Evening journal., 1898-03-05
THE PRESIDENTS BACKING.

As a rule, an after-dinner speaker
makes light remarks on a heavy stom-
ach, but not so with Chauncey NJ De-
pew, who is probably the most widely
known after- dinner speaker in the
East. He invariably talks sense. When
those about him laugh at his play on
words and think that ne is talking nom
sense, they find, in their later mo-
ments Of reflection that the sparkling
humor giossed many truths.
But Mr. Depew's efforts in the field
OF oratory are not confined to the din
ner table any more than his physical
efforts are confined to matters CASTRO
nomic He is a man of AFFAIRS and a
wonderfully capable and successful
one. Not that alone, but he HAS a
warm heart and "a generous hand,
guided by a clear head and a high sense
OF Justice.
At a concert for the widows and or
phans OF the men killed on the Maine
held in New York last night, Mr.. De
pow gave expression to the following
sentiment:
The majesty Of civilized power was
never better illustrated than in the atti-
tude of the United States in the pres
ent crisis. The nation may be easily
moved to passionate excitement: il
may rise TO great heights of intensity
and enthusiasm; but the greater th'
peril the nobler its calm. Captain Sigs
bee, barely extricatiny himself from
the perils of the explosion and thi
ruins OF mis- ship, had every incentive
for harsh language and passionate &C
cusation, but. like the true American
sailor that he is calmest when th'
danger is greatest, he penned the mes
sage to his country: suspend you
Judgment until you know the facts.
President Mckinley, feeling behind hin
an uprising which threatened to swee
the country into war; right or wrong
said to the people. suspend your jude
ment until you know the facts" AM
Congress and the people follow wit
the same calmness the investigator
and await the verdict OF the Court G
Inquiry.
Our sympathies are with the Gu
bans who are struggling for liberty a
our sympathies are with every peOpl
seeking to govern themselves. But wit
sympathy and sorrow and anger IN
dominant emotions of the hour, IN
confidence Cf the nation is firm In Il
president. and It's judgment Is unmovo
by prejudice or passion.
One OF the most dramatic situation
in our history was Garfield meetin
the maddened mob bent upon the mu
der and the spoilatiOn Of every symp.
thizer OF the South at the time Of tl
assassination of Lincoln and stayir
their march and dispensing them
their homes with the solemn admon
tion God reigns. and the republ
at Washington still lives" That me
sage Of Garields is our lesson for I
Gay, "Gcd reigns and the govenme
at Washington stil lives. That go
ernmCnt viii protect our interests Al
preserve our honor. that gOvernme
will find out the right, and finding o
the right will perform 1t, that COVER
mont wiz do what is just to Spaniai
to Cuban and TO ourselves.
God grant that the result Of the
1uiry will be the verdict which we
vsnt. snd that Is that the tragedy
the Maine was not conspiracy but
accident. II would be a shock, not OF
should prove otherwise. AS the da
roll by and the situation becon
clearer, whatever may be our feeli
ia regard TO the struggle in Cuba.
excnerste a brave nation from
crime OF assassination.
The president knows that at his Z
the people Of the country stand rel
TO give him their lives and their I
tunes There is no limit to the m
10 limit to the money that are at
command, II men and money should
deemed necessary for the national
fence and the national honor.
duty as plain citizens lis performed
the present in sending to him this nj
sage On the one hand. and on the OF
nand, as we do here tonight, in .
ing sweet and loving tribute to
memory OF the men who went dl
with the Maine, because they v