The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-01
CARDINAL GIBBONS

Celebrates Requiem Mass for Those XIII.
ad In Maine sDisuster-iIs Deiiysrs a
Very Patriotic Address. t
BALTIMORE, Feb. 2s.--A rolemn re.
quiem mass for the repose OF the souls
OF those who lost their lives through
the destruction Of the battleship Maine
in Havana harbor was celebrated at
tho cathedral here this morning. Car
dinal Gibbons made an address ard
read the services for the dead. A num-
ber Of naval and military officers were
present, including those OF the militia
and naval reserve. The vocal music
was furnished by a quartette from the
"Brde-elect" opera company. now per-
forming in Philadelphia.
The cardinal said: Eve do not fully
realize how ardently We love our coun-
try until some crisis occurs 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 oc.
Cured, 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 10 our
heartfelt coincidence and sympathy for
the bereaved relatives Of those faithful
defenders Of their country whom the
sentatives OF our army and navy; see
Representatives OF our excellent state
militia and Of our fellow citizens at
large. You represent Borrowing ma
tlon, for. every home in our broad coun-
try feels the LOGS as q personal one.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed
on the President and on the members
Of his cabinet, and particularly on the
secretary Of the navy and his able as
s!stant, as well as on the houses Of
congress, for the calmness and tranquil
ity, the selt-control and self-possessIon
which they have exhibited during the
fearful ordeal through which the coun-
try has been passing In the last few
days. 1t needed only q spark to kindle
great conflagration, and the patient
and dignified bearing OF the executive
and legislative bodies are all the more
commendable In view OF the m!schiev-
Gus and Incorporate utterances Of some
sensational newspapers. 5
too powerful and too Just to engage in
an unrtghteous or preclpltate war. Let
US remember that the eyes ofythe world
are upon US, whose judgment we cannot
despise, and that We will gain more ap-
plause and credit for ourselves by calm
deliberatlon and mastery inactivity,
than by recourse to arms. Thrice Ii
he armed who hath his quarrel just
IT hope and believe, for the honor Of
humanity, that the destruction OF the
Maine was caused by an accident, and
in that case Spain, cannot be RESPONSE
bic. But suppose some fiend!sh Cuban
had occasored this fearful loss OF life
in order to embro!f our nation in a war
with his mother country. In that case
Spain should not be held responsible.
Ard even had some fanatlcal Spaniard
perpetrated this atrocious crime. thero
would be no necessity for O recourse to
arbltrIment OF the sword.
"The only circumstance that would
warrant active hostillties 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 be-
lleye, and no sane man can believe.
that ch!valric nation would be guilty
OF such inhumanlty.
IAN able commission has been ap-
pointed by the government to inrest!-
gate the cause OF the disaster. Let US
calmly and dispuss!onately await the
result OF their verdict and not artici-
pate their Judgment. One thing Is cer-
tain. this country knows how In any
emergency to defend her honor and pro-
tect her interests.
These brave men did not die, indeed,
on the deck OF the ship with weapons
In their hands. Nevertheless We must
regard them as the heroes or martyrs
to this country, who died at the post to
which the call to duty assigned them.
I earnestly hope that the day Is not far
off when grateful nation Will show
her appreciation OF the services OF those
brave and faithful public servants by
erecting TO their memory q suitable
monument, q monument which Will not
only commemorate the dead, but which
VIII be an incentive Of patriotism. to the
living by keeping before them the sem
t!ment so well expressed by the Roman
poet: 'Dulce decorum est pro pntria
mori" TT ls swec: and honorable to
die for ones country" 'as
so. ---------s------- tF'Fsas
soldiers Sprueins up. ga
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