The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-05

fully realized the necessity of the preser-
walton, if posi- lie, of peace. fresluenI
Mckinley, Minister Woodford anu oonn -,
General Lee had all won dlstlneDion
battle and he believed that UhelI JuHsl
ment and discretion could DO uepehue9
upou to guide the country sarely anu
truly. Ihe time for action had, IN his
opinion, arrived. ,aoa
Right instice and humanity demanded
that this government shoulu inteIso o ~
stop the cruel warfare Wageq ny SPAIN
against the insurgents, people Wno WIZ ~
struggling for their 1feeao'h "i0hin ~
miles of our shores -.
Mr. Perkins who has had life time
experiences in the handling of great yes
sells. discussed the destructlon OF bne
Maine from the view point OF an expert.
He decared that our sailors ana oIncers
had been beguiled by the deception OF tine
Standards to place in friendly harDof
and there without minutes warning
blown into eternity. The explosives were
nlaced under the Maine by vessels of the
Spanish government. The people believed
that they were exploded by design and he
was one of those who held to thct belief.
ssThis most hideous crime of the 18th
century, ;" declared Mr. Perkins vehement
ly, twas an act of war and believe that
it is SO regarded by the nations of the
world"
No offer of reparation would wipe out
the feeling of the people of this country
upon the matter and intensity had been
added to that feeling by the most frivol-
Gus manner in which that disaster had
been treated by Spain. Mr.. Perkins said
that while he favored arbitration in
dividuals never attempted to arbitrate
questions of honor, and nations could not
afford to submit such questions to arbi-
tration Gold could not atone for the loss
O. those precious lives. The only honor
able action for this country now WAS to
intervene and free Cuba from the yoke of
Spain.
Mr. Mantle of Montana followed with
an extended speech on Cuba in which he
declared he favored the Independence of
the Cuban people who for two years had
been struggling for freedom.
II would said he, give my unquali.
fed endorsement and vote in favor of
directing the President to use armed
forces, both land and naval, to suppress
the savagery upon that fair land. He
had the highest regard for the President
but it was perfectly evident to all that
the time for diplomatic negotiations on
the Cuban question had passed.
He not only believed that the time had
come for recognizing Cuba independence
but that IA declaration Of war would be
fully justified by the wilful destruction of
the Maino.
Mr.. Mantle was willing, however, to
wait upon the action of the committee on
foreign relations. whose recommendations
he had no doubt would be wise and just
cover the whole case.
Mr. Rawlins of Utah said the case be-
tween the United States and Spain was
made up. 1t was no longer for the execu-
tive to decide what course to pursue With
Congress rested the responsibility of
declaring war and as this was the press
ing duty the President was no longer the
party to be criticized if anyone was
MIR. Rawlins opposed further delay. The
destruction of the Maine. he said, and the
cIandestine murder of 266 of our sailors
| had occurred 4S days since, but this was
authorities had been imprisoning and
numbering American citizens. OF these
facts the executive had doubtless been
| fully advised by the consular reports, but
these reports had been withheld on the
plea that it would endanger our officials
| in Cuba to give them out. If this was true
| it revealed wretohed state of affairs.
Mr.. Rawlins said that delay had been
sought last week by the friends of the
President on the plea that message was
soon to be sent in from tho President
| which would meet all the demands Of the
country. At the same time the private
secretary of She President was sending a
message to friends urging them to the ut
| most exertion to bring pressure to bear to
secure peace. We were next told that an
, ultimatum had been sent to Madrid de-
| manding the concession of Cuban indie
pendence, but Premier Sagasta had said
| that no demand had been made by this
government for the independence of Cuba.
Which representation was correct?
| Mr.. Rawlins criticized our halting
policy in strong language, saying that 1t
was such as to justify Spain in holding
| the United States in contempt.
He added that the crime OF the ex-
plosion of the Maine was due to our indie
oision and cowardice and that such an act
| would never have been perpetrated against
any other nation.
In confusion Mr.. Rawlins made an
war or declaration for American inter-
vention.
Mr. Rawlins expressed an opinion that
four weeks would decide an armed con-
fict between Spain and the United States
and that it would be decided without the
loss of life. At the conclusion of Mr..
Rawlin's speech the sundry civil appro-
priation bill was taken up.
The committee amendment for the ap-
preparation of $3.50, 900 for the purchase Of
Che Union building in this city was de-
feated. The committee amendment sus-
pending the executive order of February
Q, 1897, reserving certain lands in
Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Washington,
Idaho and South Dakota as forest Teser-
yations was discussed at length. At 5
O'Clock without disposing of the amend
ment the Senate went into executive
of Cd