Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-01
CARDINAL GIBBONS COUNSEL.
Praises the Administration and Urges
SeIf-ControI in Regard to the
Maine Dfsaater.

Baltimore. Feb. ga solemn requiem
mass for the repose of the souls of those
who lost their lives through the destruction
Of the battleship Maine in Havana was cele-
brated at the cathedral this morning. Car
dinal Gibbons made an address and read
the services for the dead. A number of
naval and military officers were present,
including those of the militia and naval
reserves. The vocal music was furnished
by quartette from the "Bride-elect' opera
company. now performing in Philadelphia.
Cardinal Gibbons said:
I'VE do not fully realize how ardently we
love our country 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 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 express
sion to our heartfelt coincidence and SYM
pathy for the bereaved relatives OF those
faithful defenders of their country whom
the nation mourns. l see before me repre-
sentatives of our army and navy: l see rep
resentatives of our excellent state militia
and of our fellow 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 be bestowed on
the president and on the members of his
cabinet. and particularly on the secretary
of the navy and his able assistant, as well
as on the houses of congress- for the calm
ness and tranquility, the self-control and
the self-possession which they have ex-
hibited during the fearful ordeal through
which the country has been passing the
last few days. 1t needed only a spark to
kindle great confiagration. and the patient
and dignifed bearing of the, executive and
| legislative bodies are all the more COM
| mendable in view of the mischievous and
| incorporate utterances of some sensational
newspapers.
This nation Is too brave too strong, too
| powerful and too just to engage in an un-
| righteous or preciptate war. Let us re-
| mt nlber that the eyes Of the world are
| upon us, whose Judgment We cannot de-
| spise. and that We will gain more applause
| and credit for ourselves by calm delibera-
ton and mastery inactivity than by re-
course TO arms. Thrice is he armed who
| hath his quarrel just
Il 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 responsible. But sup
pose some fiendish Cuban had occasioned
| this fearful loss of life in order to en-
| broil our nation in a war with his mother
| country. In that case Spain should not be
| held responsible. And even had some fan
| atical Spaniard perpetrated this atrocious
| crime there would be no necessity for a
recourse to arbitrament of the sword. The
only circumstance that would warran,
active hostilities would be the evidence tha,
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 car
believe, that chivalric nation would be
guilty of such inhumanity.
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 ant
protect her interests.
j These brave men did not die. indeed. OF