The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-18
Ghe Wrssenger.
CHANGES OF A YEAR PAST

Some really very strange things have
happened in this country as to govern
ment within eighteen months, and other
as strange or stranger things may
come to pass before the present year
ends. The American government has
been drifting, under republican rule
mainly, farther away than ever known
before from TIE shores of constitution
al government, until the Ship of State
has swept out into a wide, wide sea
that is storm-tossed and full OF hid
den rocks. 1t may be able to get back
safely into the old port whence 1t
started, but it can only be done through
the mighty voice Of the people and by
their united determination and efforts.
The tendency now in government cir
.cles and among tie leaders of the re-
publican party is so great, radical, un-
constitutional measures that will final
= 1y so change the form of government
as to make it practically a government
with entirely new constructors of or
ganic law, as well as a government Of
vast ambition and plans that evidently
and inevitably bring in the empire. See
the troubles and great expenditures
brought upon the people by the inca-
.pacity, treachery and abuses of the Nc
Kinley set of plotters.
No one acquainted with American
history can believe that the great men,
no doubt inspired of God for the i'm
portant and most novel work, who
framed the constitution and devised the
plan of our government, with three
distinct and Independent branches-the
executive, the legislative, and the jul
dicial-would now sanction the con-
duct of the republican administration,
that has completely lost its head, and
it's advisers, defenders and inspirers.
What was the original form Of gov
eminent set up by the most wise fore
fathers, those wondrous statesmen who
astonished Europe and reflected glory
upon their land? 1t was not a Nation,
but an Union of separate and indepen-
dent states. 1t was called after that
idea, the United States of America
States, distinct as the pillows, but one
as the sea-" united for common defence
and with liberties n rights fully guar
anteed and protected. The object
sought was 'to form a more perfect
Union = 9 and secure the blessings
of liberty to ourselves and to our pos
terity." The people were citizens of a
republic, governed by law with proper
and sure constitutional limitations.
They were not serfs nor subjects, but
freemen. The government established
had specified powers granted by the
thirteen states thus united" and it
could only derive it's powers, ample as
they were, from the consent of the gov
serned-of the people of all the states.
No empire was dreamed of or remote
ly contemplated. 1t was no United
a government of the American people
and by the American people and for
the American people. The people were
The soverigns, the masters and not the
subjects, or the slaves. They partici-
pated in all government and were the
source of all power. That was the be-
ginning, the theory and the practice.
How is it now? The country is crazy.
The government is unfaithful. The
devil is at the helm. The people are
silent, or dismayed, or ignorant or hyp-
Noticed. Says a profound writer:
Congress might organize territorial
governments for the administration OF
the sparsely settled national domain
outside of the states; but the territorial
form of government was to be but tenn
porary and merely preparatory to state
hood. Such was our scheme of popu-
lar government; and until by the
chances of aggressive and almost I'M
contested warfare we blockaded a
single part of a distant arch pelago in
habited by half-civilized and savage
men, there was none among us to wish
it otherwise.
'The question now is, Can these is
lands be acquired without their be-
coming the property, the territory, of
Tx OA1lCo oIdlCo L. 0oSo y
they will at once be subject to our con-
stitution and general laws. The mo-
cent new territory is incorporated into
the national domain its inhabitants.
without naturalization, become citizens
of the United States, and as such EN-
titled to all privileges and immunities
of citizens in the several states.'"
The old definitions and rulings are
pooh-poohed, are set aside now as an
tiquated, effete, wornout, decayed,
last years almanac, or a record of the
seven ancient monarchies. The inter.
prefers of the law, of the Mckinley
school, have outgrown all precedents
all decisions of the supreme court, ant
the rulings of Chief Justice Marshal
and all of the great jurists who have
- = xIo4 o1lo ,51, haIx- - o1r