Middletown transcript., 1898-02-26

Senator Wolcott, of COL, has more
/ than once shown himself to possess the
faculty Of calm judgment in times OF
public excitement, and to be real, rot
buncomb patriot, but never more
strikingly than in the short speech he
made against the misguided attempt to
| pnblish to the world distrust of our
| Navy depart ment, by providing for a
Congressional alinvestigation of the wreck
| of the Maine. Mr.. Wolcott said II de-
sire to resent as utterly unfOunded the
suggestion that there is patriotic Cit
izen in the board confines Of this land
who has not the fullest and most splen-
did and glorious confidence in every de-
partment of this government, and in
every department of the Navy in par
ticular, and it has been true in every
administration since the time of WASH
ington. The people of the Z. S. have
never yet been called upon TO distrust
one of the co-or6inate branches of this
government, and they never will while
the flag floats. The officers appointed
to investigate this tragic disastre will
do their duty. do not underrate the
Importance of the legislative branch
Of the government; l believe in its dig
nifty and in its wisdom, and in the open
ness of its discussion of public question;
but what we need now, in my opinion,
is a decent and dignifed silence
in the face of the appalling calamity
which has fallen upon our people.
There are times for speaking and there
are times for silence, and at this lime,
when we face the awful event that has
overtaken US, we should restrain any
expression of opinion or expression of
our belief as to the cause of this terri
BILE disaster until in proper, regular,
and formal way, an investigation may
be had by the Naval department, which
utmost uprightness and The utmost in
tegrity." Senator Lodge of Mass,
said on the same subject: docs any one
suppose that the Captain of that ship,
who, wounded and stunned by the ex-
plosion remained the last upon the sink
ing vessel, and who in the midst of that
awful excitement, sent a dispatch show
ing GOODNESS which is an honor to the
American name, is going to lie about
his ship? The Secretdry of the Navy is
a man of distinguished ability, of honor
and patriotism. II anyone simagines
that Secretary Long will not tell the
truth and insist upon the whole of it,
he little knows the character of the
man. 1 think those who know the
Theodore Roosevelt would be slow to
believe he would seek to conceal the
truth in regard to this disaster. wei
want to know the truth. If it was
an accident which destroyed the Maine,
then let us provide, so far as human
foresight can against recurrence. If
it was treachery, then thu righteous
wrath of The American people will lake
a signal vengeance for the treachery
viii b sent that ship TO the bottom.
And let,no on think to stay it," C)E.
gress showed its good sense by con6fr-
lg its action On this subject to making
an appropriation of 5000 900 TO be used
in trying TO save as much of the costly
equipments of the Maine as srossible.
The House, by vote 159 10 124.
passed the Bankruptcy Bill which was
reported from the Committee as SUIT
stit1te for the Nelson bill, which was
passed by the Senate at the extra ses-
sion.
The Southern cotton mill owners
have been protesting against the pro-
prosed constitutional amendment Civ
ing Congress authority to regulate the
hours of labor in all the states. A res
olution providing therefor is nov be-
ing considered by the House Judiciary
Committee.