davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

-charmingly because ne spoke with a
rich and refreshing southern dialect
and having also a pleasing and musi-
cal voice every word he uttered was
eagerly listened TO. As he old of
marking the none placed in the
test" letter one could almost have
heard a pin drop so intense was the
interest inspired in the audience by
that portion Of the recital From that
point on to the climax where Gregory
suddenly stepped behind the curtain and
discovered the postmaster seated at his
desk and in the act OF resealing a let
ter, his story possessed all the essen
tial elements on which an enterprising
play writer could very readily turn out
a modern drama. And then the dia-
logue between the inspector n post
master-that would fit very nicely in
any play intended to illustrate how the
guilty excuse themselves when caught
in a trap temptingly baited and set to
catch them
North C~arolinians some how do we'll
from home and make good impressions.
He is connected with the Philadelphia
division, and his official domicile is at
Altoona, Pa. He was transferred last
October to his new field of duty. He
is a very bright and promising Tar
Heel boy" The Messenger salutes him.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
CHE Wlessenger.
WEIGHED In THE BALANCES

The Messenger does not regard
Pritchard's pronunciamento and bid for
negro supremacy ITO continue of much
completely dissect and destroy all the
poisonous germs in it. 1t is only capa-
BILE of deceiving ignorance, and alas!
there is a vast amount of that article
to b. found all over North Carolina.
The only objection TO its publication
we know of is hat it will compel a
thorough replication and exposure,
which 1t will probably receive when the
campaign opens. The democratic state
committee will attend to the work and
it will be done no doubt with great
pointedness and caustic severity. If
Pritchard thinks that the white men of
North Carolina will long tolerate him
and other political jugglers in their
malign efforts to retain power by keep
ing the negro voters in full swing, and
with old time aggressiveness and una
nimity he is beside himself. Rev
olutions do not go backward.
The white men will keep on top
henceforth in spite Of a thousand Prit-
chards. He may manipulate, misrep-
resent and fabricate if he 50 elects to
do. n may pile up plausibility and
inanlty mountain high, but one touch
of the spear of truth will make the fac
titious pile tumble into ruins upon the
reckless sappers and miner.
Pritchard would as well make up
his mind to abandon all vain hopes of
negroiZing again the good state of
North Carolina. His days of political
power are numbered. The terrible
hand writing of freemen appears even
now upon the walls of his doomed ed
ifice, and he and his tribe will hence
forth sit down amid their w ruins,
created by their own folly and mad
ness, and lament over vanished dreams
and blighted hopes. The reign of dem
agogy,-low, selfish, malignant and re-
morseless-is forever dead in mis- old
commonwealth, and the white race
will govern in wisdom and equity and
honesty.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
CALAMITIE

Only those who read habitually the
and accidents by food and field occur.
Recently the awful fire in New York
a Embarrassment a shudder and wave
of sympathy throughout the land.
Many victims-how many not yet as
certained-paid the penalty of living
in tall hotels-ive, six, seven or eight
storeys high-that are mere man-traps.
No man ought to stop at a hotel that
must send him above the third floor.
and other cities to pile up insecurity
great masses of iron and brick until
eighteen, twenty or twenty-five storeys
are reached. A destructive cyclone of
ia = old terrific kind passed over a Sec
in Arkansas AND Tennessee alarm
ing, >ostroying, killing people. How
many liv >es are lost is not yet known,
but a. good, many, and possibly more
than twenty. There is no protection
against tornadoes, but there might be
a law against death traps for trusting
travellers and boarders. Near Fay
etteville there was a mill explosion that
was fatal to two or three lives, and
aothers were wounded. With all of
mans ingenuity he has not been able to
provide against all accidents and to
give great security to human life. 'The
best laid plans" prove at a critical mo-
ment disastrous failures. In Yancey
county, N. c., a recent drunken fight
occurred resulting in killing six men
and mortally wounding a seventh.
That is a noble example of civilization
and a fine comment upon sentimental
writer's who think that crime is de-
creasing and evolution is established
in the steady advance Of humanity.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
BREVITIES.

