Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-27
TIE STORY OF TIE MAINE
FATHER cHIDwIcK's LECTURE
Was a Literary and 0ratorical Treat.
He Was Heard by q Large Audi
ence in the Auditorium of the
Carroll Club Last Evening-An
Address Teeming With Patriotic
Sentiments.

Father Chadwick, who was chaplain
OF the Inflated U. S. battleship Maine.
when it vas destroyed by a mine in the
harbor of Havana, delivered a lecture
in the Auditorium of the Carroll Club
last night. He was heard by a large
and cultured audience, and the frequent
outbreaks of enthusiastic applause
which punctuated his admirable adj
dress, were evidence not only of SYM
pathy with his patriotic sentiments,
but a tribute to the orator as well.
Father Chadwick possesses the inde-
Enable quality of magnetism, TO which
he unites a clear resonant voice and a
dramatic delivery. From a literary
point of view, the lecture was equally
praiseworthy.
The lecturer opened his address with
a defense of war under certain candi-
lions. After we. have said every
thing that car be said against war"
he said, there still remains this fact,
that there are certain circumstances
under which wal is not only j%ustitiable
but absolutely necessary. There are
times when nations see behind the
dark war clouds, the CLEAN of freedom.
There are times when a nations
honor demands that sacrifice. No ma
ton can prefer dishonor to war. Thank
God, in our struggle we had not n
Of these reasons TO urge us on, but
both. Our hands are not stained with
the blood of innocent heads, nor
branded with the brand of Cain, but
we fought without question for an OPP
pressed and struggling people, and for
the honor of our own flag"
Father Chadwick painted a beauti-
full word picture of the island of Cuba,
and told of the cry of hunger, and the
wall of the oppressed which reached
the ears of sympathizing Americans.
But ears were closed and hearts hard
ened to their woes, until Providence took
the matter in hand, and by the de-
struction of the Maine awoke the
American nation from it's lethargy
and precipitated the war. When the
news of the blowing up of the Maine
flashed through the country, the people
realized that never before was the
nations honor so cruelty and so foully
, struck. 1t is not a wonder that the
first cry was for revenge, but thank
God, that cry did not prevail. A
thorough investigation was made, the
report of the commission was accepted,
and then the gauntlet of war was
thrown down.
Father Chadwick, in telling why the
Maine was sent to Havana harbor,
gave a detailed account of the admin
istration of affairs in the island, OF
the reconcentrado law enforced by
| Weyler, and the cumulative dissatls-
faction which finally took the form of
a demand for absolute independence,
on the part of the insurgents. Ameri-
can sympathy angered the Spaniards,
and Consul General Lee advised the
government that Americans on the is
land were in danger. 1t was for the
protection of the American interests
and for the honor of the American navy
that the Maine was sent to Havana
harbor..
Next followed a vivid description OF
the events of the few weeks proceeding
the awful calamity; OF the hurried
movement from Key West to Havana;
Of the impression among the sailors
that the trip to Cuba was for action;
of the peaceful aspect OF the island
and it's defenses, which allayed all
fears. To the critics who would de-
tract from the praise accorded the
victims of the Maine the speaker an
swered that all thought they were go
ing to Cuba on a mission of war, and
were prepared to lay down their lives
if necessary. For three weeks all was
serene. =
On Monday, February 14th, continu-
ed the speaker, in substance, it was
rumored that some great event would
take place in Havana that night, but
whether it was action by the Cubans
or Spanish, the report did not say. Pre-
cautions were taken by the officers OF
the Maine, but the night passed with
out any unusual incident. Then came
the eventful Tuesday, the 18th. The
officers had retired. The speaker de-
nounced the statement that the officers
were wining and dining on another
ship. as a cruel lie. All were aboard
except four, and only one was a senior
officer. The destruction of the vessel
| took place shortly after two o'clock.
Father Chadwick said he was In his
room. He heard a dull sound; the
ship lurched to one side, and articles
were overturned; then the thought
flashed through his mind that war had
been declared, and the Maine was the
first vessel to be struck, her sailors the