The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26

Three different ministerial unions in
rian and Congregational-have passed
resolutions strongly condemning what
is called the Lauterbach bill. which
provides for the control of the police
force of the Greater New York by the
governor at the state capital. The
Methodist ministers, in their resoiu-
tons. desired ito record an earnest
protest against the passage al this
time by the state legislature. under
any pretext Of any law which shall su-
persede the present board of police
commissioners by a state commission
Of police. as a dangerous reversal of
the policy of home rule" Mark that,
"A dangerous reversal Of the policy of
home rule" There are ministers and
Observation-Disclosures News and Cou-
rier.
1T is certain tina the development of
Cnbounded luxury, of high living ana
all its artificial accomplishments, does
not tend to produce a worthy type o.
character among those whose ocupa-
tions owe their existence to the lavish
requirements and ~self-indulgent habits
Of wealthy patrons. The tendency is
to produce a class of fiunkeys, of mean
spirited and servile people. There is
d loss Of healthy Independence and
an eager readiness to pander to every
morbid craving engendered in the sick
ly atmosphere of an artificial society.
1t is not well, in short, that any large
number of our working people should
be dependent for their livelihood Upon
the capricious frivolity, the unnatural
standards of living. the false tastes,
n the extravagant social rivalries Of
a class to whom wealth and ostenta-
ton are all in all. ITO speak of the
moral effect upon the poSsesSors of
great wealth of their manner of en-
plOying it, would be to go over famil-
lar ground. The preacher and the NOR
alist of all periods have not ceased to
warn the rich and great of the sure
results of the misuse of their posses
! siOnS; and the common sense and con-
science Of enlightened men can hardly
dismiss the conviction that ~unbounded
luxury and extravaganza of living are
not good for any MISUNDERSTANDING
| Living Church, Episcopal.
AS a sample of the wisest and most
, progressive legislation that the winter
! has produced in any part of the coun-
try, We select an act passed by the SOL
OnS of North Dakota 1t is a law pro-
Viding that no person shall be disqual-
flied as a juryman because of having
expressed or formed an opinion found
ed on newspaper reports or rumorS This
| act will improve the character of jul
! ries in that state by rendering it posi-
BILE to secure intelligent citizens for jury
duty. The plain fact is that every per-
son who reads the newspapers has
formed an opinion on any and every
important criminal case; but no intel
ligent person ever a an opinion of
such a case that is fixed beyond the
power of change. IF the facts are as
stated in the papers,, or by common
rumOr," the intelligent citizen thinks,
1.-The accused is guilty" But his mind
is in a receptive condition, and if the
evidence disproves reports and estab-
| fishes a reasonable doubt, he is ready
to acquit. The law requires that a
case shall be decided according to the
evidence presented to the jury. The
more intelligent the juror, the greater
| his capacity for freeing his mind from
all extraneous influences n applying
| to a case none Of the reports or rumors
that he may have NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| Post