The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-15
PRESIDENTS AFTER-THOUGHT
AND AFTER PURPOSE.

WIZ AHN
M~ezssenger was written we were arnaz-
ri at the character and tone Oh Ohe
presdca hts extraordinary and very Cd
zcure message. We commented upon
III with severity. Tt seems from the
rs.nor of the speeches i'm both houses
of congress on Tuesday that h insult
4Tcje1cy of the message was apparent,
md the dissatisfaction thereat and the
disappointment consequent upon II
we're manifested in a very unmistak-
able way. The press abroad, the Span
rsn officials, WA street and the con-
s,ress feel that the words of the pres-
dent, correctly interpreted, fell far
short Of meeting popular expectation
and Of his duty. He wanter interVen-
eTDn with arms, which probably has
been correctly interpreted by Mr.. Bail
ey. Of the house, as given in tine re-
ports fin yesterdays Messenger. 1t
might terminate in serious injury to
EaTe Cubans and fix forever Spanish
rule upon the island. Mr.. GrOsvenor,
who. is the m~outhpiece of the Mckin-
ley syndicate. called not inlaptly the
cabinet, felt the pressure so sharply,
and doubtless the president sees the
hole plainly now that he digged for
Ytrrn5elf and the Cubans, steps out be-
gore the fOCtlights to declare, and TO
reitarate, that the president really
meant that he should be granted power
Ito establish independent government
in the island of Cuba" But Mckinley
Did not say THAT, and we do not hest
taste to say, we do not believe he meant
that. His message was Studied, no
doubt, by the abine in every point,
an every phrase, and the real intent
1as no doubt apprehended. If he had
yturpOsad independence and freedom for
the Cuban insurgents he would have
said SO plainly and unmsitakably. A
simple phrase added to his request for
the use of army and navy, that he
wished to use it to give to the CuDanS
sihe4ir freedom and Independence for
ever from Spanish rule, would have
Eeft no ground for misrepresentation,
1aLse interpretation or ~quibbling. Gross
genor spoke to supplement- "a great
presidential deficiency. He saw the
chief executive was ~''eXhausted,' and
me sought to give him timely aid that
would serve to break the severity of
his fall. The president wrote of "a
stable government" AS Mr.. Bailey
said in his speech, there is a great diff
ference between a stable and an indie
xEp.Yn6 ant ~AN7J-ph1pnf for the Sn9N mia r5S
might give Cuba such a STABLE gov
eminent as would forever crush all
revolts and defy ali future dreams of
liberty and independence. Some Cf the
senators spoke directly to the point
4and demanded recognition of Cuban in
dependence and war because OF the in
amou destruction of the Maine.
w Like the statement that senators
are for making the Maine the true, the
REAL Issue. There are other things THAT
help to make strong the course of those
WIS favor wal with Spain, embraced
En repeated insults, in the cause Of hu-
mainly, in the injuries visited upon the
limited States by the long war, so ruin
Dus and destructive of life, of property.
commerce, and the menace to the
safety of the south in the matter of the
public health from the importation OF
yellow fever. We shall be diSappOint-
sd in our expectations if the American
congress does not boldly, bravely pass
II measure that will teach Spanish au- |
trOTities a lesson not to be soon for
goErehn, that it is g. most hazardous as
as Internal act to destroy MA |
lfciolISly, deliberately, under the cover |
OF darkness, an American ship lying |
at anchor in IA time of peace in a Span
Ssh harbor. We hope if war is declared
Il will unite all sections all parties in |
4 determined purpose ito reach peace !
early by the most strenuous, reSolute, |
measures. Let lit be a brave
american war, and let there be no en- |
at home, no blua-ligihts hung out, |
do Hartford Conventions called to de-
nolrnce the American people while Of |
ferfng sympathy and help to the SPAN
cards. Let us use again, ais we did use
Seeks ago, the glowing, patriotic senti-
Fnent of that splendid fighter of Old. !
y fTgfnia,s Captain Stephen DECATUR
~OuT country: may she always Te
right: but right or wrong, our coun-
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