The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-01
CARDINAL GIBBONS SPEAKS.
Patriotic Utterances During Services
in Memory of the Dead.

BALTIMORE Feb. PA solemn re-
QUEEN mass for the repose of the souls of
those who lost their lives with the destruc-
ton of the battle ship Maine, in Havana,
was celebrated at the cathedral here this
morning. Cardinal Gibbons made an adj
dress and read the services of the dead.
A number of naval and military officers
were present including those of the militia
and naval reserve. The vocal music was
furnished by a quartet from the Bride
Elect" Opera Company now performing
in Philadelphia. Cardinal Gibbons said:
1--WE do not fully realize how ardently we
love our country until some crisis comes,
which awakens our devotion to her and
arouses our admiration and gratitude for
those who have died in her service. Such
crisis has quite recently occurred, for we
have assembled here this morning to as
sst at the holy sacrifice offered for the
souls of the brave officers and men who
have lost their lives at the post of duty.
We are also called together to give express
sion to our heartfelt coincidence and SYM
pathy for the bereaved relatives of those
faithful defenders of their country whom
the nation mourns
II see before me representatives of our
army and navy; L see representatives of
low-citizens at large. You represent a sor-
rowing nation, for every home in our
broad country feels the loss as a personal
one. Too much praise cannot be bestowed
on the President and on the members of
his Cabinet, and particularly on the secre-
tary of the navy and his able assistant,
as well as on the House of Congress, for
the calmness and tranquility, the self-con-
troll and the Self-posSeSSion, which they
have exhibited during the fearful ordeal
through which the country has been pass
NODDED a
spark to kindle d great conflagration, and
the patient and dignifed bearing of the
executive and legislative bodies are all the
more commendable in view of the mis-
chievous and Incorporate utterances of
some .sensa tional newspapers.
This Nation is too brave, too strong,
too powerful and too just to engage in an
unrighteous or precipitate war. Let us re-
member that the. eyes of the world are
pose, and that we Will gain more applause
and credit for our services by calm DELHI
Grafton and mastery inactivity than by
recourse to arms. Thrice is he armed who
hath his quarrel just
Il hope and believe, for the honor of hu-
mainly. that the destruction of the Maine
was caused by an accident, and in that
case Spain cannot be responsible. But sup
pose some fendish Cuban had occasioned
our Nation in war with his mother coun-
try? In that Spain should not be held
responsible. And even had some fanatical
Spaniard perpetrated this atrocious crime,
there would be no necessity for recourse
to arbitament of the sword
THE only circumstances that would war
rant active hostilities would be the evidence
that the Spanish government connived at
the placing of torpedoes or explosives in the
harbor of Havana to destroy our vessel.
But do not believe, and no sane man can
believe, that a chivalric nation would be
guilty Of such humanity.
"An able commission has been appointed
by the government to investigate the cause
of the disaster Let us calmly and dispaS-
sionately await the result of their verdict
and not anticipate their judgment. One
thing is certain, this country knows how
in any emergency to defend her honor and
protect her interests.
These brave men did not die indeed on
the deck Of ship with weapons in their
hands. Nevertheless, we must regard them
the heroes or martyrs to this country,
who died at the post to which the call of
duty assigned them. l earnestly hope that
the day is not far off when a grateful
Nation will show her appreciation of the
services of those brave and faithful public
servants by erecting to their memory a
suitable monument, monument which will
not only commemorate the dead, but which
will be an incentive of patriotism to the
living by keeping before them the senti-
ment so well expressed by the Roman poet,
'Dulce ct Decorum pro patria MORT cit is
sweet and honorable to die for ones coun-
ffSxy'