The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-23

does not believe that the ~fusionists,
and particularly the republican wing
of that combination, are not thorough
ly scared at the prospect of defeat this
year, all he has to do is to come here
and keep his eyes and ears open for a
week.
At republican headquarters there is
a fresh accession of clerks and more
mail bags from Washington contain
ing speeches by the thousand.
Populist headquarters are a dull
place these days. Now that the fusion
handbook" is out no doubt some bus
mess will be done there. 1t is said
the republicans will issue $4,000 copies
of the handbook, as their graceful
tribute to Hal Aver, it's compiler.
Aver is a poet. His hand book IS of
So pages. 1t is as thick with the words
Gle" and liar" as a soldier from Ty-
bee is with mosquito bites. On it's
last page is his "Epilogue." Here it
is:
Awake, We free born voters,
Awake, defend the right;
Let no false cry of democrats
Hide %scoundrels from your sight.
Awake, we free born voters,
Arise, sweep down the wrong;
Keep put the traitors, thieves and liars
By fifty thousand strong"
Choirroan u01fnn iC uyhicf1inO RI
keep up his courage. His figures as
to county expenses are in Hal Ayers
hand book. He contributed them to
it. AS to his great unity of republic
cans in the west it is more than
strange thatrecently when an excursion
from that section was going to Will
mington word was passed that repub-
licans ought not to %patronize it. But
some went and saw the negro rule in
the North Carolina metropolis; the
very thing the republican leaders did
not desire them to see.
The populist effort to hold their peo-
pie in line with the republicans is a
CONSPICUOUS failure. Frank Spruill tells
me he spoke in Nash county Thursday
to an audience half of whom had re-
turned to the democrats. James H.
Pou tells me that he has this week
Deer in Edgecombe, Jones, Nash, Lee
noir and Wayne and that the condi-
lions are greatly improved, democrats
hopeful and confident they will carry
all these counties ave Edgecombe.
Mr.. Pou says a rvolution is in prog
ress. No man can measure this or tell
how far it is going. PROFESSIONALLY
there is a political upheavel.
The investigation into the conduct
of Chief Surgeon Stockard of the Sec
ond regiment is a needed thing. 1t is
a pleasure to know it will be rigid.
Weeks ago much was said regarding
the management of the hospital at
camp Dan Russell. A few days ago
| when the committee of state fair direc-
tors made an examination of the build
| ing in which the hospital was located
| they found that actually a part of il
had been used as a sink! A hole had
been cut in the floor, the committee
stated.
There will be a large law class next
week before the supreme court. The
classes are all large now. The ques.
ton what becomes Of the new law
yers?" must go along with what be-
comes of the pins?"
Some one recently said in the course
of a conversation or a train. II thinl
all the ten regiments of the "Immunes'
will be taken bodily into the service
of the United States, as regulars" NC
) much" replied a regular officer; 'foul
of them have negro officers and yoJ
know they will never be taken in.
Race prejudice, SO far as officers ar
concerned, is nowhere stranger
than in the army. And the appoint
ment of negro officers has deepenet
race prejudice. The Third regimen
of volunteers illustrates this.
The fact is that the regular soldiers
have been tried in the fire during thu
late war. Their conduct under FIRE
was so perfect, their discipline so fine
and their craftsmanship so accurate
their service unmarked by complain
ings, that they are as General Wheel
/ "a says 5, IhS . oOPo ohN - AAoOl
economical to have plenty of them. Sc
the president will have no trouble in
getting the 1OO, 900 he will ask congress:
for.
The question was asked not long age
what is the oldest firm in North Caro-
lima. The answer is given me by
Presideit John S. Cunningham, of Per.
son county that it is his own firm
which comes straight from 179s
through four generations. The oldest
firm now in business in Raleigh only
began in 1872.
All the reports as to attendance al
schools this yea say it is unusually
large. The state superintendent looks
for a letter showing as to the public
schools.
Superintendent John E. Ray, of the