The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-21

ASsS
The legislature Is to be especially
commended for the 500, 900 appropria-
ton for the benefit of the common
schools. 1t is In the common schools
that the great work Of educating the
masses must be Observation-Disclosures
boro Chronicle.
The adjournment of the General As
sembly to the first Tuesday after the
second Monday in June, 1900, was
doubtless very wise. In the first place
1t assures Governor Russells being
good; in the second place, 1t will give
| opportunity for the repeal or amend
| ment of such of the new laws as are
| found not to work well.%Statesville
Landmark.
And this makes it opportune to say
| something that has been in mind for
several months: The democratic par
J ty held out the olive branch to the
populist and white republicans last
i year and promised them not to be pro-
scriptive If 1t were given power. 1t
would be we'll enough for 1t to give
| some definite proof of it's sincerity in
| declaring its willingness to let bygones
| be bygones. Mr.. Mebane Is a populist
but he has not carried politics into
| his official duties. He has been an
exceedingly diligent official; an intelli-
| gent and capable one. Why should
not the democratic party next year
nominate him for the position he now
| holds?-Charlotte Observer.
Reviewing the work Of the past leg
islature, it is noted that charters were
Y rro-1o1 - "a Local hanlyc frncf and
| loan companies, IA railroads and Z in
surance companies. This indicates a
| revival OF business in the state that has
heretofore had no parallel in North
| Carolina's history. All he signs indi-
| cate a great industrial development,
and it is significant that the establish
ment of new banks and insurance COM
panies, the development Of water pow
ers and the building of railroads. cotton
mills and electric power plants, Is al
most wholly the work Of home capital
lists. Making a note OF this fact, out
siders will readily come to the conclu-
sion that North Carolina is now, more
than ever before, the state for inves-
tors.0Charlotte Observer.
The facts in regard t the fate OF the
libel bill, that was introduced into the
legislature, are here given for the in
formation of those concerned therein.
In accordance with a resolution adopt
| ed at the last meeting OF the North
Carolina Press Association, the editor
of The Record carefully prepared a
libel bill and had ii introduced In the
| house early in the session. 1t was re-
ferred to the judiciary committee, and
it's author, with several other editors,
appeared before that committee In its
advocacy. The bill seemed to be ac-
ceptable to a majority of the committee,
and one member (Mr. F. ID. Winston)
made an able speech for it, but 1t was
referred to a subcommittee for further
consideration. This subcommittee con-
sisted Of Mr. Winston, ex-Judge w. X.
Allen and MI. Frank Ray, and to this
day they have never made any report
on the bill. Whether they considered
it is unknown. The editors of North
Carolina have cause to complain of
such treatment Of a bill that so deeply
concerned them, and which at least de-
served a better fate han being smoth-
ered.-Pittsboro Record.
Even before the committee that
drafted the amendment began it's work,
the republican politicians and papers
were full Of statements to the effect
that the democrats were getting ready
to disfranchise everybody who "did't
ownland or hadn't gone to college"
When the amendment had gone
through the crucible OF a democratic
caucus, and it was presented at owner
ship OF property the same politicians
declared that 1t would "disfranchise
everybody who had been denied the
advantages of an education" When
they Were detected In that ~falsehood.
they ran TO the mex and sale, it would
d~isfranchise all the sons OF old sold
iers." When 1t was seen that IL pro-
tected every white man anu his chill
I dren thirteen years of age, and gave
smaller children seven years To learn
TO read and write. these shifty dema-
gogues cried out: Yes, 1t protects
all the white voters and thirteen year
old boys now, but this Is the first step
only, and later 1t Is proposed TO confine
suffrage to the rich aud learned"
When IL was shown that 1t was from
the humble and the poor that democ-
racy had drawn most of Its recruits
from Jeffersonis day to the present and
| that Acknowledgement OF them would
; destroy h party, these same fellows
! bawled out hat he supreme court
would annul the exception clause and
thus establish a plain educational quail
iication whether the democrats want
ed IL or not. When the democrats
| showed that this was absurd, but
promised that IL the courts should do
such q thing they would annul the
amendment without delay, the repub-
licaH politicians, being driven into the
! last corner. recalled the advice Of Ike
Young, Lie like hl and stick TO
It," and went forth telling the people
what fantastic stories they thought
. would find a lodgmenf In their minds. -
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