The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-27
AMBASSADOR HAY.
HIS CORDIAL RECEPTION AT THE
COURT OF ST JAMES.


He Goes to England at a Critical Moment.
Press Criticism of British Gush Over Our
New Representative to the British Court.
Catholics Stirred up Over the Lee Taxil
Confession.
(Coppyright by Associated Press.)
London, April 24.-The reception ac-
corded to Colonel John Hay, the new
United States ambassador to the court
of ST. James, has been most cordial on
all sides. The newspapers have been
most eulOgistic and it is emphatically
case of lie roi est mort, vive le roi.'
There have been many illusions to
Colonel Hays dignified reticence, COM
pared with the volubility of his prede-
cessor, Mr.. Bayard. The Daily News af-
ter the warmest praise Of Colonel Hay
says: 1T would be useless to deny
that he comes at a rather critical mo-
ment. A year ago Great Britain and
the United States were on the brink of
war and the reception of the arhitra-
tion treaty had bitter disappointment
to Aemrica's best friends in England
Colonel Hay, Of course, cannot influence
the senate, but he will doubtless inform
Secretary Sherman how strong is
England's wish for it's speedy ratifica-
tion.'
The Daily Mail says: There is
something undignified in the gushing
manner we welcome every gentleman
| the president is good enough to send.
| Does Colonel Hay speak the truth when
| he talks about the 'Affectonate greet
| ing of millions of our kindred across
| the sea?' We all know our kindred are
anything but affectiOnate and if Colo
| mel Hay seems too friendly, a hundred
! American newspapers will call him to
| order"
The newspapers here hail the Cana
| dian tariff with delight. The st. James
| Gazette regards it as the most impOr-
| tant news of the day and as presenting
| the most agreeable prospects to Great
| Britain.
| There has been considerable stir in
| Paris at the public confession of Lee
| Taxil, who recently appeared a convert
| to Rome. from atheism and Free Ma
sonry, that he had been hoaxing the
| pope, the cardinals, the priests and the
| people. Taxil, for long time past, has
! been putting a woman, Diana Vaughan,
| born Of Protestant parents in Ken
tucky, who he declared was the sect
head Of the Free Masons, who, in Amer
lea, were devoted to satanism. It was
| further stated that, under the auspices
Of the late General Albert Pike she had
| married the Devil Asmodeus.'' Soon
! after, Taxil announced that Diana
| Vaughan had been converted to Ca
| tholicism and he found ready believers
| among a section of the Catholics and
| even drew letter with the papal bless
| ing from Cardinal Parocchi, the vicar
| general of his holiness. Taxil an
| nounced that he intended to produce
| Diana at a meeting, and a large au-
dience, including a number Of priests
| appeared. But instead, Taxil confessed
| that he had perpetrated a gigantic
hoax. The audience nearly lynched
| him.
| The developments in South Africa are
creating much excitement here espe-
! cially in the case of the sudden dis
patch of the Cape Of Goodhope squad.
ron OF British warships to Delagoa bay
1t is the general impression that Grea
Britain is preparing for some impor
tant move. According to one state
ment, the government learned that sew.
eral German warships had been order
ed to Delagoa bay and, consequently
| is was determined to fOrestall the Ger
! mans. The Globe. however. believes
the explanation is that Great Britain
| will possibly obtain full control of Mo
Zambique, under the Portuguese flag
in return for cancelling the large com
| pensation which Portugal will be con
! demned to pay to Great Britain as
result of the Delagoa award. Grea
Britain would thus administer Mozam
bique as she does Egypt, and the nava
demonstration was intended to war;
off the opposition Of the other powers