The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-19

s - uRSh kAo AAkAuh hu
by one of tho most radical friends of Cuba In
Congress, Senator Mason Of Illinois. That n
very large. majority OF his colleagues on both
sides OF the chamber repudiated the sentiment
and the untimeliness OF his harangue was shown
by the unanimity with which tho castigation that
he received from Senator Walcott was approved.
The Colorado Senator did not appear In the
debate 40 the selected champion Of the Admin.
istration. nor was his eloquent and crushing
robuke born Of . knowledge OF the opinions or
intentions Of the President and the Secretary Of
tho Navy. He spoke entirely upon tho impulse
OF the moment, and had no idea Of saying .
word until Senator Mason made the surprising
statement that tho people Of the United States
had lost faith in Tho Government.
The action OF the Senate IN tabling the resolu.
tion upon which the speech OF the Illinois Sena-
tor was based, without oven paying Il the door
compliment Of reference 20 q committee, indi.
Gates that the Senate. like the House Of Repre-
sentatives, win be patient in provocation, and
wait for oflcial knowledge of tho, facts before
accepting the conclusion that tho Spanish Gov
ernment must bo held accountable for tho ca
lamity Of last Tuesday night. Mr.. Mason's
speech, moreover, IL apt to DO o boomerang,
and one result Of 1t may DO to rally
all elements in Congress to tho side Of
tho Administrators -in--its efforts to con.
duct the controversy with Spain over tho
Cuban question in o cool-headed, lawful, and
proper way. This patriotic sentiment. that 10
drawing mon ofal parties together, was responsi.
bic to-day for the prompt passage in the House,
without opposition from any quarter, Of the
Joint resolution suggested by the Secretary Of
the Navy, appropriating $500. 900 for the pur-
poses OF investigating the cause Of the explosion
that destroyed tho Maine. and for the work
Of recovering tho bodies of tho dead,
n arinD for AhA ,r1,-l.l -A ..,.af.-
the wreck from the harbor Of Havana
The same sentiment will undoubtedly bring
about tho acceptance Of the Senate amendments
to the Notifications bill. increasing tho appro-
priations about $4,000 900, providing for the
construction Of two battleships instead OF ono
agreed to by House Committee on Naval At
fairs, making provisions for tho much.needod
construction Of dry docks. and the enactment of
such other Legislation as those in charge of the
affairs Of the army and the navy regard as nee
essary in tho work Of preparing for o war which
they hope will not come. but which they fear
may.
In spite of the repeated denials Of the Presi.
dent and the Secretary Of the Navy and of all
OF the officials under them who have knowledge
OF what Is going on, tho sensational reports Of
those who seem DESTROYS of ~plunRing the country |
into war continue to be circulated with groat
and malicious ingenuity. Their
authors know them to DO untrue, but this fact |
seems to increase their desire to give them |
publicity. An illustration Of the character of
these fabrications is the report sent broadcast
to-day that tho Government had warned all
merchant vessels not TO enter any Southern port |
Tor fear OF violence at the hands Of Spanish
sympatbiZers. There was no moro truth in this |
than in the report circulated Yesterday that tho |
Spanish warship yizcaya had boon warned that |
she would enter the harbor OF New York at her |
poril. The Administration officials feel, how.
ever. that the false news Of tho sensation |
.ongers has lost what little effect it had upon
tho public mind when first promulgated, and
that the country will DO able to recognize the
truth.
Official Washington, from the President to tho
Representative, has suspended opinion
On the disaster. In such cases." to quote the
golden words of Capt. Sigsbee, ait is best not to
think; It Ia best to know. That requires investi-
cation and time" And so the President, tho
and Congress will wait for the report of
The Court of Inquiry before taking any action
No public clamor will move them,
The feeling is that the Havana authorities,
who appear to be Mortified by the fate of our
'ailors. and who declare that the blowing UP Of
he Maine was an accident to which Spaniards
could not have contributed. should have the
'redit of good faith and sincerity pending q
un and searching Investigation. That
'uch an investigation will 30 made no ono
Who knows the composition of the board
an doubt for q moment. The whole service
vas sifted over to find the right men, and naval
unanimously approve of the Board as
constituted.
In superior intelligence. quickness of percep-
devotion to duty. and. above all, in the ju-
icial quality there are no ADLER and safer men =
. the navy than Capt. w. T. Sampson, Capt. f.
Chadwick and Commander Adolph Mark.
rho. with Lieut.. Commander Potter. form the
'oard OF Inquiry. They will get at the truth,
nd tho whole truth, If it IL possible to human
ndeavor. and report their conclusions without
lincing words. and whenever conclusions come
D tho President aud Congress they will act
though war should be the result.