The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-22

A wild cheer at 2:30 p. IN. announced
the arrival Of the q~ueen-regent, who
\ was driven to the cortes palace in a
state coach, escorted by a detachment
Of Life Guards. The cheering was
taken up within the building, as the
queen-regent entered. the cheers being
! accompanied by enthusiastic cries of
Via La Riena," Viva Alfonso Trece.r
Viva Espana," a really tumultously
| patriotic demonstration.
The queen-regent cad the speech
| from the throne while seated with the
young King Alfonso on her right and
the premier, Senior Sagasta, standing
nea the king. Her majesty's words
were inaudible to all but those in her
immediate vicinity. The reading was
greeted throughout witt cries OF viva
Espana."
A wonderful picture was presented
by the queens encourage, consisting Of
most OF the highest in
Spain, in brilliant court, military, naval
or palace uniforms.
At the close of her maiesty's speech
there was renewed cheering, after
| which Premier Sagasta declared the
cOrtes opened, and the Queen-regent
and the boy king, accompanied by the
court, left the building amid another
wild burst Of enthusiasm.
THE QUEENS SPEECH.
Nhe queen-regent's speech began:
The grave anxieties which sadden-
ed my mind the asst time L addressed
you have increased and are heighten-
ed by public uneasiness, conveying the
presentiment of fresh and greater
complications as a result of a turn
which events in Cuba have taken.
These complications were brought
about by a section of the people of the
Tv-;.1l C.a+ar u,h;ah canir Or thnv +ha
autonomy previously offered in my
| message was about to be put in force,
fOresaW that the free manifestation OF
the Cuban people, through it's cham
bers, would Illustrate forever the
schemes against Spanish sovereignty
which nave been plotted by those who.
with resources and hopes sent from the
neighboring coast, have fettered the
suppression of the insurrectiOn in that
unhappy sland. Should the govern
ment of the United States yield to this
blind current, and insult which
We have hitherto been able to regard
with Indifference, for they were not
an expression of the sentiments of the
true American nation, would become
intOlerable prOvOcatiOns, which would
compel my government, in defence of
the national dignity, to sever relations
with the government Of the United
| States.
I'm this supreme crisis, the sacred
voice of him who represents human
| justice on earth was raised in coun-
sells of peace and prudence, to which
my government had no difficulty in
| hardening, strong in the consciousness
Of it's right, and calm in the strict per-
| Torrance of it's duties. SPANS graft
tude is due to the pope, and also to the
| great powers whose actions strengthen
| M " nnnyicti ions fh2t SD3ln'S caISp de-
serves universal sympathy and that
her conduct merits unanimous APP
| prevail.
Possibly, however, the peace efforts
| may fail to control the evil passions
excited against Spain. Lest this mo-
ment arrive, I have the
cortes to defend our rights, whatever
sacrifice they may entail. Thus iden-
flying myself with the nation, i not
only fulfill the oath / sWOre in accept
ing the regency, but l follow the die
tates of a mothers heart, trusting to
the Spanish people to gather behind my
| sons throne and defend it until he is
| old enough to defend it himself, as we'll
| as trusting to tine Spanish people to de-
fend the honor and the territory OF the
nation"
The queen-regent then referred to
the trouble in the Philippine islands
and, continuing, said:
although a dark and gloomy future
| is before us, the difficulties are not be-
yond our powers. With our glorious
army, navy and the united nation, be-
fore foreign aggression, we trust in
God that we shall overcome without
| stain on our honor, the baSeleSS and
unjust attacks made upon US
WOODFORD PREPARES TO DE
PART.
Madrid, April 20.-S a. m.-All is quiet
and orderly here and nothing unusu
has occurred. Two policemen are sta
toned at the corner of the street upOr
which is u the residence of the
United States minister, General Stew
art L. Woodford, who began. yesterday
preparations for his departure from
Madrid
The prince of Monaco. who is an Off
Ger in the Spanish navy, has writer
to the Queen-regent, warmly express
ing regret at the fact that private du'
ties" prevent him from discharging his
naval duties, but that in the mean
while he has forwarded a subscription
Of 10, 900 pesetas to the national FUND
being raised to increase the strength
of the Spanish navy.
Ex-Queen Isabella. of Spain. has sen
a subscription of 80, 900 pesetas to tn
national fund.
The United States vice consul here
has resigned. According to h Con
gressional Directory. Ignacio Fernan
DEE is the United States vice consul a
Madrid.
The this morning ar
very warlike in tone. The public gen
orally accept the situation without ap
parent concern.
Advices from Cadi say that the com
mander Of the new Spanish squadron
now being formed there, recently Wis
tied the Shrine of the Virgin with hi.
men n there addressed the crews o
the ships, offering the choice of re
manning behind to whoever felt fear
The crews. it is added. unanimousl.
declared that they preferred to go t.
battle, w~hereupon the Spanish com
mander and his men knelt and took
solemn VOW never to return to Spain
unless victorious.
WILL NOT SURRENDER CUBA.
10 a. m.-There is no foundation TO
the story published in Rome that Spail
has or will offer Cuba to the pope, s.