The governor Of Georgia is showing
decision and promptness in his efforts
to deal with the bloody whitecaps who
Killed several negroes and wounded
some others last week at Palmetto. 1t
was a very bloody affair and should be
fully investigated.
Mckinley is a Methodist but has no
Methodist in his cabinet. Gage, Alger,
Gary, Wilson, Smith and Hay are Pres
byterians, as is Vice President Hobart.
Mrs. Eddy, the notorious Boston
christian Science" head-centre, is real
ly Mrs. Foster, as her husband is Mr..
Foster. Rev. DR.. VIM says that in
stead Of following the usual custom she
forced him to take her name and we
have Mr. and Mrs. Eddy instead of Mr..
and Mrs. Foster. We discover from
this that the author is a bold, practical
reformer and means business"
A battle occurred at Hot Springs,
Ark, between parties growing out of a
mayorality campaign. Result, five
killed, one mortally wounded, and one
non-combatant dead.
Forty negroes on York river, Va,
near West Point, defy law and the ex-
ecution of warrants. The Chesapeake
with an armed crew and a rapid-fre
gun is at the scene, and the Richmond
Howitzers are ready to move at any
time. .
OF the many appointments % second
lieutenancys in the United States army
eve are graduates of Virginia Mill
tary Institute. That is an excellent in
stitution.
Ambassador Choate makes excellent
81 eeches and is in high favor in Great
Britain. The Lord Chief Justice, Baron
Russell, praised the speech made be-
fore the chamber of commerce in Lon
don and "complimented him upon his
eloquence, the width and depth of his
observations, and the statesanlike tone
that pervaded his speech"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

The Presby- -rian Standard has an
editorial on the Passing of the Sen
sational Preacher" It is suggested by
DR.. Talmage's retirement from his
charge in Washington. The comments
Of the Standa. are particularly judi
cious and timely. 1t comedies genius
to Talmage, and says:
"Of all the American preachers who
have relied upon sensational methods
in church work, DR.. Talmage is IN
questionably the greatest. He is elo-
qlent, his dramatic power is real, and,
while his Interpretation of scripture is
faulty, he is an evangelical preacher"
But nothing can save a church that
relies upon the attractions of "sensa-
tionalism." That article fails at last
and sours too. Dixon is in evidence too.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
THE GREATEST POLITICAL
SPEECH

In $780,, Senator Vance, with Gov
nernor Jarvis and others addressed the
people in this city. He spoke in the
morning. Our recollection is that it
was two hours in length. 1t was very
mastery and showed forth his many
sided gifts. He was logical, argumen-
tative, loaded with facts and illustra-
tions; he was incisive lucid and hui
morous, caustic, keen Of thrust, and
full Of resource; he was very witty, i'm
mensely humorous, and at times elo-
eloquence that was lofty, massive, CO..
lumnar. 1t was the most felicitous,
the most entertaining, the most success
full speech we ever heard the great
deliver, and was, as we said
at the time, the greatest political speech
we ever heard. We do not doubt it
was the greatest speech upon politics
ever addressed to a North Carolina
: assemblage. The late eloquent and
sarcastic and witty Colonel Duncan K.
McRae, rturned from the speaking
with us, and while he was not by any
means a partisan or a special friend and
admirer of the senator, he said
to US: That is the very best
political speech 1 have ever heard"
In 1872, in the Greeley cam
paign for president, a western United
States senator said to us in Raleigh
Your man Vence is the best political
campaign speaker 1 have heard since
Tom Corwin's day, and he reminds me
very much of that great man." We said
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

With its pleasant sunshine n flow
ers. We are as busy as can be max
ing preparations for h early trade.
Our Milliner, Miss Alma Brown. who
has been with us for the past 10 years,
is now in the northern cities buying
cur Fine. Stylish Millinery II learn
ing all the new styles OF the season.
Our buyer, Mr.. Geo. o. Gaylord. will
leave for Baltimore, Philadelphia, New
York and Boston in a few days to COM
plete his large stock Of Dress. Goods,
Clothing, Shoes, Mattings, and every
thing that is kept in a first class large
Dry Goods Store.
Our trade is today much larger than
it was last season.
We have just received quite a large
stock of Fancy Goods, Ornaments, Belt
Buckets, Pins, Buttons n Watches.
Quite a lot Of nice New Jewelry at bot
tom prices.
We have a lot of Silks we are run
ming at 23c per yard. A big lot Of
Changeable Silks at 19c per yard.
A lot of fine Percals from 5 to 121ac.
A big lot of New Ribbons for Dress
Trimmings from 2 TO loo per yard.
A beautiful line of Fine Early Spring
Hats for Ladies and Children.
All colors and shades in Ribbons for
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

