Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-02-24
ASHINGTONLETTER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. {

ism have characterized every act
Of President Mckinley and every
member of the cabinet since the
awful news was received of the
blowing up and sinking of the bat
tleship Maine, III Havana habor,
and the death of $50 of it's crew.
IN the midst of the excitement con-
scquent upon the sensational ru-
mors Of Spanish treachery, they
have not for q minute lost their
heads. 4 naval Court of Inquiry
was at once appointed TO ascertain
whether the loss of the Maine was
caused by accident or design, and
by the time this is read ii will be
at work. Until it succeeds at get
ting at the truth. the administra-
ton joins with brave Captain Sigs-
bee. of the Maine, is asking for a
suspension OF public judgement.
Not a scrap of news concerning the
catastrophe received by the admin
istration, or an order issued by it
has been concealed, and nothing
will be concealed. That the Presi-
dent is fully alive to our every in
terest is shown by his promptly re-
fusing the request of the Spanish
authorities at Havana to partici
pate in the investigation, and that
he is calmly performing his usual
duties was shown by his departure
for Philadelphia, to deliver an adj
dress before the faculty and stu
dents Of the University of Penn
sylvania, ON the 22nd inst, in ac-
cordancc with an engagement made
months ago. His example should
be followed by good citizens every
where.
Senator WOlcott, OF Col, has
more than once shown himself to
possess the faculty Of calm judg
ment in times ofpublic excitement,
and to be real, not a buncOmb
patriot, but never more strikingly
than il the short speech he made
against the misguided attempt to
publish to the world a distrust of
our Navy Department, by provid-
ing for a Congressional investiga-
ton of the wreck of the Maine.
Mr.. Wolcott said 81 desire to
resent as utterly unfounded the
suggestion that there is patriotic
citizen in the broad confines of this
land who has not the fullest and
most splendid and glorious conf
dence in every department of this
government, and in the depart
ment of the Navy in particular,
and it has been true in every ad-
ministration since the time of
Washington. The people Of the
United States have never vet been
called upon to distrust one Of the
coordinate branches of this gov
ernment, and they neverwill while
the flag floats. The officers ap-
pointed to investigate this tragic
disaster Will do their duty. do
not under-rate the Importance Of
the legislative branch of the gov
ernment !; | believe in its dignity
and its wisdom, and in the open
ness of its discussion Of public
questions but what we need now,
in my opinion, is decent and dig
nified silence in the face of the APP
palling calamity which has fallen
upon our people. There are times
for speaking and there are times
for silence. and at this time, when
we face the awful event that has
overtaken US, we should restrain
any expression of opinion or ex-
preston of our belief as to the cau-
ses OF this terrible disaster until in
q proper, regular, and formal way,
an investigation may be had by the
Navy Department, which we know
will be conducted with the utmost
uprightness and the utmost integ-
rity." Senator Lodge Of Mass,