The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-19

tion's interference of affairs in Cuba.
and it was for this reason that Mr.
Mason said he wanted an immediate
report upon his resolution for interyen-
tion. In view of Mr. De Lome's con-
fession there was no longer excuse for
delay.
Autonomy "A Sham.
Autonomy he denounced as a sham.
fraud and as a delusion. and the De
LONE letter only served To emphasize
the treacherous character of the Span
lard. AS for himself. he would not IL
eligible be willing to serve on the pro-
posed committee, as he would not want
to sit at the table with a Spaniard who
might have a stilletto under his clothes
unless he himself was iron clad The
record of the Spanish nation, continued
Mr. Mason, who appeared to be labor
ing under considerable excitement, is
one of continuous treachery, and We
have experienced that treachery in
our history for the past hundred years.
1t had been made evident that the
Spaniard could not be trusted in any
capacity, and for this reason we should
now have American divers investigat-
ing the hull of the Maine and not be
depending upon those of an unfriendly
power. We are told, he said. that the
naval board may be able to reach Ha-
yana by next Monday.
'Manana,' he exclaimed, means to-
morrow. always tomorrow. That is
the Spanish motto, and we are falling
into it,
In the meantime. who knows but that
some more dynamite will not be put in
and evidence of the catastrophe averted.
He repeated that he wanted immediate
action, but did not want to be on the
committee. He does not want to be
anywhere that a Spaniard could reacn
4 4. +a.,..
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. lie 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 5000, 900, 900. If necessary, to save its
honor and its dignity.
Mr.. Mason had scarcely taken his seat
when Mr. Wolcott addressed the chair
Mr.. President" he said. and the words
shot forth like bomb to be exploded in
the senate. Ii was evident from the
Colorado senator's countenance ana
manner to say nothing Of the intensity
of his voice. that he was laboring under
considerable feeling. He had listened to
Mr.. Mason with ill-concea1ed feelings of
emotion, his face growing redder. his
hrows more and more like thunder
fiOuu dS lIe IlllnblH senator proceeded.
He spoke with great rapidity and oc-
cupied only a few minutes of the SEN
ate's time, refusing to be interrupted.
and speaking very sharply when Mr.
Mason sought to divert him. Mr.. VOL
colt spoke as follows:
woicott Defends the Navy.
Mr.. President The remarks of the
senator from Illinois. however inop-
perfume 1t may be at this time, we'll
might have been permitted to pass
without comment. had ii not been for
the remarkable utterance which he has
given to the fact that the people Of
these United States have lost conf
dence in one of the great departments
of the government"
Mr.. Mason had resumed his standing
position and he interrupted to say that
the senator from Colorado was entirely
mistaken. II made no such state
ment," he said.
Mr.. Wolcott-I decline to be inter-
rupted. | ask to have the reporters
notes read.
The reporters notes. quoting Mr.. Ma
son, were then read as follows.
Il understand that the navy depart
ment will make the investigation but
also understand that an investigation
could be made by this branch of the
government and that would not in any
way interfere with the naval inxesti-
cation. / also understand that the peo-
pie of this country arc fast coming
to the conclusion that the real situa-
tion is not only being concealed from
the people but from the members of
congress and senators. The people
have right to know something about
the situation. | say the people do lack
confidence in some departments of the
government. and they sometimes per-
haps do in this department. What pos
sible harm can it be to have fair and
full investigation? The two depart
ments of the government are inVesti-
eating the same thing at the same
time"
Mr. Woleott then continued The
senate would he said, bear him out
that he did not misquote the senator
from Illinois 10 the extent of a single
word or a single syllable. 2
Resuming, he said: Il desire to re-
sent as utterly unfounded the sugges-
tion that there Is IA patriotic citizen in
the broad confines of this land who has
not fullest confidence in every depart
ment of this government, and in the |
department of the navy particularly |
1t has been true in every administra-
tion since the time of Washington,
The people of the United States
have never yet been called upon to dis /
trust one of the coordinate branches |
Of the government, and they will never |
while the flag floats. Least Of all is it |
decent, III my opinion, that in this |
chamber there should be insinuations |
cast at this critical time that there is /
a lack in the minds of the people Of |
the United States of confidence in the /
navy of our country. The records of |
our naval battles are the most glorious /
page in the history of our country for |
the last 100 years. and from the earliest /
days until now there has never been a |
step backward. To-day, as always. the |
officers Of our navy are honorable. cou- |
rageous. upright men, and above all /
they tell the truth. The captain of this |
Ill-fated battleship was walking his |