Brt note the change. With the gov
e nj Mt in the hands of the white
man, peace and order reign in Will
mlngton, and the negro, despite the
misdeeds of the past, receives encour-
a ement, and the browning act is
reached when voluntarily the loss to
the negroes in the burnt building is re-
paid, and repaid by the very men whose
ju t wrath caused that loss. Is it no
true today that "the bravest are the
tenderest ?"-Wilson News.
Reports tell us not a man in it was
drunk during the session. Perhaps
this is the first time such a thing could
be said of a North Carolina legislature.
There was an exceptionally wide fund
of practical knowledge in its rank and
file. If this had not been true how
inadequate it would have been to
handle the varied questions Of indus
trial development that came before ii.
Never before was a North Caroloina
legislature confronted by so many
problems growing out of the progress
sive strides the state has made Of late,
or would make under wise legislation.
Then too it was a just body.-Lum-
berton R~obesonian.
Those populists who have made up
their minds TO become republicans,
and they do not exceed fivethousand,
can be used in another fusion with the
negroes. The bulk Of them will vote
with all advocates of permanent white
supremacy for the amendment. In one
I wnship in Wake county where there
are forty populists thirty-eight viii
vote for the amendment. The other
two will vote with the negroes to re-
store negro rule. The intelligent re-
publicans who voted last year for good
government will vote in August, 1900,
to continue white supremacy. The
democrats will vote solidly for it. II
it is understood all independent voters
will support it.-Raleigh News-Ob-
server.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

If there is any one thing that legis-
lators need to understand and to be in
structed in it is Gods law Of divorce.
Save in our neighbor state of South
Carolina the divorce law of God is
either not understood or is wickedly
and rebelliously disregarded, and in all
the states. It is well known that in
some states divorce laws are a disgrace
to the very name of religion and an
outrage upon public decency and pre-
tended civilization. The several states
should amend their marriage and di-
vorce laws and try to bring them into
harmony. 1t is not for the congress
to pass a general law unless it intends
to anticipate the empire and abolish
states and their rights. The New York
Times is often wise and just. 1t says:
There are two substantial objections
to federal action in this matter. One
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
The Spring Season Is Hero

Ties and Sashes flows by the thousand.
We are up-to-date in our Shoe De-
partment.
Our Clothing Department has been
doing extra we'll. We sell Suits from
SITS 10 $1,000. We ave nice Suits from
$500 TO $500, $3.50 and $1,000.
Lace Curtains at 45c a pair 10 $3.50.
Ladies Fine Willow Rocking Chair
at $3.50 each. Gents Arm Rocking
Chair at s1.75, worth s2.5o elsewhere.
We IA ahou 1000 pieces OF New
Spring Calico from 4 to sc.
White n Colored Pfque, all prices.
from sto Csc per yard. All shades in
check for early wear at loo.
Our Dress ~Linings-we have almost
everything from Cambria UP. We have
Tafeta Innings at 10 and i2kc.
One thousand pieces OF Fine En-
broidery from 3 to 25c per yard.
A big lot OF Boys Fine Suits, all
prices, from 69c to $500 a Suit. Boys
Suits in Crash at s1.00. Wash Suits
from soc TO s1.00.
Come and see US at the largest n
cheapest Dry Goods Store in the state.
Bring your card and get a Chair or a
Table or a Sewing Machine free, at
Wilmington's Big Racket Store, oppo-
site The orion.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

