The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-29
w. T. SAMPSON,
Captain L.. S. N. President.
SCENES IN CONGRESS.
Intense Interest i'm the Message and
Report Shown i'm the Senatg.

Intense Interest i'm the Message and
Report shown i'm the Senate.
WASHINGTON March ga scene of
intense interest was presented in the Sem
ate to-day when the Presidents message
transmitting the findings of the Maine court
of inquiry was received. The galleries were
packed to the doors and the attendance of
senator's was quite as large as it has been
at any time during the present session.
Eager to ascertain the full findings of the
court, scores of members of the House,
after the adjournment of that body, had
hurried to the Senate chamber, and the floor
was crowded with them. When the reading
of the Presidents message was begun a
hush so marked fell over the chamber that
might have heard a pin fall. Through
out the reading of both the message and the
findings of the court there was not the
slightest demonstration. Following closely
upon the message and findings came the
speech of Mr.. Money upon his recent obser-
vations in Cuba and the deduction from
them which he had made. He spoke ex-
temporaneously, and his vigorous, and, at
times, impassioned, eloquence carried his
auditors in full sympathy with him. Upon
the announcement of Representative Simp-
kins's death the Senate adjourned
By o'clock people waiting outside
of the Senate wing of the great marble
hall, and when the doors to the Senate gall
leries were opened at o'clock the rush
for seats began Within an hour every
available inch in the Senate public gal
leries vas occupied and the reserved gall
leries were packed to the doors by II
o'clock. Thousands of persons who arrived
long before the Senate convened failed to
lraf a6V rfx,
of the Senate, so great was the jam. In the
diplomatic gallery were Mr.. Abner McKin-
ley, the Presidents brother, and Mrs. Capt
Sigsbee. The attendance of senators was
unusually large. 1t was quite evident that
the individual members of the BODY. despite
the dlgnlled reserve in which many of them
were wrapped, We're quite as deeply inter-
t5,eS IN the proceedings as was the general
pubic. Every senator at the CabitoI was
ident fell
At 1901 Major Pruden, executive secre-
lary TO the President delivered to the SEN
ate the message of the President transmit
tlhg the long-eXpected and much-discussed
report report or the Maine court of inquiry. AS
MAJOR Pruden was recognized nv the Vice
PRESIDENT there was hush in the Chamber
majority of the spectators expecting that
the message and report were to be read to
the Senate Immediately. Routine business,
however, was taken up for time
AT 1z:I2 Mr.. Morgan rose and demanded
the reading of the Presidents message In
stantiy there was a hush in the Chamber
"a hush so profound that whisper might
nave been heard in the chamber Vice.
president Hobart at once laid the message
peIore the Senate and it's reading was be-
gun. The closest attention was given to
the reading of the message by every person
within hearing. Around the inner semi-cir-
cular wall of the chamber MANY of those
entitled to the floor stood Among these
We're TWO score or more members of the
rouse or Representatives. AS that part of
the message summarizing the finding of the
court was read, people scarcely breathed
so intense was the interest in the docu-
ment.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
Mr.. Davis, chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. amid a buzz
OF Whispered conversation. rose and re-
inquiry be read. In reading the findings the
Clerk experienced great difficulty, as they
had not been placed in type written form
and were not plainly written.
AT the conclusion of the reading Mr.
Davis moved that the message of the Pres
ldent, the findings Of the court Of inquiry
be referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations and ordered printed. 1t was so
ordered: Mr.. Lodge introduced a resolution
that 1900 additional copies of the message
findings and testimony be printed for the
use of the Senate. The resolution was
agreed to.
Mr.. Money then spoke on the Cuban situa-
ton. He said that the task he had set him
self was perhaps one of supererogation as
Mr.. Proctor Mr. Gallinger and Mr. Thurs
ton had already presented to the Senate
the conditions in Cuba as they had seen
them. Their statements were concise, brill
liant and eloquent, and while he did not
hope to add much to the information they
had furnished he felt it his duty to speak
and to speak now. Mr.. Money said that he
was willing to go to any extent to feed
the starving. clothe the naked and relieve
the sick upon that unhappy island but he
was satisfied no definite results could be
obtained by the employment of such means
alone. He said he was certain that while
Weyler was willing instrument, he was
in fact only an instrument in the hands of
a higher pOwer-a power that had deliber-
ately determined upon plan of starvation
and determination. That frightfu and in
human scheme had originated in the brain
of Canovas, the all-powerful prime min
lister of Spain who preceded Sagasta.
THAT plan of RECOMMENDATION and star
walton and DEATH" declared Mr. Money,
was deliberately planned with the definite
and distinct purpose in view of destroying
a population that Spain cannot control-a
people in whose breasts the desire for lib
erty is as strongly instilled as it was in the
breasts of our forefatherS. After discuss
ing the situation in Cuba among the recon-
centrados as he found it. Mr.. Money de-
clared that much time had been wasted
in efforts to bring about peace on the island
through autonomy and through diplomatic
agencies Such negotiations are not. per-
haps, imbecile." said he but their inutil-
ity ought to suggest itself to the common
est mind.
He declared that independence and indie
pendence alone would satisfy the Cubans.
''As long as the yellow flag of Spain sa-
uteS the sky over the afflicted island, Mr..
Money believed, 1.-The Cubans would die 70 a
man rather than accept anything less IMAM
Mr. Money said there was but one remedy
and that was such action by the united
States as would bring the war in Cuba to
an end. He thought we should make decl-
sive demands upon Spain for the cessation
Of hostilites in Cuba, as we stand respon-
sible to history for our action now. If such
action should bring war--let war come.
ANY sort of war is better, said he, than
a rotting peace" In the present condition
of this country a tempest is needed TO clear
the atmosphere. and he was firm in the be-
lief that an honorable war with Spain
would be from many points OF view desir-
a bile contamination of our present difficulty.
Of the President and TO the Maine disaster,
and then declared that it was not becoming
in Congress to await the slow processes of
diplomacy lie had confidence in the Amer
factious opposition TO the administration
policy but for one he would not abdicate
his right % act for himself and those whom
he represented. This government. said
be- will do nothing to tarnish the brilliant
lustre of its past. While we do not and
shall not ask for the approval of other ma
TONS we will always command their re
spect If any power, great or small. should
interfere with US we shall still stand UNI
daunted / despair Of peaceful negotiations
and now have a contempt for them.
Mr. Mason gave notice that he would to.
b. orrow briefly address the Senate upon the
Presidents message.
When the encouragement Of Representa-