The age-herald., 1898-02-19
Wait for the Facts.

The American people can be relied upon
 as not doing anything in haste when there l is at issue a doubt. The disposition to
 wait a full investigation of the disaster
 to the warship Maine, is commendable. | Congress has shown a disposition to act i wisely There has been no voice from the law-making power to indicate other than
 desire to do the square thing. If tho
 investigation shows that it was the act I of the Spanish, there need be no question I as to what position will be taken by con gross.
 It is to be hoped that the administration at Washington will not be influenced in its
 duty to the American people by paying any
 attention to the protestations of the Span- ish in their outward appearance of sympa-
 thy for this government because of the loss of so many American sailors. An ex-
 pression of Spanish sympathy at this time
 should be taken more for treachery than anything else. So far the Spaniards have been the only persons who have said posi- lively that it was an accident. Every
 
 is not a hospitable one for American war vessels. The DeLome letter was the best
 evidence of the hypocrisy and treachery
 as pertains to the Cuban question. General
 Blanco and the mayor of Havana may send
 telegraphic condolence to the president but they do not mean it. These dispatches were
 sent for effect and were not in any way sincere. The Spanish cabinet at Madrid has also sent its expression of sympathy to this nation. These expressions at this time
 mean absolutely nothing. As nation Of
 liars Spain has no equal.
 The character of the Spaniard is to smile at your face and stab you in the back. He
 is a treacherous individual. He is not hon.
 est nor Is he fair Later developments
 show that the harbor of Havana was prac-
 tically gridironed with explosives ready to
 be used at a moments notice. It is al- ready an established fact that threats were
 made by the Spaniards at Havana that the American war vessel would be blown to pieces.
 The demands that Spain proposes to
 
 make, that its divers must accompany the American divers to investigate the hull of the ship to determine whether the explo- sion was on the inside or on the outside is another insult that that effete monarchy heaps upon the United States. This should be taken as a reflection upon the integrity of those men whom this government will detail to make the investigation. There need be no necessity of sending Spanish divers down with the American divers. The Americans can report the truth and they will report it as they find 1t. Great credit is due Capt. Sigsbee for the manner in which he has deported himself from the time of the fatal accident to the present. His advice to the American people | to suspend judgment until the truth was | known did more than all else to avert a
 war, which in all probability would have begun last Wednesday morning Capt. Sgsbee has shown himself a cool, delb- erative officer and a man capable of be- ing great under the most trying crcum- stances The result of the investigation to
 be made by the divers and the committee sent from the navy department should be had by at least the middle of next week,
 and until the report is made nothing can
 be done by the administration or any one
 else. If the investingation shows that it was caused by the explosion of a torpedo, 4t, l., o1 And if that be true, the people must have faith in whatever action congress may take. That the situation is grave, there can be no doubt.