The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-30
awake To GLORIOUS WAR
Senator Mason Urges This Ma
ton TO Wreak Vengeance.
SHAKE OFF THE NARCOTIC
He VIII Not Consider the PROPOSE
ton of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Will He
RrooL DcIay-He Declares That
the Destruction of the Mnine Was
Due 10 Spanish Treachery-

Thousands Of people went to the
Capitol yesterday. just as they did Mon
day. expecting to witness an outburst of
American patriotism. Those who gather
ed in The. Senate galleries were not disap-
pointed: those who went TO the House
again saw the manner in which that
body is prevented from exercising its
own inclinations. At an early hour the
corridors OF both Houses We're thronged
and soon after the doors Of the gallery
were thrown open they were filled with
hundreds on the outside clamoring for
admission. where admission could not be
granted owing 70 the want of seating
capacity.
The magnet at the Senate end Of the
building was the announcement that
Senator Mason Of Illinois intended 10
make a speech on the Cuban question
The redoubtable Billy Mason has
fashion Of using some very plain Ian
ruage in his talk. and his speech show
ed that he had not forgotten how to use
The queens English 10 express his ideas.
There was an unexpected prelude to the
broadside Of Senator Mason. 1t came
in the shape Of four resolutions from as
many different senators, all bearing on
the Cuban question. from a simple recog-
milton OF the independence Of the Cuban
republic TO a declaration Of war be-
tween the Cnited States and Spain and
her dependencies.
Senator Mason IS known to be ready
for a declaration of war, but when the
resolutions Of such senators as Allen
and Foraker. which meant nothing if
they meant not war, were laid before
the Senate he received an encourage
ment that must have caused him to en-
bellish the speech he had carefully pre-
pared, for he injected into it several
thrilling passages. breathing defiance at
Spain and criticising the President more
severely than the original text had pro-
vided for. The speech was carefully
written and, for Senator Mason, must be
characterized as conservative in its tone.
II was intended as an index TO the
President Of the temper of the Senate,
and when the President read it last
evening he must have appreciated the
fact that The message Of Monday on the
Maine disaster was not only disappoint-
ing, but disheartening 10 the great ma
jorty Of the men who represent the
American people in Congress.
Notwithstanding the rule prohibiting
expressions Of approval or disapproval
in the galleries the occupants frequently
broke out in applause, and when Mr.
Mason had concluded he was greeted
with 2 salvo from the galleries which
the presiding officer yainly endeavored e
suppress. The unusual thing occurred
when Mr.. Mason entered the chamber
as the Senate was about TO convene. II,
came in quietly through a side door and
started towards his seat. but the mo
nent he appeared on the floor the gal
:eries broke out into applause
After the routine business was trans
acted, including the resolutions referre,
%, Mr.. Mason said:
Mr.. President: / do not intend, in tn,
brief statement ! make today TO fore
Etall the report Of the Committee on For
aign Relations, TO which has been re
terred the Presidents message and tht
accompanying report and evidence w
are invited by the President at The clos,
Of his message. TO deliberately conside
ihe situation, and Ii is only fair 10 IN.
committee, my colleagues and my con
sdtuents that they should know. and a.
soon as possible. the general expression
and intention OF the members Of thi.
body. ] wish TO be understood / an
not weary Of deliberative tactics. apollo
giving for taking the floor at this time
but ] intend no disrespect either to tn,
Administration or the committee when
say that ] am tired OF the deliberat,
tactics that have been employed 70
three years TO prevent any assisJanc,