The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-12
Ole Wessenger:
OUR FLYING SQUADRON NOTES

H19n VINO can dIS"tI Lilo foNo~AN"'
President Mckinley cannot, Hanna
cannot, the pope cannot, Uncle Sam
cannot, the navy cannot, Spain cannot
So who is equal to the big job? 1t is
usain Major Nc. is not, and it is well
Rnown that corruptionist Mark Hanna
cav there must be no war, and sc say
vine business, legal AMI literary lights
OF Boston. How, then, cam there be
war;? Northern mugwumps and re-
Dublicans say the destruction of the
Maine is a mere triffing incident@
~g,apafelle not worthy Of serious consid-
Grafton. How, then, we repeat, can
A7as~e be war;? 1t must come through
zhe action of the congress-. Mchlhley
asks for unrestricted powers until &c
sober. The congress will prove ltsef
a body of fools if they grant it. What
V,as Mckinley done to justify sue an
request? Delay Is the game
uf the administration. That is constru-
cd by its organs and friends TO mean
peace at amy price. One OF these, Ihe
Philadelphia Record, says:
IIIplay JIIdhto III PCo(N'
of the situation was reflect
cd in the course of the stock markets
The presidents message Will probably
mot DE sent ito congress before tomor-
TOW. Congressional action is mot lfkely
to take any more belicose turn than
she acknowledgement of Cuban lnde-
pendence."
In the meantime, there is dissatls-
foction among republicans in the con-
grrss. and out OF it, ait the dllatory
course of the powers that be-" How
far the revolt will extend depends upon
the unrolling "Of coming events with
an a few days or weeks. Europe is
inclined to try to have the matters In
dispute settled by arbitration. The
nope Ieads in behalf Of peace. He is
irving 70 save Spain from a righteous
Iisykirfg. But Cardinal Gibbons is not
mefdling at all in the delicate ques-
sSon. He has had no talk with Nick
aey about the war. Spain is agreeable,
1t is reported, to the pope's plan as
mediator. But it is also stated that
CIR government refused to accede. The
Baltimore Herald says on this matter
OF mediation:
41Of the claims to temporal sovereign
fy advanced by the Holy See, this gov
I'M cannot take Official
Nv the Catholic Hierarchy can he re-
rOnginzed only as a spiritual power.
IT'S aims are essentially religious ana
moral. concern for the material well
fare of individuals and states being
made Incidental thereto. The Constl-
tuition of the United States distinctly
provides that affairs of state and
church shall be kept apart
mckinley has no power under the
Constitution to accept mediation, if he
SO desired. He may be influenced by
Northern Methodist bishops aus to his
course, but not by amy foreign poten-
tate or e~cclesiastic. The pope is mot
no be censured for desiring peace. His
intentions are doubtless benignant. He
o. cam exercise his efforts with good re-
ssIlts if he can induce Spain to mend
fer cruel and devilish ways, and learn
something of national honor, mercy
and truthfulness It is hard to dea
p~eaceaibly with a people who murder
and starve and blow up ships belong
Sng to friendly powers. Possibly SPAR
may be willing to make concessions
but will they bring back to life the
30 murdered Americans and restore tt
original perfection and power the pat
telship Maine? Will they give liberty
and independence and indemnity to TIT
Cubans?
Representative Richmond Pearson, o.
:o ;,trNI,oal q INtiOr
looking to Cuban independence. Unless
che maine outrage is resented In the
xroper way, and he liberties OF Cuoa
are assured, the (bluster and drum-beat-
Eng of the United States for months
ssill appear foolish and end IN mere
-sa,nd and fury, signifying nothing
Mt is reported from Cuba that the pa
sriots will accept nothing short OF IN
dependence, and all right thinking, I'D
srty loving, genuine Americans must
sxay that this is right. The navy is res
,fsve and disappointed. When naval or
fcers read the u~tterances of many
mugwump and republican.
I'm the Middle and Eastern states they
must feel very indignant and Disguised.
AS an abstract question, The Messen-
ger has not favored war, but weeks
ago showed it's understanding OF the
great horrors of war and its attend
ing decentralization and losses. 1t Is
very costly IL life and business and
heaps UP misery and ruin and suffer
ing 1t is indeed a most serious thing
TO engage a people at any time. There
Ms not much to be gained in war. but
xxar is like some law suits-forced upon
YOU. Tt is very certain o hat the
gold democratic press, with OUT very
few exceptions, is opposed TO war an0
MS with Mckinley in his policy. But
xome how his policy divides his own
party. There is far more division
nmong the NOW than two
weeks or a month ago. Many of them