The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-03-02
olsHoNs' COUNSEL.
Cardinal Praises the Administration and
Urges solf Control In Maine Casa

Urges self Control In Maine Casa
BALrrMoRE, March l. "A solemn re-
auiem mass for the repose Of the souls Of
those who lost their lives through the
destruction of the battleship Maine in
Havana was celebrated at the cathe-
dral this morning. Cardinal Gibbons
made an address and read the services
for the dead. A number of naval and
military officers were present includ-
ing the militia and naval reserves.
The vocal music was furnished by an
opera company now performing in
Philadelphia.
The cardinal said we do not
fully realize how ardently we love our
country until some crisis occnrs
which awalScns our devotion TO her
and arOuses our admiration and graft
tude for those who have died "A
her service. Such a crisis has quite
recently occurred, for we have
assembled here this morning to assist
at the holy sacrifice offered up 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 expression TO our
heartfelt coincidence and sympathy
for the bereaved relatives OF those
faithful defenders Of their country
whom the nation mourns | see be-
fore me representatives. of our army
and navy; / see representatives of our
excellent state militia and Of our fell
low citizens at large You represent
a sorrowing nation, for every home in
our broad country feels the loss as a
personal one
TOO much praise cannot he be-
slowed upon the president and on the
members Of his cabinet, and particu-
larly on the secretary OF the navy and
his able assistant, as well as on the
houses of Congress, for the calmness
and tranquility, the self control and
self possession which they have ex-
hibited during the fearful ordeal
through which the country has been
passing In the last few days IL needed
only a sparl to kindle a great confla-
grafton, and the patient and dignifed
bearing of the executive and legisla-
tive bodies are all the more commend
able in view of the mischievous and
Incorporate utterances OF some sen
sational newspapers
This nation is too brave, too
strong, too powerful and too just to
leDgage in an unrighteous or precip.
itate war Let us remember that the
eyes of the world are upon us, whose
Judgment we cannot despise, and that
we will gain more applause and credit
for ourselves ~ calm deliberation and
masterly inactivity, than by recourse
TO arms Thrice is he armed who
hath his quarrel just
IL hope and believe, for the honor
of humanity, that the destruction oi
the Maine was caused by an accident
and in that case Spain cannot be re
sponsible. But suppose some fendisf
Gu ban had occasioned this fearful los:
of life in order to embrol our nation
in war with his mother country In
that case Spain should not be held re
lsponsible. Aud even had some fanat
ical Spauiard pcrpetrated this afro
cious crime, there would be no ueces
sity for recourse to arbitrament o
the sword
"1he only circumstances that woulC
warrant active hostilit;es would b.
the evidence that the Spanish govern
ment connive1 at the placing of tor
pedoes or explosives in the harbor o
Havana TO destroy our vessel But
do not believe, and no sane man ear
believe, that a chiyalrie nation woulC
he guilty of such inhumanity.
IAN able commission has been ap
pointed by the government to investi
gate the cause Of the disaster. Let n
camly aud dispassionately await th'
result OF their verdict and not anticl
pate their Judgment One thing is Ger
tain, this country knows how in al
emergency 10 defend her honor anC
protect her interests.