The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-05

Judgment until the facts could be known.
For forty days and night. the the p Des.
Pt hat nat the facts have been laid
before them. the verdict; ne s,,n said.
b,own nm not only from the outside. but
with the cognizance of Spanish ofncials, for
whose acts the Spanish government was
fully responsible. The explosives, whether
they were in a mine or IN torpedo, were
placed under the Maine by officials OF the
Spanish hJ ra by den and Se
was one who held to that BELIEF. 1t would
have been impossible, Mr.. Perkins said, for
Dor of Havana mines without the knowledge
of the government authorities. 10 Impartial
judge would walt after cohsldeslSng al Inc
for the crime upon the Spanish government
through its authorized officials.
This most hideous crime OF the nine
teenth century" declared Mr.. Perkins. We
hementy, was an act of war, and believe
that 4 is so regarded by the INA nations ,d or the
out the feeling Of the people OF this coun-
try upon the matter. and intensity had been
Gus manner in which the disaster had been
treated by Spain. Mr.. Perkins said that
while he favored arbitration, individuals
never attempted to arbitrate questions OF
honor. and nations could not afford to sub
nit such questions to arbitration. Gold
could not atone for the loss OF those pre-
this country now TO take was TO intervene
and free Cuba from the yoke OF Spain
which she ndu so long DOKHS.
MR. MANTLE'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Mantle followed with an extended
speech upon the absorbing topic of Cuba.
in which he declared that he favored the
independence of the Cuban people who for
years had been struggling for their free
dom. II would" said he, give my unqual-
flied Endorsement and vote in favor of di-
recting the President to use the armed
forces, both land and naval, to suppress the
savagery that is now rampant upon that
fair island" He had the greatest regard
for the present occupant OF the White
House. but 1t was perfectly evident to all
that the time for diplomatic negotiations on
the Cuban question had passed. The time
for action had arrived. and the sooner It
was taken the better 1t would be for all
concerned. Spain had violated every pr1n-
ciple of civilized warfare and thrown hui
mainly to the winds
Mr.. Mantle said 1t was now time that the
cry Of humanity and the cry for stern JUS
tice should be heard. 1t was time to be
done with subterfuge. We should not go to
assured before striking that we strike for
God and humanity Mr.. Mantle thought
this time had come He not only believed
the time had come for recognizing Cuban
independence, but that declaration of war
would be fully justified by the willful de-
struction Of the Main si Whiie holding holding
to wait upon the action of the committee
on foreign. relations whose. recommenda--
just and cover the whole case.
Mr. RawliilS said the case between Spain
and the United States was made up, 1t was
no longer for the executive to decide what
course to pursue. With Congress rested the
responsibility of declaring war and as this
was the pressing duty the President was
no longer the party to be criticised if any
one was to be. Congress cam If 1T wills he
said, decide to have peace with incidental
outrage and clandestine murder. AS for
himself he did not choose to accept peace
under such circumstances. Mr.: Rawlins OPP
the committee on foreign relations had
reached a conclusion ard that while the
President was advised OF the probable ac-
plans. He was also inform ed that the Presi-
dent wanted further delay. Mr.. Rawlins
struction of the Maine and the clandestine
murder Of 266 Of our sailors nad a occurred ecu rec
For three years the Spanish authorities
had been imprisoning and numbering Amer
doubtless, had been fully advised by the
consular reports, but these reports had been
withheld on the plea that i would ~ ehda1
give them out If this was true it revealed
a wretched state of affairs.
HALTING POLICY CRITICISED.
Continuing, Mr.. Rawlins said delay had
been sought last week by the friends of the
President on the plea that a message was
soon to be sent in from the President which
the same time the private and confidential
secretary of the President was sending a
message to his friends urging them to the
utmost exertion to bring pressure to Sc
cure peace. We We're next told that an Ill
timatum had been sent to Madrid demand
ing the concession of Cuban Independence;
now comes an interview with Premier Sa-
gasta, in which he says no demand mas
been made by this government for the indie
pendence of Cuba. Which representation
was correct? Mr., Rawlins criticised our
hating policy in strong language saying
that it was such as to justify Spain IN
holding the United States in contempt. He
added that the crime of the explosion OF
the Maine was due to our own indecision
and cowardice and that such an act would
never have been perpetrated upon any Other
In conclusion Mr.. Rawlins made ar
gument for an absolute declaration OF war
Instead of a declaration for armed inter-
ventiOn To pursue the latter course would
be to throw the responsibility of declaring
war upon the President. To pass such
resolution would be to afford opportunity
for the peace at any price party TO con,
tinue its. efforts, as the resolution woula
be one which the President could with pro-
priety ignore because the responsibility for
definite action rests with Congress. MT.
Rawlins expressed the opinion that four
weeks would decide an armed conflict be-
tween Spain and the United States and
that it would be decided without the loss
of a life. In support of this assertion he
cited the accomplishment of the CubanS
themselves in their efforts to gain their in
dependence under most unfavorable circum-
stances.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Rawlinss speech
the sundry civil appropriation bill was taxi
en- up An amendment offered by Mr.. Hans
brough providing for two additional regis
tiers and receivers of public lands in Alaska,
whose salaries shall not be less than $3.50
each per annum, nor more than 5000, was
agreed to.
The committee amendment suspending
the executive order of Feb. %, 1897, reserV-
ing certain lands in the States of Wyoming,
Utah, Montana, washington, Idaho and
South Dakota as forest reservations was
discussed at length. Mr.. Chandler precipi-
tated the discussion by asking for an ex-
PLANTATION of the amendment. The explana-
ton was given in speeches by Messrs.
Teller, Wilson, Stewart and Shoup
At o'clock, without disposing of the
amendment, the Senate, on motion of Mr..
Allison, went into executive session and
soon afterwards adjourned.