Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-04-01
Congress
Wants War.
The Senate Is Swept by a Flood
of Feeling.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
A TAME AFFAIR.
Resolutions Offered Declaring
War. Senator Mason makes
a Burning Appeal And
Says he is for War.

Since the last issue of the
FISHERMAN & FARMER the re.
port of theCourt of Inquiry as tc
the explosion of the Battleship
Maine has been submitted
showing that the explosion was
external and, Notwithstanding,
the Court fails to fix any respon-
sibility, the findings show Span
ish conspiracy. The report went
to Congress Monday accompan
led by a calm, brief review from
the Presidential message of
only tame recital of facts, and
SO very disappointing that it is
not surprising that those mem>
berS of Congress who believe
that the time has arrived to put
an end to Spanish rule i'll the
Western hemisphere are restive
at this time Up to Monday
every wish of the President had
been respected by Congress, but
the indications now are that un-
less he at once o1mulates a pol
icy, the carrying out of which
will make Cuba independent,
the two branches of Congress
will take the subject in their
own hands and bring matters
to a crisis by the adoption of the
resolutions, which have been
introduced, recognizing the in
dependence of Cuba; and in tax
ing this action they will have
behind them the great body OF
liberty loving people of Amer
ica.
SENATOR MASON FOR WAR.
Senator Mason, in a speech,
declared he is for war, which
caused great applause in the
galleries, and which the Vice
President could not stop. He
says the responsibility for the
wreck of the Maine lies with
Spain, and she must pay the
penalty. He says he is tired of
the dilatory tactics which the
Government has displayed. He
will oppose asking for indem>
nifty, annexation, or the purchase
of Cuba, and will demand the
withdrawal of the Spanish flag |
and the absolute freedom Of the
island.
Mr.. Mason first spoke Of the
condition of affairs in Cuba and !
the pictures painted by those
who had visited the island, and
in speaking of the destruction of
the Maine, Mr.. Mason said:
THE battle ship Maine, our
gallant ship went down and 26S
of our gallant citizen sailors
with her. At the time, every
citizen of the United States, fa>
miliar with the Spanish charac.
ter, felt confident it was Spanish
treachery. Suppose ninety of
the sailors who were murdered
had been United States Senators,
the balance had been
of Congress or made
up of judges and leading pro
fessional and business men,
would forty days have elapsed
before war began, or suppose
each Senator had a son or faith
er there? Do we tell our children
the truth when we say that the
life of every American citizen is
of equal value before the law?
They were not Senators. They
were sailors. Their widows and
orphans cry aloud to US, the
silent appeal of 26s seamen
comes to us again, saying, we
are flesh Of your flesh, bone of
your bone aud blood OF your
blood, we loved and died for the
flag that shields you. What is
to be our answer, shall we answer
with money?
"Mr. President, | speak only |
for myself, and l am for war.
"But gentlemen may say:
Don't say you are for war-say |
that you are for armed irterven>
ton which means war. | believe
in calling things by their right