The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-12

| L Will SLlH wait until midn1ght. L Deg
of you to kindly communicate its de-
| cision before midnight. and that this
| decision may be couched in terms which
may prevent the sad consequences that
I should greatly regret but which 1
| believe inevitable if things continue in
| their present state"
| The letter was sent as an intimate
communication, for it commenced My
| dear friend"
1870 a. m.-Spain's 1aconic minister
for war, General Correo, has at last
| broken his silence. In an interview
the general a given am interesting
account of the situation, saying: war
is the better of two evils. 1T is better
to fight foreigners han to fight Span
iards rising in Indignation if their hon
or and rights are trampled under foot"
GUARDS INCREASED AT AMERI-
GAIN LEGATION.
NOon.-The guards around the Unit
ed States legation were 'trebled today.
General Woodford was at his desk at
an early hour and many Americans
called to ask about the arrangements
made for their protection. The general
said he would remain here until di-
rected to apply for his passports, or
until they are handed to him. He add
ed that when he leaves the British flag
will be hoisted over the United States
legation.
In spite of the alarming situation and
the general belief that the end is about
reached, several of the diplomats still
hope for peace.
THE city, thus far, is perfectly quiet.
The family of General Woodford,
which left this city last night, has ar
rived at Hendaye, on the frontier, and
proceeded to Biarritz.
$50 p. m.-The Heraldo's leading ar
/ tio1o .uml1 onp1o1r1 tho TIC %, .
conduct in replying to General Wood
ford. whose proceedings" the article
says. ARE considered extraordinarily
bruSQue and blamable."
Briefly summed UP, The Heraldo's in
formation points to the fact that war
is inevitable, but the newspaper still
attaches great Importance to the &C
ton of the ministers of the powers at
Washington.
MINISTER WOODFORD'S STATE
MENT.
$50 n. m.-United States Minister
Woodford has issued the following
statement to the Spanish press:
The Madrid newspapers of this
morning are filled with statements
concerning the American minister
Which are so inaccurate that he asks
the courtesy of the press 20 correct
them. lie docs this In the interests Of
friendship and peace.
THE proprieties of his diplomatic po-
sftion forbid his making amy statement
with regard to his diplomatic action
with the Spanish government. But
last September the Spanish foreign Of
flee received written permission to pub
fish the text of any official correspond
ence which he should have at amy time
with the Spanish government, and this
permission is effective today. The Span
ish government is at complete liberty
to publish every word he has ever add
dressed to the foreign office by letter,
memorandum or statement.
The second secretary Of the Ameri-
"a legation has sailed for New York
to resume the practice OF his profess
sion. He has resigned from the .diplO-
matte service. The American minis
ter's wife left with her niece for Paris
Wednesday night. She is in poor
health and the excitement of the past
fortnight has compelled her to- seek
absence and rest. The daughter of the
American minister remains and will re
main With him at Madrid He has not
given UP his residence, where he ex-
poets to reside so long as he shall re-
main accredited to the Spanish court.
1.-THE American minister has received
iothing but courtesy from THE people
of Madrid. He has never had the
slightest apprehension as to his own
personal security or that of his family.
He is working for peace and, despite
all rumOr to the contrary, he still
hopes peace Will he kept between Spain
and the United States and that peace
will soOn be re-eStabIished in Cuba,
based upon absolute justice, with pro
lection for the great American Interests
in that island and the maintenance on
7 the honor of Spain"
1:13 p. m.-TOday being Holy Thurs
day all traffic is suspended. The streets
are ovid with aides in mantillaS
many wearing the national co1ors ir
their hair, going from one church tc
another. While the crowd was thickesl
General Woodford, the United States
minister, and Miss Woodford walked
from the United States legation to theil
residence. They were recognized 10y
man but their promenade was MOI
marked by any special incident.
Several of the papers published state
ments by Lieutenant General Correo
minister of war, apparently au.N ntic
in which he denies that the govern men:
is threatened with a miniSter:&i crisis
Referring to the possibly of a con.
fict with the United States, Genera
Correo is represented as expressing g
hope that it may still be averted, ''be.
cause it is known that President Nc
Kinley'S message to the American con
gress will refer neither to independents,
nor to intervention" Genera Core,
dded: In thus changing his atti
tude, President Mckinley responded
doubtless to SPANS determined con
duct, and if we nae not bowed our
heads at the time We suffered our frs
J humiliation we should not find our
selves where We are today. I Inn no
of those who blindly shout victory,
should there be a rupture and hoStili
ties, but / believe that of the two evil
wal is preferable to humiliation"
$50 p. m.-H Pals (republican) pub
fishes a sensational account Of an al
legged attack upon the Spanish Legation
in Washington, which is being cried al
over town. The paper is not regarde,
seriously, but the ~purpose of the ar
ticle is evidently to foment feeiin;
against the American legation here
and the civil governor OF Madrid ha
called the attention of the fiscals t
the matter with a view of stopping tn