The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-29

A-ANS CS4A<1 III n
the Maine matter a side issue 1t says:
1t Is the duty Of both sides to obtain
an independent investigation To send
assistance 10 the non-combatants IN
Cuba is to force war"
The Morning Post says: The gray-
ity OF the Cuban question - enormous
~ increased by the American report.
because. II even no distinct indictment
or the Spanish government is included,
the reserve hitherto maintained VIII be
d. abandoned and Spain will De charged
Dy American papers with treachery
and malice, while the American people
viii be excited to fever point"
Spain. however, has already borne
SO much that conflict may still be
avoided, but If her object has only
been 10 gain time, ii may be said that
she IS now in a position TO adopt a
more martial attitude"
The Daily Chronicle, after expressing
a doubt whether the Spanish inquiry
has been conducted as carefully as the
American, the report of whose COM
mission, il says, is in harmony with
all rs probabilities of the case" pro-
ceeds TO review the principal aspect
of the question. The patience OF the
Washington government" says The
Daily Chronicle, and the calm, pa
cific policy of the president have been
beyond all praise. Had the people Of
The United States been polled on the
question, war would have been declar-
ed before now, not, as has been false
ly suggested. on account Of
and commercial interests. but on
grounds of humanity and because of
the intollerable stencil of this open
sore close to the borders OF the great
republic. But II is evident that the
time for action has arrived. Presi-
dent Mckinley must take such steps
as to challenge in the most direct wa
l ne ne rioht 70 n1I1r3ar hAr- rpv01rpl
colonists any longer. If she attempts
to resist the provisioning of starving
CubanS from American ports, war
there Will and must be, quite apart
from any ~treachery to the American
warship. Despite all rumors it is quite
certain that Spain Will have no allies
AMI the result will he the liberation of
Cuba"
Il LIABILITY.
The Daily Telegraph says: 'Suppos-
ing the American report to be sub
Stimulated, there can be no question
that Spain is primarily responsible, as
any country would be if a similar cat
astrophe occurred along its coast line.
If the Spanish authorities were ig-
norant of the position of the subma-
rine mines, their ingorance is culpable.
If they were aware and omitted TO
warn their guests, their position Is
still less defensible. The report adds
fuel to the flames. If the task of diplo-
matists and STATESMEN was arduous be
fore it is ten times more difficult now"
IANTI-SPANISH DEMONSTRATION.
Easton, Pa, March 25.-Three hum
dred and fifty Lafayette students made
an anti-Spanish demonstration in Eas-
ton tonight, headed by a fag-bearer
and the college band. They marched
to the telegraph Office and offered
President Mckinley their services in
case of war.
GENERAL GRAHAM'S TOUR.
Savannah, Ga, Marcn 25.-General
!; Graham, commanding the department
of the gulf, left tonight for ST. Angus
tine, Fla. He said he found the troops
at Tybee in firSt-class condition. The
f~ortification is about complete, n will
be ready to do effective service, he
says, within a short time. In case of
ergen General Graham is salts
fled there would be no trouble in get
ting it ready for work in short order.
General Graha avs full arrange
5 ments can be made to protect Warsaw
sound, the entrance to Thunderbolt
t river, in a little while in case of hos
t~ilities.
FINDING OF SPANISH COURT.
Madrid, March 25.-The Spanish gov
j has received the Spanish re-
port Of the loss of the Maine, which,
/ however, is said to be confused" and
explanations are said to ave been re-
quested. In any case, it is added, it
D Will not be published until after the re-
t ! port of the United States naVa court
3 of inquiry has been made public. This
Spanish report says it is scientifically
= and practically demonstrated that the
explosion was internal"
t The United States minister, General
| Ctnyyorf yNnn1fnr3 bod q 1n,r ono-
ference this evening with the minister
= | for foreign affairs, SenQr GIllOn. AbsO-
' lutte reticence is observed as to what
transpired.
The Correspondence says The Span
ish government will dispatch a note tC
a Washington, requesting that the report
on the loss of the Maine be not SEN
r to congress until both reports are pre-
r scented and considered by both govern
q ments.
e Newport News, Va, March 25.-Thc
battleship Texas sailed suddenly this al
ternoOn when only a few tons of coal
had been taken aboard. A barge load
= of fuel was refused and the ship put
e to sea in a hurry. 1t is understood thai
4 she has gone to the Brooklyn navy
e yard.
Washington, March 25.-The Texas
n is bound for the Brooklyn navy-yard
: where some improvements will be made
in the facilities for loading the guns
n of the ship. The necessary plant for
this purpose is not available at Nor
g folk. 1t is the desire of the department
to put the Texas into the highest state
of efficiency, said an official of the navy
= department tonight, so as to have her
ready for service at t~wenty-four hours
notice.
4 General Wheeler, Of Alabama, today
introduced in the house a bill providing
f that in the event of an act of war be-
: ing committed by Spain or any other
A foreign nation prior to the meeting OF
4 the next session of congress, the presi-
. dent OF the United States is hereby au-
: thorized to accept tenders of volunteer
: troops, to purchase arms and munitions
of war to equip such troops for active
service, organize such troops into bri-
gades, divisions and armies for active
Saryica onnain- nzoo~-arv oaparo1