The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-19

department. What possible harm can 1t
be- to have a fair and fun inyes e<A,ion.
The Two departments OF the government
are investigating the same thing at the
same time"
An tnfounded ImputatiOn.
Wolcott then continued The senate
would. he said. bear him out that ne did
not saisquote the senator from Illinois 10
the extent of single word or d single
syllable. kesumiLg. he said:
Il desire to resent as utterly unfoundcd
the suggestion that there Is patriotic
citizen III the broad confines OF this land
who has not the fullest confidence in every
department OF this government. and In
the department OF the navy particularly.
II has been true in every administration
since the time of Washington.
The people OF the United States have
never yet been called upon to distrust
one OF the coordinate branches OF the
government, and they never will while
the flag floats Least OF all, IL is decent.
IL my opinion. that Ia this chamber there
should be no Instructions cast at this
critical time that there Is lack In the
minds Of the people OF the United States
OF confidence In the navy of our country.
The records Of our naval battles are the
most glorious page In the history OF our
country for the last 100 years. and from
the earliest days until now there has never
been step backward. Today. as always,
the officers Of our navy are honorable.
courageous. upright men, and above all,
they tell the truth.
The captain OF this Inflated battleship
Was walking his deck at 10 o'clock on the
night OF the 18th inst, when this awful
explosion happened. IL may be that his
public career Is ended forever. but the
awful disaster that overlook his ship viii
count for nothing by comparison with the
degrading iu.inuation made here that an
officer Of our country, with the oath and
with the flag above him. would ne and
cast responsibility where IL did not be-
long.
'sMr. President. we can stand much Of
discussion and debate. We can endure
much Of public discussion when there
should be silence, but there Is one thing
that this country can never stand and that
Is TO listen without resen trlent TO an in
situation that the officers OF our navy are
not men Of honor and integrity and Of
truth. The officers appointed 10 investi-
gate Will do their duty. | do not know
from what slams may have been dragged
the expression that there is a lack Of con-
fldencs IN the personnel or our navy but
know he cannot find an honorable or a
patriotic citizen who viii stand Up before
the country and indorse for an instant the
uiternnces which the senator has made.
Awful Calamity Forbids Words.
Il don't unAerrate the Importance Of this
branch 81 tha government. | believe In is
dignity. IS importance and In the open
ness os it's discussion. but what we need
now IT, my opinion. IL a decent and digri-
fed retieeuce in the face Of the appalling
calamity that has fallen upon cur people
There ara times for speaking and times for
silence. and this Is the time when We face
be ~ a "a - ~ n sssx
when we should retain any expression OF
opinion or belief as - how this awf ul dis
aster WIS brought about until IN \ proper
regular ard formal way an investigation
NAV he had. which We all know will he
conducted with the utmost uprishtness
and the utmost integrity.
MIR President: speak as ore who
sympathlzes deeply Win the citizens Of
that unfortunate island now engaged N
tass terrible ana depl0Tsble conflict
yield 10 nohody IN my desire 20 see the
conclusion ot thar war. hut | DO say. Il
ever there vas moment when We should
shssain from outrageous and era1uitaus
Insult - a friendly nation. that tlne ~
to-day. III there w8s ever a time when we
sheala refrain from unjust criticism II is
To-day.
An. Nr resident tae day may come.
] think myself the day may be not for
distant. and waen ii comes. We VII axhs
IL alone far tapTe WI he De either us t&au
g lst j hard - asht Ter us When ina.
day comes. Gar course r}}sg - eterGaiIy
grounded lr tbe rsxh' snd uutH st comes
shers s. uathing that ~ acl TILES ta.s peo-
p3e tn my anluiHn, a. these uutuss and
outrageous attacks up2U = friendly goy-
eminent
"Mv President var Is a grim decision.
ara Nheu 1, comes # ssust come - that
tae ST. PIE - the world whether they