Uncle Sam is wisely looking after the
seacoast defences. They are to be
strengthened, and many batteries are
to be mounted for protection Of many
ports. 1t will require 10000 men it is said
-artillerymen-to properly man the
defences now projected. A Washington
letter in the Baltimore Sun mentions
that the cities on the Atlantic coast
which may now be considered invulner-
able are Boston, New York and the ma
tional capital. New York's defences
are the most powerful in the country,
the batteries of Pinch guns alone
numbering forty-three. Among the ad-
ditions to be made it is gratifying to
see that North Carolina is not forgot
ten. 1t is given out that Fort Caswell,
off the North Carolina coast, is to have
eight mortars completed, two 12-inch,
four S-inch and three rapid-fre.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

Is that IL such action were taken, IL Is
by no means certain that the standard
of New York would be adopted instead
Of he standard OF Connecticut. The
second Is that il a standard were adopt
ed by federal action which the public
sentiment Of any state failed to accept
with practical unanimity, the law
would be either evaded or violated.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

At Wilkes-Barre, Penn, a trial a
been progressing. 1t is a postoffice
scandal and Edward T. Bagert, late
postmaster. is charged with tamper-
ing with the mails. We observe in the
Times of that city that among the
government inspectors who testify is a
young North Carolinian, Mr.. H. 7.
Gregory, a native Of Greensboro. He
is well praised. The News says of
him:
1.-The brains of the government
push" however, vas Inspector Greg
DRY. Intelligence is stamped all over
his countenance, INK he directed the
prosecutions side OF the case. When
he old his story a pin could be-. heard
drop Oh the floor"
He evidently made a most favorable
impression and is praised also by the
Times. We make an extract:
Mr.. Gregory's recital of the part he
played in the case was charmingly old
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

We note a good Endorsement of North
Carolina incidentally made in an edi-
torial in the Presbyterian Interior"
an able northern religious journal. 1t
is giving a new view of the Father of
his country, the great Washington,
and essaying to show how he vas an
ex~pansionist. Writing of Spain's own
ership of territories south of the great
lakes the Interior says:
80 remote indeed seemed all need
of that highway by the new and distant
state that with the single exception
of North Carolina every one of the thir-
teen colonies voted to ratify a treaty
with Spain which gave her absolute
sovereignty over the Mississippi waters.
Our minister to Spain, John Jay, level
headed as he was, was still al easterner
and agreed to a clause hat should
close the mouth of the river for twenty
five years. With him agreed nearly
every statesman of the period"
North Carolina mas opposed all
through her history many bad things.
1t first opposed British rule; it opposed
the adoption of the new federal consti-
tuition drawn against the people, and
so on.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
HOME FOLKS

One of the ablest, best appreciated
and most acceptable Presbyterian
preachers in Arkansas is Rev. DR.. r.
B. Willis, a native North Carolinian.
A writer in the Richmond, (Va.) Cen-
tral Presbyterian, says Ibis place
would be hard to fill"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

The brief criticism Of the Presbyte-
rian Standard on Mr.. Pages address
at Greensboro on Making of Litera-
ture'' was more to the point than a
column of the usual vapid and fluent
Iaudation. 1t said:
1.-THE address was entirely unpreten-
tious and informal, but full of striking
expressions and colored by the speak
er's personal acquaintance with the
makers of modern literature and their
methods Of work. A large audience
greeted him"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

Time flies. The Raleigh News-Ob-
server, born only the other day it seems,
is now twenty two and a half years
Did. 1t is a good newspaper, faithful
and able in it's discussions of democrat
ic principles and was better or
more useful or decided than now. By
the way, it made a capital retort the
other day. Here it is:
"a Raleigh dispatch to the Washing
ton Post say the last legislature ere
duced the Governor of North Carolina
to a clerk" The governor is not max
ing any kick. He is satisfied, since he
feared to be reduced to a cipher"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

Seeing a reference to Mr.. Walter H.
Page as a native Of Wake county, sug-
gests to US that it would be instructive
reading if some one in each county
would gather a list of all of the really
distinguished natives. 1t is very easy
to make mistakes as we know Nearly
a quarter of a century ago we wrote
of two able and eminent natives of
Granville-Chief Justice John Sneed, of
Tennessee, and Prof. Lotin G. Watson
NJ. D., of the medical school of Ken
lucky. We ascertained later that Chief
Justice Sneed was really a native of
Raleigh, and DR.. Watson, the greatest
medical genius we ever saw or knew
personally, was probably born in Gull
ford county,. Counties like Wake, New
Hanover, Mecklenburg, Orange, Hall
fax, Granville and others have pro-
duced many gifted men.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24

