The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-18
CONGRESS DOES NOT BLAME SPAIN.
Therc'i ne No war Over the Maine Disaster.
Representntiye QuiEE says.

Thorcri Ne 10 war Over the Maine Disaster.
Representative ouiEE says.
At the meeting OF the Republican County
Committee last evening, City Magistrate JOSEPH
NJ. Deuel. offered the following resolution:
"Resolrcd, That the Republican County Com
mittec. In meeting regularly assembled. OK
presses its heartfelt sympathy with the wounded
survivors. and with tho families Of the killed in
the recent appalling disaster to the battleshir
Maine whilo at anchor In tho harbor Of Ha.
vana.''
committeeman rose.
Congressman QuiRg. Chairman of the com.
mittee, who Is o member Of the House Commit
toe on Foreign Affairs, made this statement
after the meeting on the sinking Of the Maine
and its probable effect on this country's course:
Nobody in Congress that l have talked with
thinks that the explosion was the result Of an
accident. Such an accident is 30 nearly impos.
sible, on account OF the safeguards adopted on
every man.of-wRr. that the theory Of an acct
dent on the Maine is not to be taken into con-
sideration. when other explanations are 80
much moro plausible. as in this case. On tho
other hand. nobody thinks Of holding
u nation responsible for the acts OF O
mailman. There will be no war. There 10 NO
need of q war. There is no possibility of tho
Cult0u ull lhNOlNCu II q war "ull0
its Government Is conducted In an Intelligent
manner. The men who are running this Govern
ment are not crazy men,; they are men who are
doing a lot Of thinking.
War Is not the act of the executive. but Of
the legislative branch Of the Government. There
10 no possibility OF q resolution being passed
that might bring on war as matters stand now.
To introduce IL It would be necessary to get the
recognition Of the Speaker. After IL was intro.
ducod IT. would go to tho Committee on
Foreign Affairs. That committee Is made up Of
young mon. but they are a sober lot Of young
mon. 1t would require an absolute necessity TO
induce me to vote in 4 way that might bring
about n war. No war will come unless some
Government commits an overt act against this
nation. and no Government is going to do that.
action Of certain newspapers in seeking to in
flame the public mind at this time IL second only
in hideousncss to that of the man who sunk the
Maine, Ii o man sunk 1t purposely. They arc
exciting the people. and they may raise an i'm
There Is a majority on the floor of the House
OF Representatives that is anxious to do some
thing for Cuba, but 1t Is powerless, for there is
nothing to do. We all admire their pluck. we
all applaud their object, but We cannot now do
sihility that there is no large body Of men
willing to bear. Cuba will be free by its own
efforts. Spain cannot subdue the patriots now.
Had Spain the ability to put down the revolt it
would have been ended long ago.
trouble Of any kind. This gathering in OF half.
civilized people Is something we don't want.
There are two times when they would be
troublesome to us. One in time OF peace. and
two In time of war"
knows snythinF about the sinking of the
Maine = was asked.
Your must excuse me from answering that"
said Mr.. QuiRg.