The herald., 1898-09-27

destruction of the Maine and her gallant
crew. Somebody Is responsible for this.
| But We have made no partisan claim based
upon that chapter of negligence and In
competency. The Republicans ought to be
very willing, as we permit that scandal OF
the war to remain the common sorrow CT
cur whole people, to let the glory OF the
war remain the common heritage Of all.
And let me say here do not know who
was responsible for the neglect Of our sol
d.ers, and therefore l do not attempt to
place the blame; l do not attempt to pass
Judgment upon the secretary Of war. But
this do know, that congress-Democrats
Republicans. Popul.sts, Silver Repuh-
Leans, without any distinction as to party
made ample appropriations for all the pur-
poses Of the war and placed those appro-
pr.ations under the control Of the present
! Republican administration. Here let me
say that the statement Of my opponent that
had voted against any OF such bills is an
error, based, l have no doubt, upon m!s,n-
formation.
1t may be that the fault does not lie with
the secretary OF war. He says 1t lies with
the officers below him. They point to each
other In succession shifting responsibility.
Judge, the leading Republican comic pa
per of the Union. caricatur1ng this shifting
of responsibility in recent issue has a
long line commencing with the secretary
of war and ending with the army mule, all
trying to shift the responsibility and the
mule stoldly bearing 1t. daughter and
applause)
If, then, they claim credit for what the
soldiers and sailors did not as portisans
but as Americans. they must accept re-
sponsibility for what those who neglected
the soldiers have done and left undone. I
do not ask that they accept even the lat
ter, but l say to them that they have much
less claim to the former than they have
responsibility for the latter. (Applause.)
If the responsibility were placed upon
them for the neglect of our soldiers and
for their suffering and death, they could
expect, instead of credit'and election. only
reputation and utter defeat. (Applause.)
But do not ask that. I ask that they put
the war, its glories and its scandal aside
as matter common to all the people, re-
gardless of party, and let US discuss the
domestic issues to which the people have
now turned their minds. (Applause.)
Barnes Platform Criticisms
Inc next LnTee Columns OIL 1tH. JodTHeS
opening speech are devoted to an essay on
the South Sea islands, apparently taken
very largely from the travels Of Captain
Cook and the "Cruise O. the Challenger %
Based upon those, at least doubtful.
sources of information. the general tells
us that he is prepared to say now what are
tthe interests of our country in the mat
ter; that he has determined infallibly
where our country's interests lie. He
condemns the platform of the Democratic
party of California on that question be-
cause It leaves the matter open to be de-
termined when investigation shall put
us in possession of all the facts and of
all the conditions necessary to make an
intelligent determination of the question.
Let him not condemn the platform. Let
him remember If he has forgotten 1t, or
learn it If he does not know it, that the
Democratic platform on that subject was
simply tacit approval Of the course TAX
en- by the present Republican president
of the United States on that question.
(Applause) 1 happened to be in Sacra-