The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-06
and some financial exploiting to be
known more of as the DAYS pass.

and some financial exploiting to be
known more Of as the days pass.
He wants the country-particular]y
the officials of all grades we add-to
faithfully observe "the principles upon
ed" Very much needed, and the e
pie will be glad to see officials faithful,
honest, discreet, loyal to law and. lib
erty and the constitution, to which the
president pledges himself He in
dulges in some placid rhetoric over
lynchings, but does not suggest that
the best, surest, quickest way to stop
them is for the crimes to cease that
evoke such rapid, violent, sure redress.
The president talks of republican OPP
position to trusts and m~Onopolies.
This will amuse rather hi impress.
1t is folly to nou them in the
same breath in which a great, grinding,
tariff tax juggernant is proposed to De
erected, under whose protecting shade
the trusts will hide and water stock
and rob and Cypress the l~ong-suffering
people everywhere. without limitations.
He sees the necessity of changes in
popular education, we are glad to note,
which is in great disfavOr now with
the gold men in the centres. Civil SER
vice is approved but it must be genuine
and not just to favor partisans. He
has long favored it. 1t is NJ an Ameri-
principle, but strictly monarchical. The
true theory Of a free, enlightened, DEM
o~cratic, republican government is fire.
quent elections, giving the people OPP
pOrtunitieS Of approval or rejection of
public functioraries. Entertainment
for a lifetime in office is not American
but British, as is the gold
system. There is an immense amount
Of demagogy and humbug mixed in the
clamor for civil service. When there
was no such system in in our
and-in 1860 say-there were nc defal-
cations and rObberies and much fewer
abuses than now. The expenditures Of
the feleral government then, with 3D.
600, 900 of inhabitants We're but sS5, 000.-
900. Now with some 10000, 900 the ex-
penditures are over $500, 600, 900. Civil
service is cant, sentimentality, theory.
1t is not suited to our land and govern
ment. No perpetuity in office for life
time. Give all a chance. Turn about
is fair play. If the right system, the
really needed system, why is it not ap-
piled to all the highest officials from
president down. It is applied to the
under-strappers, the lower grades Of Of
ficers while the big bugs"in office go in
without test Of character, qualification
Or any thing else but favor.
There is nothing said of Cuba in the
address, but pleasant platitudes of a
general character as to our pacific and
safe foreign policy, with laudation of
the treaty with Great Britain that
really amounts 20 but little and is linn
tied to FIVE years.
President Mckinley is a man of fair
abilities without intellectual greatness
Of any kind. He is a republican of the
western type. In his moral character
he is without stain. In his opening par
agraph he recognizes an overriding
providence in the affairs of nations ard
look to Cod for guidance and blessing.
If not an empty, cheap declaration it is
favorable and comforting. A man in
high place who sincerely Worships the
mighty God, King of Kings and Lord
of lords and looks to His Omnific
power and all-wise knowledge for help
and hope and blessings may be relied
upon in times of national calamity
when the foundations are even break
ing up. If he stands faithfully by his
oath Of office he will see to it as far as
in him lies that no detriment shall be-
fal his great republic. May God give
him guidance and faith.