pictured the people Of
| the United States ready and willing to do
fulness recited a verse from Rudyard
| kipling's "Kecessonal," ending with the
| words.
! Lord Gol Of hosts. be with us yet.
Lest we fDrgct-lcst forget
This last refrain was uttered with a
solcmnity that seemed TO be in the nature
Of warning, and for fully half min
ute after h bad ceased there was abso-
| iute quiet in the chamber. as though his
auditors were stunned. Then the APP
piause broke forth. and for several min
ut"s ii was impossible for the most Wig
OrOuS pounding of the gaVcl TO still tn"
t"mp"Stupus demonstration. So stirred
was IN" House over the remarkable adj
dress That II Is almost reasonable to be-
lieve chat If a declaration Of war against
Spain had been Immediately offered it
would have been Il lOpted by reclamation.
All during the rest Of the afternoon mem
bers were repeating to one another the
phrase, Lest We forget, lest we forget.
THE measure now proposed is most
appropriate and just. but hardly Is II
mentioned in contemplation Of the great
calamity to which it appertains. 1t will
b" merely an incidental, legislative foot
note to page of history that will be
open to the eyes Of the republic and of
the world for all time to come. No human
speech can add anything TO the silent
gratitude, the speeChleSS reverence al
ready given by a great and grateful ma
ton 10 its dead defenders and TO their
living kin. No act of Congress proviiine
for their needs can make restitution
for their sacrifice Human nature does
in human ways. Its best. and still feels
deep IN debt Expressions Of coincidence
every cline. ana every nerve Of steel
ana ocean cable has carried on electric
breath the sweetest, tenderest words of
sympathy for that gallant crew who
manned the Maine. But no human recon- !
pens" can reach them. Humanity and
time remain their everlasting debtors II |
Ms q brave and strong and splendid |
crew. They were u part Of the blooi ana (
bon" and SineW Of our land. Two were
from my native stat. of Iowa. Some were /
only recently at the naval academy /
- ,i - 80 t, tii. 'Ii. M, u
N ",i' az, i'ttN - t1''"ii - VI" nae
with the dearest memories Of their lives |
'tt "hnh hdh rui"Ir1 a. tnelr frlend-
~. ~ " i'u. t.I. 'h@.hht "iue NJ rue hdei,
school or civil life. from one state or
lI|ln d""tn't M! taH,d tach nther
,.iii, !, .'ita I'm ~ human language
f ",.t - n,ail9 :, iIl'tt ltSS tidh
. IIN. "Ilu + Httl,, ilni' man iFlfhuShlp-
heart that speaks in All the languages Of
man. hat winds. and turns. and runs
through all the joys and sorrows of the
human raoe-throuCh deed. and thought
and dream; through song. and toll and