The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-11-18


tory they knew, how to use it wisely.
moderately, con~servatively, they knew
not. The text reminds US of the duty
of the hour: Better is he that ruleth
his spirit than he that taketh a city"
l. Self-contrOl is now necessary in
speech and conduct. Foolish and in
cendiary talking must be stopped. Of
fensive individuals must be left 10 the
laws. The action of irresponsible par
ties in warning obnoxious persons to
leave the city must be suppressed.
Passions must be controlled And rea-
son must nave it. sway. Above all, the
law must be maintained and the gov
eminent that has been established by
our own voice, through our own ma
chinery, but under due forms Of law,
must De supported.
2. There is a more f~ar-reaching du-
ty tina devolves not Immediately upon
us, out upon our accredited representa-
tives in the legislature. Legislation is
demanded hat will make impossible q
repetition of what we have passed
through in the last few months-to say
nothing of the last few years. 1t viii
need the self-control of true states
manship to legislate wisely and right
eously. The temptation will be strong
to devise mere expedients, the execu-
ton Of which demands manipulation
and iugglery. We must create a public
sentiment that will demand a solution
that will be permanent, because right,
remembering that nothing can be per-
manent that is not right. The right
has no armor but its own righteous
ness. When it uses other WeapO it
| becomes weak as other men,"
Six years ago when we narrowly es-
capped what came upon US two years Ia
ter, I endeavOred to impress upOn some
of our public men the Importance
of settling this question by a re-
striction of suffrage. But flushed
with victory they thought they
could manage things to their own
rience must have demonstrated to
them their mistake. If we have not
learned our lesson yet, We will deserve
whatever comes upon US. In all this
I am not speaking is a party man.
Partisan politics has nc place in the
pulpit. But there can be no real par
ty government until this ulcer is re-
moved from the body polite. No divi-
sion upon economic questions is posi-
BILE while this question remains unset
tied. Let us settle it thoroughly and
permanently, by settling it righteously.
8. But our highest duty, and the one
which demands the s~elf-cOntrOl h a
only the highest manhood can eXer-
else, is in our duty to our cOiOred
/ Go IICy ho 'OCll
more sinned against than SHINING.
Torn from their savage homes and
sold into slavery; torn in the thrOes of
a great war from the condition of de-
pendents, and thrust into citizenship
for which they here were not prepared;
becoming a prey at once to the arts
of designing politicians who for their
own selfish ends alienated them from
those whom all things else they
looked upon as their best friends; pet
ted and coddled by well-meaning phi
lanthrOpists who did not understand
their needs OF their best interests;
who can quietly and dispassionately
consider their history and condition
and not pity them, not sympathiZe
with them, not lend them a helping
hand? We have justly complained that
they have been misled by bad leader
ship. Now is the time to show them
that we are their friends / know that
many in he strenuous scenes of
Thursday took advantage of every Op-
p%ortunity to tell them that there was
no war upon quiet and inOffensive
men, and none at all on women and
children. We cOunselled them to go
to their homes and remain there quiet
ly and no harm would come to them.
Moreover, in scores of instances where
it seemed necessary, escort was pro-
vided to give them safe conduct to
their m If a negrO home was
violated, if a woman was insulted or
maltreated, 1 have not heard of it.
Yet they are hiding out in the woods
still-men, women and children. afraid
to come to their homes. What heart
does not pity them? Much can be
done by u gOdly women who
come in contact with them in
their homes, and by u men who en-
ploy them in their business, to estab-
1ish relations of cordial confidence.
Something should be done to enlight-
en- public sentiment as to their edu-
cational needs. Their education has
been too exclusively intellectual, and
not enough industrial and moral.
Above all things we need to remem-
Der that their great need is the Cos
pei of Christ. The Holy Spirit can
dwell in the humblest heart, and
transform the lowliest life. We must
live that religion before them in our
daily life, and teach them that reli-
gion is not only IN emotion, but a
morality. Let us fulfil these duties as
citizens and as Christians, and the fu-
ture we may safely cave in the and
of God.
Spain's Greatest Need