There is a rumor that Maj. Spier
Whitaker may be made postmaster Of
Scotland Neck, in Halifax county. He
is a populist and a man Of ability n
bravery. Before he went on the bench
we believe he enjoyed a good practice.
So experienced a lawyer ought to be
able to command success at the bar.
A special to the Charlotte Observer
y
"It seems that the Tom Shields ap-
pointment by the president has never
been confirmed by the senate and his
commission is now to be recalled n
Major Whitaker appointed in his stead.
There is still another surmise that per-
haps the major will be given Demands
place as district attorney. Some think
that perhaps the authorities at Wash
ingtOn were not pleased with Demands
failure to max prosecutions at Will
mington over the election troubles, and
that he may be displaced by Whitaker"
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-21
FAMOUS LAND CASE SETTLED.
Secretary Of the Interior Sustains the Con-
tention of Archbishop Ireland to Valu-
able Minnesota Lands.

Washington. Jan. 2l.-The secretary
of the interior affirmed today the deci-
sion of the commissioner of the general
land office. in the famous case Of
Archbishop Ireland, involving title to
33, IT'S acres of land in Minnesota. He
holds that under the first contract made
with the st. Paul, Minnesota Il Mani
toba Railroad Company, on July H.,
1880, Archbishop Ireland was not Il
purchaser: but under the second con-
tract made March 30, 1883, he was Il
purchaser. Accordingly the lands
covered by the first contracts will not
90 to Archbishop Ireland, while he will
receive those under the second contract.
st. Paul, Jan. 2l.-The land case
decided in favor of Archbishop Ireland
by the secretary of the interior, involves
the homes of large number of settlers
to whom most of the lands had passed.
There still remained, however, good
many acres not solLs or only partially
paid for; and on tine plea that the arch
bishop had simply contract to dispose
OF the lands as agent. an attempt was
made to prevent the transfer of those
obtained. The contention Of the arch
bishop is sustained.
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-21
GUADALUPE COUNTY.
The Sheep Men and Farmers Gratifed Over
the Prospects Of a Profitable Spring
ond o,rn,,,or

| Hon. Camilo Sanchez assessor of
Guadalupe county, who was elected as
SCISSOR of his county on the Republican
ticket by 73 majority in heretofore
strong Democratic county. was in town
yesterday and gave the New Mexican
office a pleasant call. Mr.. Sanchez is
justly pleased with the prosperous out
look in Guadalupe county. Although
the general situation last year was good.
| the prospects for the coming year are
| the occasion for just rejoicing. The
SHOWS have covered the mountains to
such depth that there is ample asSur
ance of plenty of water the coming sea-
son for irrigation. and the ranges and
| the crops all over the country will be
blessed with an abundance of the
sources Of vegetable wealth. and the
sheep interests and the agricutnrisis
will have good reason TO thank n botntc-
Gus Providence. The sheep interests
especially are growing. and with the
advanced prices of sheep, lambs and
woods under a Republican administra-
| tion, this important branch of industry
will flourish as never before, and re-
cover rapidly from the bad set back
given under the Wilson act and the
deleterous policies of IA Democratic ad-
ministration. The finances OF the
county also, are in the most commenda-
bic shape, and under the territorial Re-
publican administration Guadalupe
| county is being established on Il iinan
cial basis more solid and enduring than
ever before in the history of the terri
tory. The political turnover in New
Mexico which is operating protitably for
the territory at large, even for those
counties that went Democratic, is turn
ing out for the welfare of Guadalupe
county. The shire did itself proud by
giving the Republican candidate for
congressional delegate a majority. and
a fair share of its local officials are Re-
publican, where the Democrats were
expecting with joyful anticipation a
Democratic landslide. The landslide
came all right, only it was Republican.
The inhabitants Of the county are in a
prosperous mood and with the best inter-
ests of New Mexico guaranteed under the
healthful change of national and terri
torial administration. Guadalupe conn-
| ty will thrive more than ever before.