The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-05-04

Again The Observer and the others said
to themselves. we should say nothing. IL
barely a week since a correspondent de-
scribed the ex-president as leaning
against a freight car OF the track at
Princeton Junction unnoticed. The fact,
inspired a New York Journal (the Sun
we believe) to describe him as simply "a
bore" The Sun and all the rest Of us
bore" turns up again in his old char
acter at the Reform Club dinner in New
York on Saturday. What is the portent
of his appearance there and Of his as
founding speech Is graphically told by
Henry Watrerson. who. after suffering
almost total eclipse. shines forth again
with the brilliancy we used TO know and
admire.-Fayetteviile Observer.
Almost every day the daily papers an
nounce one or more pardons ~ the gov
ernor, and in almost every instance the
pardon is asked for by the trial judge or
the solicitor or other officers of the court.
and not infrequently by all these. Any
man of intelligence. who believes that
crime should be punished. must admit
that this is a deplorable situation, and
one which, if suffered to go unchecked.
will ultimately lead to greater evils.
There are circumstances under which
pardons should be granted of course, but
the reckless and wholesale manner in
which the pardoning power mas been ex-
ercised in North Carolina recently is
carriages OF justice in the courts are be-
coming more and more frequent, and
when a known criminal escapes convic-
ton through the laws delay or a
technicality, or receives less punishment
than he deserves, there is no redress for
an outraged people. They must submit.
Therefore,, when one Is convicted he
| the punishment melted out to him, and
| judges and solicitors and other officers of
the court should be stopped from asking
the governor to set aside the courts find
ings. 1t is a cause for wonde and a high
tribute to the civilization of our people.
in view of the frequent miscarriages of
| justice in this state, the Judge Lynch
The people should arouse themselves and
take. note of these judges and solicitors
and other officials who use their influence
to secure the pardons of criminals-par
dOns which are not deserved-and when
the time comes for these officials to
again ask preferment at the hands of the
electorate they should be dealt with ac-
cordingly.-Statesville Landmark.
Why think of it. Lee keeping out of
range of the enemy's fire. The shock to
the southern mind will not allow it to dc
more than state such a thought. Then
who can be brought to the edge of the
thought that D. H. Hill was a man OF
fear? Possibly if the poll of the living
confederate veterans were taken as tC
which general was least conscious of fear
the result would give the name of D. H
Hill. Really, it has been said by ole
North Carolina veterans hat d. II. Hill
did net deserve credit fer being brave
because he actually was born withou,
knowledge of fear. And this brings US tt
the D.. II. Hill-TOombs incident, mentioned
in the story which forms the basis OF
these remarks. Under the present cir
cumstanceS it does seem not only in taste
but almost obligatory, to mention a con.
VerSatiOn between the late Jubal A. Early
and the late D. H. Hill, Of which thu
writer has a distinct recollection, almos'
to the word. The two old generals were
sitting vis-a-viS in the Eighties in from
of a comfortable fire one winter night, il
the best of humor and the best of friends
as all really brave men are. The CONVEX
mellifluoud flow m~eandering aimlessly blu
d~eliciously in and out among the battle
F., scenes of the war. And after a moment:
lull, "Old JUDAH 1--WE use this soubrique
respectfully, remarked jOcularly:
heard TOOmbs backed you out. They sa,
you wouldn't fight him because you wer
an elder in the church." Then came
good laugh, after which General Hill sait
he had ordered Toombs back, adding
Coward that you are!" These exac
words We're used, and were the cause o
the challenge to Hill. Then the old gen
eral said that he replied to Toombs, tell
ing him that there will soon be a battle
in which case if you, by your action, dis
prove the charge made by me, 1 will re
tract what I said; if not the words viii
have to stand" Inasmuch as this incl
dent was referred to, this version from
the lips of General Hill is due.-Raleigl
News and Observer.