The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-29

Washington. March 2s.-The president
today sent the following message to con-
gress:
To the Congress of the United States.
| For some time prior to the visit of the
] Maine to Havana harbor our consular rep
resentatives pointed out the advantages 10
follow the visit OF our National ships to
| Cuban waters, in accustoming the people
| to the presence Of our flag as symbol OF
| good will and our ships in the fulfilment
OF the mission OF protection to American
interests, even though no Immediate need
| therefor might exist.
| Accordingly, on the Gath of January last
after a conference with the Spanish min
lister, in which the renewal OF visits of our
warships to Spanish waters was discussed
and accepted, the peninsular authorities at
Madrid and Havana were advised OF the
purpose of this government TO resume
friendly naval visits at Cuban ports and
that in that view the Maine would forth
with call at the port Of Havana This an
nouncement was received by the Spanish
government by expressions of apprecia-
the Maine and with notification of the
intention to return the courtesy by send
ing Spanish ships to the principal ports of
the United States.
Meanwhile the Maine entered the port OF
Havana on the 25th of January. her arrival
being marked with no special incident be-
sides the exchange Of the customary sa-
| Int al tp;t ~ Al
continued in the harbor OF Havana during
the three weeks following her arrival. No
appreciable excitement attended her stay.
On the contrary a feeling of relief and
confidence followed the resumption of the
long interrupted friendly intercourse. So
noticeable WIS this immediate effect OF her
visit that the consul general strongly urged
that the presence OF onr ships in Cuban
waters should be kent up by retaining them
at Havana or in the event OF the Names
recall by sending another vessel there 10
take her place.
At forty minutes past on the evening
OF February 10 the Maine was destroyed by
an explosion. by which the entire forward
part of the ship was utterly wrecked. In
this catastrophe two officers and 26O OF her
crew persisted. those who were not killed
outright by her explosion being penned be-
tween the decks by tangle of wreckage
and drowned by the immediate sinking of
the hull.
! Prompt assistance was rendered by
| nsighboring vessels anchored in the har.
bcr, aid being especially given by boats OF
r.. i,tn md 4.
Ward steamsr City OF Washington which
| Law not far distant. The wounded were
generously cared for by the authoritite OF
| Havana. the hospitals hcing freely opened
I'D 10 them, while The earliest recovered
! bodies of the dead were inferred by the
Municipality in the public cemetery In the
| city Tributes OF grief and sympathy Were
offered from all official quarters OF the H.
| lard.
The apalling calamity fell ON our people
with crushing force and :or brief time
intense excitement prevailed, which In
community less Just and self controlled
than ours might hsva LED 10 hasiy acts Of
coon gave way TO calmer process OF rea-
son and n resolye 10 INVESTIGATE the iarss
ard await material proof before formins
judgment as 10 tie cause and the re
sponsibilty and II the facts Warranted a
remedy wss due. This course necessarily
recommended itself from the crtset 10 the
e1seu,iyo for rHiy In the iisht OF dispas-
e,onatcly ss.risinrd certainty could y
determine the nature and measure Of 10
full duty in the matter
The usual procedure was followed As IN
ali cases Of casualty or disaster 70 any