Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-07


in some way. responsible for the destrue
ton OF the ship.
IL the Maine was destroyed by acct
dent, Il Is some consolation to US LOT IN
loss of SO grand ship and so many
brave men to know that her officers am
crew acted like heroes amid the horripi
scenes attending the disaster.
If the Maine was DESTROYED by min'
or torpedo. then, unless Spain promptly
disayows the act. and tenders satisfac'
tory indemnity. both for the loss OF TN
ship and of the men, immediate and over
| whelming war must be declared ano
waged against Spain, and CUBA must %
| at once occupied by al American army
| and all the Spanish soldiers there MADE
| prisoners Of war. and all her ships on th'
Cuban coast captured or SUNK.
| SENATOR MARION BUTLER.
The charge made by General Weyler
| and re-echoed by some Tory Americans
| that the Maine was destroyed by Al ac'
| cident due to the Incidence. carelessness
| and want OF discipline OF the officers and
| crew of that vessel is clearly untrue and
| positively absurd. If the officers Of the
| Maine were responsible for any careless
ness 1t was in not dredging the harbor
! Immediately under the Maine to see
whether or not Spanish officers had pur-
| posely located the vessel over a mine
| formerly planted TO blow her up. The
! facts will soon be officially made known.
| | feel sure that they will not only vindi-
| cate the officers of the Maine from such
a charge, but will at the same time place
| the responsibility for this horrible and
most foul deed where it properly be-
| longs, and then such action must prompt
| ly be taken as becomes Americans.
| REPRESENTATIVE JOHN j. GARD
NER.
It IS worse than foolish, it shows
viciousness, for General Weyler or any
body else to allege that the officers or
crew Of the ship Maine were incident
until we ascertain the cause of the disas-
ter The charge Of Incidence assumes
avoidabe accident. Captain Sigsbee, the
lamented Lieutenant Jenkins. the Marine
Anthony, and all the officers and men on
board the ship, acted as disciplined, brave
American seamen would be expected
to act in an emergency. Their conduct
came up to the measure of the highest
just expectation; therefore, while we
mourn the lost, we are proud of them and
the living.
REPRESENTATIVE MELVILLE BULL.
/ am personally acquainted with Cap
tain Sigsbee and many officers of the i'll
fated Maine, and the high opinion in
which | have always held them was
more than confirmed by the reports Of
their splendid conduct at the time of,
and since the explosion. | regard Cap
tain Sgsbee as one Of the brainest, as
well as one Of the most capable, officers
that ever commanded a vessel, ana his
advice TO the American people to suspend
judgment as to the cause Of the explosion
until officially ascertained showed
depth OF foresight so spontaneous and
so wise, and given under such narrowing
circumstances, as TO stamp him not only
a : a great commander but as a diplomat |
and man of superior judgment. His sub |
Ordinates who survived the terrible catas- |
trophe showed i'm their conduct the in |
1uence of the example set them by their |
brave commander supplemented by their !
own inherent courage and well disciplined |
education.
The charge that these brave men were |
guilty of Incidence, which caused the |
explosion is utterly unworthy of mo- |
ments consideration.
Secretary Long and Assstant-Secretary |
Roosevelt deserve. In my opinion. the !
highest commendatiOn that can be be- |
slowed upon them for their mastery |
conduct of affairs at home I'm connection |
with the disaster. While all sorts or |
rumors and sensational stories have had |
the effect Of working the nation up into |
II
have been made upon the administration |
for radical and hasty retaliatOry mea-
sures in advance Of the receipt Of facts !
upon which TO base any action, those |
gentlemen, and the able officers under |
them, have pursued dignifed, statesman !
like. and conservative policy, prompt |
as the circumstances would permit yet |
vigorous. sound. and business-llke. which,
when all the facts are laid before the
l.1V, Lrft INN
them with the wisdom of the course
taken by the Navy Department.
Whatever the results Of the pending |
Investigation may show, / feel sure That |
the verdict Of the American people viii
be that the Navy Department, from It's
able head down to the humblest marine,
is worthy of the most absolute confidence
and faith. and i'm any crisis can be de-
pended upon 10 uphold the dignity ana
honor of this great nation, either by the
application Of peaceful methods, or by |
the stern alternative Of war.
REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDER NJ.
DOCKERY.
The intrepid conduct of Captain Sgsbee |
and other officers and seamen connected |
with the battIcship Maine IS a sufficient |
refutation of any criticism upon them
made by enemies of our country. The
new navy is a worthy successor of tho |
old-time navy, and will yindicate our |
prowess upon the seas.
The admirable behavior of Captain
Sigsbee shows him TO be an officer worthy
to take rank with the most illustrious OF
our naval heroes.
WALTER REEVES.
do not believe there is any founda
ton whatever for the allegation, from
source it may come, that
there was Incidence or negligence on the
part of the officers and men of the Maine.
All information obtainable up to this date
indicates 10 me that there was
splendid bravery and devotion to duty
both by the officers and crew Of this UNI
fortunate vessel.
REPRESEN'TIVE DAVID II. MERCER.
Neither the American citizen, American
sailor. or American soldier is indolent or
cowardly. and General Weyler and all
other Spaniards will find this out 20 their
sorrow if "A war takes place between this
country and Spain.
RUDOLF KLE-
BERG.
The heroism Of Captain Sigsbee and the
officers and men of the Inflated battle
ship Maine, during and after her eXplo-
sion in Habana harbor, is both commend
lble and inspiring, and il is gratifying TO
know that the GOODNESS and patriotism OF
his great naval cheftain and his men are
4 characteristic of the average American
,itizen Nothing should be more avoided
,v those who would mould public opinion
n the present hour Of suspense than
lndue excitement and ill-considered action
md utterance. and those in authority, as
we'll as those out OF authority, may We'll
.ro,,Iat ia ar this suDrame moment in our