The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-14

will become responsible and. what is the
behind $500. 000. coo Spanish Cuban per cent
bonds. l understand they are held largely
in Germany, largely in Fsrance and largely
In the United States.
Does anybody imagine. Mr.. President. if
we should go into Cuba and there establish
a stable government for which we would
be responsible that the present Emperor of
Germany would hesitate one moment to say
to the people of the United States, you have
a right to pledge and did pledge to pay the
principal and interest of bonds due to my
subjects, and l viii now look to you. And
if Germany and France would. say. make
such demand on the United States the
distinguished senator from West Virginia.
/ imagine, would be one of the first to say
we ought to pay up rather than have any
Mr.. Elkins-I say to the senator that I
would not. There is no soundness in his
proposition. There is no authority in the
world and challenge the senator to show
anything that gives authority to support
his proposition in aw-any legal authority.
Mr.. Foraker quoted from Hall TO sustain
his contention as follows when a state
ceases TO exist and 1T is absorbed in anoth-
err state the latter. in the same way, is the
inheritor of all local rights, obligations and
property" Somebody says, continued Mr..
FORAKER, when you go there, If you recog-
nize the existence of that government, you
are compelled to report to Gomez, and there
will be a question at once between General
Miles and General Gomez to who should
the Island Of CHA toEda ANY said the sena a.
tor, 1t is either the Spanish government
or 1t is the republic of Cuba, and when
General Miles goes l would rather have
him report to General Gomez than to Gen.
Blanco.
THE trouble has been whether it would
be independence and intervention, or indie
pendence and a, declaration of war, and
would be standing here arguing for such
declaration if l were not of the opinion
that armed intervention Will give us an OPP
portunty to suitably punish Spain for the
destruction of the Maine and 266 of our Off
GERS Ger and sailors applause In the galleries.
board CT inquiry appointed by our govern
ment, by its report, Las estopped us from
such declaration. l dispute it. 1t is true
that the board of inquiry found they could
not tell what person or persons We're re-
sponsible for that disaster, but the context
shows that in that correction they had
reference only to the question what person
or persons pressed the button that sent the
electric current on it's fateful mission, and
light of the other facts uhequivocally found
by that board of inquiry.
SPANISH REPORT LIE.
Mr.. Foraker then went into the facts re-
lating to the Maine and declared that if
gun had been fired upon the Maine it would
have been act of war. In procaiming it an
accident Spain simply proclaimed what was
being announced by our own government
officials. He then added: 'She finds in that
report that the Maine was destroyed not by
an external agency, but by an accident, by
the explosion of one of her magazines. Mr..
President, that report is lie to the living
and a libel upon the dead; 1t is on its face
absolutely and conclusively false. There is
one circumstance that will forever keep it
branded as such, as it now is, and that is
the TACT that the keel plates of that shin
after the explosion were found thirty-four
feet above where they should have been
found as the ship rests on the bottom of
that harbor If there had been no explosion.
ana the bottom plates of the sl~p are bent
upward like an inverted " Spain recog-
nlzed that she must make a defense. She
cnoSe to call 1T an accident; she so reported.
RMS one fact absolutely wrecks and de-
stroyed her whole defense as completely as
the Maine was destroyed by her submarine
mine. What is the result? The result of
1t is that Spain stands to-day convicted by
her own effort at defense convicted in the
presence of the nations of the EARTH of that
hideous and cowardly crime
What is our duty in view of it? Mr.
PRESIDENT, we owe 1T to the brave men dead
brutal charge that they died of their own
negligence. We owe it. Mr. President, to
the splendid record of the American navy
sought to be put upon it, We owe it, Mr.
president. to our own good name among
the nations of the earth, that the perpetra-
tors of such cruel outrage shall not go
unwhipped of justice.
mo nation can afford to pass by such an
affront as that in silence. This is not case
Tor the application of the scriptural injunc-
ton about the turning of the other cheek
but it is case. Mr.. President, for the
application of that other scriptural injunc-
non, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for
a tooth
1T is not morality: it is not Christianity;
1t is not religion: it is not common de-
cency; it is not common sense; but only
maudlin sentimentalty to talk in the pres
ence OF such circumstances and facts about
the horrors of war. War is horrible always
to be deplored. and ever to be avoided if If
can be avoided consistently with the dignity
and the honor and the good name of the
Nation. But, Mr.. President. much as war
is to be deplored, it is a thousand times bet
ter to have it in case like this than to be
written down before the nations of the
earIh-puS1llanlmOuS-a wanting in pluck
and courage.
Yes. Mr.. President, business interests
may be interfered with. loss of life may oc-
cur, all apprehended evils may result, but
no matter what the cost, in the presence of
this great commanding duty. we must go
forward The time. l repeat, for the dip
lomat has passed. The time for action has
come. Let the doubling, the hesitating. the
opposing 90 to the rear while the virile.
masses of the American people. coming
from all sections and all pursuits and voca-
tions of life, rally as one man around our
gallant army and navy and. taking the flag
victory applause in the galleries. a vic
tory, Mr.. President, for civilization over
capacity of man to govern himself, a
victory for the Western hemisphere. a
victory for freedom and liberty and
independence, a victory worthy of the
descendants of heroic men who achieved
our own Independence and worthy of the
followers of those heroic men who have
since preserved and perpetuated our price
less heritage" applause in the galleries.
Mr. Hale offered substitute for the pend
ing resolution authorizing the President to
intervene at once and to use the army and
navy to this end The substitute carries no
recognition of independence The Hale sub
stitute went over. 1t is in accord with the
Presidents message.
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