The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-19
Dhe Mrssel1er.
THE MAINE"


American press as to the meaning, WIS
tom and consistency ofthe Presidents
oarwelious message. TIL great Lohdon
Times does not look with approval upon
McKin4ey's declaration of purpose 1t
says ~sauarely that 1.-The American case
cannot but be seriously ~prejudiced by
che manner in which it is now present
ed. We doubt, after tOday'S scenes,
whether congres is a fit body to deal
with a great national issue or to act
AS the avenger of the wrong" The
avenging the wrong refers to the Maine
outrage, which is snubbed and about
kicked out of court by President, cabi-
net and congress. But not so by the
people. Nearly every democrat we
have cOnversed with regards the de-
~structfon of the Maine the real, the
great issue. Other are altogether sub
Ordinate, but me president makes them
first an potential. His grounds for
shaking war are not the destruction of
the American war vessel and 268 sail
OTIS that Ought to have been protected
10y the American flag. But his grounds
ARE first, humanity; second and third
protecting Americans in Cuba, and
lastly sedf-preservatiOn-the cOmmer
cial view. The Americans in Cuba
should have left any time within the
Hast year, which they could have done.
This republic is in no danger if Cuba
Mere sum in the sea. SO the self-pre-
servtation plea is the veriest buncOme.
The only real plea Of Mckinley is that
for humanity's sake-tO put down
bagfparities, crueNtiesand hOrrOETs gener-
ally. He is willing to plunge this
country INTO a great war in that way
40 make the United states the great,
busy redres4ser of national wrongs and
oItT1ages. and do it to increase indefi-
nite1y the present great debt burden,
to d largely to the taxes, to issue a
Thousand mFGions of bonds if necessary,
20 kill up brave Americans, to pros
traite business, TO run III the Expense
Of living and to add to the demoraliza-
1On of the country.
And yet the organ in New York of
the presid cnt-The Tribune, a some
ringing words juse before the message
appeared that should be read and re-
lDembered. 1t was headed this-"Re-
member the Maine" That is precisely
Hyhat n people are thinking about.
But hear The Tribune:
There lis one supreme wrong, for
(which fullest PREPARATION is urgently de-
manded. Whatever else may be for
gotten, it never can be. 1t involves
Within itself every element of wrong
thai 1nV and AIN thp ftAat contain nd
more. Ut touches at once the financial
interests of the nation, the security of
property, the sanctity of human lives
and the honor of the nation.
That is the destruction of the Maine.
Tt is to be kept in mind whatever of
peaceful negotiations may be possible.
Hits to furnish the chief rallying cry in
war; if war there be. There must be
repatriation for that awful wrong. The
other injuries this nation has suffered
must be altOned for, but the Maine
mnst be remembered The woes OF the
Cuban people must be abated, but the
Maine qnarst be remembered. The life
long menace to American peace ana
welfare must at last be ended, but the
NIafne must zoe remembered. The out
xage. upOn humanity must be aDOllSn-
cd but the Maine must be remember
e1 There can be no settlement or the
Cuban question ntil that part OF 1t Is
settled"
THAT is the right, honest talk. 1T is
sbe sentiment Of nine-tenths OF the
southern democrats, we believe. The
able, influential st. Louis RepuNlc-
one of the two or three foremost souUn-
,rn democratic opponents, a Y thls'
1T Us right and proper that the san
ors of the American navy Shoula 20
INTO this conflict taking for their p"tIie-
cry the soleurn slogan: 'RelneIlper
rba Naine!" IT win be right for Am
IEcan soldiers to a up that cry
,1shen they are ordered to the front. IL
nxNI rba right for the American people
ro swell his chorus of the army anu
NAVY. Ii is an appeal, not Tot 'ehSe-
aDce, but for jusuice-JuatIce lNf .ne
Diteo,1s dead of the Maine now fotplnS
e. no r,~aters of Havana Earbor or in
enc mold of the Spanish graveyard III
YJavana. They were slain by spanish
Sreachery, and their slayers must Sl-
swer for the crime.
The old Texan cry used 10 pe
snember the Alamo,' for there CROCK
,A7t. Ronham and the other heroes dylhS
x,,,t fighting to the last, gave their nVeS
as a sacrifice TO Mexican vengeance
Tor liberty and Independence. he-
w,prnher he Maine and it's damning,
xqnreful, co~wardly a~SSaSSnatlohS.
The democratic minority report IN tHe
E,o,,se did mot forget he Name put re-
meonbered it. 1t told of the great pro-
vacation offered to our country III phe
.ayyf,M and satanic work OF the SPAN
,ads. teNling of "the deliberate moorlns
of our battleship, the Maine over q
z,,,naarine mine and it's destruction III
tThs harbor of Havana, ana set
so;s yass rejected by a vote of 100 to III
-rpa president was the first to dis
n,srt the country. Even so general
AN indorser of repubficanlsm ana "'
f5nings as the Baltimore Herald Is SCH
4Jble and fair enough to say:
Everything has been 50 pIeC
e. rrnn. that thhrn Is