The record-union., 1898-02-19
EXCITING DAY
IN THE SENATE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


in any capacity, and for this reason We
should now have American divers in
vestigating the hull of the Maine and
not be depending upon those of an I'M
friendly Power. Who kHcws but that
some more dynamite will be put in and
evidence OF the catastrophe averted?"
He repeated that he wanted immedi-
ate action, but did net want TO be on
the committee. He did not want to
be anywhere that a Spaniard could
| reach him. There Were, however, Sen
ators who would be safe among the
/ Spanish. and he was willing that they
should take the chances involved in the
service of the proposed committee.
He closed with an appeal for prompt
inquiry, and said that he thought the
Senate. which had voted 100000 TO
save the property of the United States,
could and should vote S200,0J0.0 900, if
necessary, to save its homer and its
dignity.
Senator Wolcott followed He
said: The Senator from Illinois,
however inopportune it may be at this
time. in the opinion of some of US,
might well have been permitted to pass
without comment. had il. not been for
the remarkable utterance which he has
given to the fact that the people of
the United States have lost confidence
in one of the great departments of the
Government"
Mason had resumed his standing posi-
ton, and he interrupted to say that the
Senator from Colorado was entirely
mistaken. Il made no such statement, -
he said.
Wolcott-I decline to be interrupted.
/ ask to have the remarks read from
the reporters notes
Mason-I said that some people were
losing confidence and
Wolcott-I decline to be interrupted.
ask to have the reporters notes read
This was done.
Wolcott then continued The SEN
ate would, he said, bear him out that
| he did not misquote the Senator from
| Illinois to the extent of a single word
or a single syllable.
Resuming he said: Il desire to re-
sent as utterly unfounded the sugges-
ton that there is a pathetic citizen in
the broad confines of this land who has
not the fullest confidence in every de-
partment of this Government and in
the department of the navy particu-
larry. 1t has been true in every adj
ministration since the time of Wash
ington. The people of the United
States have never yet been called upon
to diStruSt one of the coordinate
branches of the Government and they
never Will while the flag floats. Least
of all is it decent. in my opinion, that
in this chamber there should be insin-
uations cast at this critical time that
there is a lack in the minds of the peo-
pie of the United States of confidence
in the navy of our country. The Off
GERS appointed to investigate will do
their duty.
Il do not know what slums the Sena-
tor from Illinois may have dragged to
find the expression of an opinion that
there is lack of confidence in the per-
sonnet of our navy, but I know he can
not find an honorable or a patriotic
citizen who will stand up before the
country and indorse for an instant the
utterances which the Senator has made.
There are times for speaking and times
for silence. and this is the time when
we face the awful calamity that has
overtaken US, when we should retain
any expression of an opinion or our be-
brought about, until, in a proper, reg
ular and formal way an investigation
may be had which we all know will be
conducted with the utmost uprightness
and the utmost integrity
Mr. President, / speak as one who
sympathizes deeply with the citizens of
that unfortunate island now engaged
in this terrible, deplorable conflict. I
70 tn
conclusion Of that war, but 1 do say
that if ever there was moment when
we should abstain from outrageous
and gratuitous insult to a friendly ma
ton, that time is to-day IF ever there
was a time when we should tender our
help to every department of the Gov
eminent, it should be to-day If there
was ever a time when We should re-
frain from unjust and ignorant criti-
cism. it is to-day.
.Ah Mr.. President, war may come.
l think myself the day may be not far
distant, and when it comes we will
fight it alone. for there Will be no other
nation to lift hand to f>e-< rs. When
that day comes. our course must be
eternally grounded on the right, and
until it comes there is nothing that so
belittles this people, in my opinion, as
these unjust and outrageous attacks
upon a friendly Government.
.'Ah, Mr.. President, war is grim de-
cision, and when it comes 1t must
come so that the people of the world.
whether they fight with US or not, can
at least respect our con2uct and our
position, and above all, Mr.. President,
it must come under circumstances
which make us respect ourselves
Wolcott was followed immediately by
Lodge of Massachusetts, who had sat
very FESTIVE under Mason's reflections
on the Navy Department He also
spoke with intense earnestness, saying:
Mr.. President: l have no desire AMI
no intention of saying one word in re-
gard to the war which is raging in
Cuba. No one could detest the hor-
rors enacted in that island more than
l. No one desires more than / to see
the Spanish power swept from that ISL
and, as it has been from all the States
of South America, but. Mr.. President,
that question is not here. We are face
to face at this moment with a great
national calamity The Americans have
received the awful news of the sinking
of the warship Maine with a splendid
silence and self-restraint, both in Con-
gress and throughout the country.
They are waiting sternly, quietly, to
know the truth, and the truth they
Will have.
This is not a question which involves
Cubans or Spaniards This is a ques-
ton which involves brave American
seamen, gone to their death in a for
eign port. In the presence of that "a
lamity what we want is the truth. How