The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-14
STATE PRESS

We sincerely regret to learn that Mr..
J. P. Caldwell, the able editor Of the
Charlotte Observer, is quite sick at the
home of his mother in Statesville. He
has the sympathy of the whole people
of the state, who will wish for his
speedy recovery.-Raleigh Post.
The gentlemen who control the poll
cies of the republican party had best
beware of the burden which President
Mckinley thrusts upon them. The
genius of American thought and Amer
lean life is liberty and independence.
The people do not believe in imperial
ism, and cry out for a Filipino Repub-
lic.-Wilson News.
And now we must unite and prepare
for the future. Our last campaign was
bitter, and holly waged- our CORES
pendent is not a prophet, but our opln-
ION is that our greatest campaign is
yet to come namely, the constitutional
amendment. Then we will have he
most stubborn and hottest fight Of our
history.-Ray il Rockingham Rocket.
The anti-democratic papers for some
time have been p~roclaiming that pros
perity had returned to this country,
but when this prosperity is looked for
it is in some other place than where you
are. Now and then some Of these pros
perity-shouters give out a discordant
note that must CRATE On their reports
Of general prosperity.-Tarboro South
erner.
In this day of trusts and combines,
| no amount of anti-legislation avails to
| check them, but rather do they seem
to thrive and grow the fatter. That
| they should be put down is admitted,
| but how to do it without hurt to trade,
| is the question. The recent legislature
| attempted such a law, but in trying to
| leave a loop-hole for the small trader
the big fry pushed through too, SO
| practically the law is worthless.-Snow
Hill Standard.
A Norfolk dispatch states that the
! price of lumber has been forced up.
The North Carolina Lumber Associa-
ton has advanced the price. 1t is only
fifty cents per thousand feet, but it
means in the aggregate a tremendous
| saving to the mills, many Of which
were, it is said, clearing nothing at the
former price of the staple" This is
only another instance Of how the trusts
benefit the dear people," and reduce
| the price to the consumer."-CharlOtte
News.
. With southern cotton mills declaring
annual dividends of 80 per cent. the
cotton industry in the south is a gold
mine to those who have money to in
| vest. The stockholders of the Trenton
mill at Gastonia have just declared a
80 per cent. dividend and gave it out for
publication. 1t is also gratifying to
know that this is not an isolated case,
but that there are other mills doing
nearly il not quite as we'll but they are
not publishing the fact to the world
Durham Herald.
/ This morning we had a conversation
with three men from Wilson county
concerning newspapers. They were
men whose ages were between 80 and
SO years, and they said that they were
unable to read and write. This prompt
ed the question as to what they thought
of the proposed Constitutional Amend
ment, and the answer they gave was:
I'VE are against it, for it will keep the
white man who can't read or write
from voting" Further inquiry reveal
ed the fact that such information had
been given them, and was being scat
tered right and left in the country
Wilson News.
The south vas fighting for liberty,
independence and home rule, and so
are the Philippines fghting.-Messen-
ger.) Indeed the condition of the Phil
ippinos very forcibly reca Is the condi-
ton of the Confederates N their strug-
gle for independence. And the tele-
grams daily sent from Manila sadly re-
| calls scenes that were witnessed in our
! own southland thirty-five years ago.
For instance, tie telegram announcing
the capture of Malolos, the capital of
the Philippines, contained the follow
ing paragraph: 1.-THE principal citi-
liens OF Malolos, their families and
! goods, have been taken into the county
ornr the railroad, while others depart
ed on foot, carrying their possessions
and driving their cattle and other ami
mails before ethm-" How forcibly does
this recall similar scenes in the south.
when our people were forsaking their
homes and fleeing before an invading
army!-Pittsboro Record