The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09
Only for Gold.

the consul general and the special con-
suls, by noble and earnest individual
effort through the organized agencies
Of the American Red Cross. Thousands
of lives We're thus saved, but many
thousands more were inaccessible to
such forms of aid.
The war continued on the old foot
ing without comprehensive plan, de-
veloping only the same spasmOdic en-
counters, barren of strategic result
that had marked the course of the
earlier ten years rebellion as we'll as
the present insurrectOn from it's start
No alternative save physical eXhauS-
tiOn by either cOmbatant and there
Withal the practical ruin of the island
lay in siSh1, but how far distant no
one cOu!1 venture to conjecture.
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE
MAINE.
"At this juncture, on the 18th of Feb
ruary last, occurred the destruction
of the battleship Maine while right
fully lying in the harbor of Havana on
a mission Of international courtesy
and good villa catastrophe the SuSpi-
ciOus nature and horror Of which stirr-
ed the nations heart profoundly. 1t
is a striking evidence of the pOise and
sturdy good sense distinguishing our
natiOna! character that this shocking
blow, falling upon generous peOIiC,
already deeply touched by preceding
events in Cuba, did not move them to
an instant, desperate resolve to tOler-
ate no longer the existence of a cOr-
ditiOn of danger and disorder at our
doors that made possible such a deed,
by VhOmsoever wrought Yet the in
stinct of justice prev allied and the ma
ton anXiOuSly awaited the result Of
the searching investigation at On>e set
on foot. / he finding Of :hc naval board
Of inquiry established that the origin
of the explosion was external by q
submarine mine ana only matted
through lack of positive testimony, to
fix the responsibility Of its authorship.
HASTY PREPARATION FOR WAR.
"All these thirgs carried conviction
to the most thoughtful, even before
the finding of the naval court, that {,
crisis in our relations with Spain and
towards Cuba was at hand. SO strong
was this belize that - needed but a
brief executive suggestion to the con-
gress to receive immediate answer to
the duty of making instant provision
for the possible and perhaps speedily
probable emergency of war, and the
remarkable, almost unique, spectacle
was presented of q unanimous vote of
both houses on March 9th, appropriate
ing $50, ,000 900 for the national defense
and for. each and every purpose con-
neCted Herewith, to be expended al
the discretion of the president That
this act of provision came none toe
soon, was disclosed when the applica-
tOn of the fund was undertaken. Our
coasts were practically undefended
Our navy needed large provision fO1
increased ammunition and supplies
and even numbers to cope with any
C1I61 0t 10 of ma n
which comprised modern vessels of the
highest type of continental perfection
| Our army also required enlargement
| of men and ammunition. The details
| of the hurried preparation for the
| dreaded contingency is told in the re-
| ports of the secretaries of war and OF
the navy, and need not be repeated
| here. 1t is sufficient to say that the
outbreak of war, when it did come
found our nation not unprepared tC
! meet the con 1ict.
ACTION OF II1E CONTINENTAL
POWERS.
! Nor was the apprehension of coming
! strife confined to our own country
| 1t was felt by the continental power:
! which, on April 9Th, through their am
! bassadOrs and ENJOYS, addressed t
! the executive an expression of hop
! that humanity and mOdera ton Nigh
! marx the course of this gOVernmen
! and people, and that further negOti /
tiOnS would lead to an agreement
! which, While securing the maintenance,
: of peace would afford all necessary
. guarantees for the re- establishment o
: order in Cuba In responding to tha
! representation. | said l shared tn,
/ hope the ENJOYS had expressed tha
! peace might be preserved in a man
/ ner to terminate the chronic condition
n ja ini,1
! and menacing to our interests ant
tranquility, as we'll as shocking to on
sentiments Of humanity, and, Will
approaching the humanitarian and dis
interested character of the cOmmuni
cation they had made on behalf of tn
powers, l stated the confidence Of tlli
. government, for it's pa. that euua
. appreciation would be shown fcr 1t
own earnest and unselGsh crdeaVor
to fulfill 4 duty to humanity by end
; ing a situation the indefinite prOlOnsa
! ton of which had become insuftera
/ BILE.
! STILL HOPING To AVOID WAR.
Still animated by the hope of .
4 peaceful solution and obeyinE The die
i tates of duty. no effort was relaxed
| to bring about a speedy ending of th,
: Cuban strue gle. Negotiations 10 thi
| object continued actively with the gov
/ trnment Of Spain. looking to the i'm
! mediate conclusion of six mOnhs' ar
,nistice in Cuba. with view Of effect
ing the recognition of her people
: right to independence. Besides this
the instant revocation of the order o
recon. entrG.tion was asked, so that tht
sufferers, returning to their homes ant
aided by united American and Span.
, ish effort. might be put in a way tC
support themselves, and. by orderly
reSumDtlOn
ed productive energies Of the Island