The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-21
STATE PRESS.

hence would naturally be slow to crit
icise a body of Christian ministers es-
pecially OF his own church, but pray
tell us the action of the New Bern
conference means Does it mean that
Gattis and the court are to be censur-
ed, or that it adds to character to be
found guilty of SANDER? We ask for
notwithstanding al.-Mt. Airy
News.
Gattis got a verdict for $50. 900. There
has not been an intimation that the
jury was tempered with. Not q citizen
of Oxford has said aught in criticism
of the verdict. The case was tried in
Oxford where Mr.. Duke has given many
thousands of dollars in charity and
where the Oxford orphan asylum
stand. He is a director of this charity
and has given it at least twenty thou
sand dollars. We may we'll suppose
there that local sympathy was with
him and his ~codefendants. And we
may also conclude that the
ming weight of the evidence was in
favor of the plaintiff, Gattis. The
= amount awarded is a small sum when
his damage is considered.
= Rut the public utteranceS OF tie con.
! Hrence is not likely to SSr1ng good re-
suits. 1t looks IKE O row is on hand
IN the church one of the greatest agen-
cies for good in the world.-windsor
Ledger.
-a we all FAVOR DeIter SCHOOLS, aiiG De-
lieVe that the legislature should do
all in it's power to promote the interests
of education. But those who are most
ready to demand that the legislature
max increased appropriations for
schools will be the first to denounce it
for raising the taxes. The only way
in which a state can raise money is by
taxation. 1t can issue bonds for a
time, but there must at last be taxa
ton for public schools commendS itself
as the most practical and feasible sys-
tem.-Raleigh Times.
1t is her duty to furnish better
schools and longer terms, and pay the
~acher better salaries SO that they
may more thoroughly equip themselves
for their work The state should do
this, and, as we see it, the only way in
which to do it, is by general taxation.
Taxpayers will feel more keenly that
their children must go to schoo in or
der to get their share" when the
share is larger; the press Of the state
must do the rest. If it is left to the
people to tax themselves-which must
be done if hat plan is f~ollowed-they
will not do it.-Charlotte News.
Only last week the Raleigh Christian
Advocate, in discussing the Gattis-Kil-
go trial, made the following statement
in referring to the former Clark-kilgo
trial: DIR. Kilgo had no ste~nographer.
Judge Clark, as a member of the board
q JIG NhA Wan @ NAS
whole board" Now everybody who
read the proceedings of the Clark-Kilgo
socalled trial knows hat the above lis
a misleading statement. Mr.. NewSome
the stenographer referred to, was DR..
Kilgo's private secretary. Judge Clark
p asked to be allowed a ste~nographer.
Offering to pay the expenses,-but the
board denied his request. He then
asked that MIR. Newsome be sworn but
DR.. Kilgo objected and his objection
was sustained Mr. Naucnrna Dr Kill
COS private secretary, was the steno-
prapher Of that famous trial" and was
not selected by Judge Clark.-Roanoke
Chowan Times.
But while all this Is true, it must be
admitted that President Kilgo has per-
mftted his temper to run away with his
judgment. His controversy with Judge
Clark was unnecessary and his castiga-
tion OF Rev Gattis needlessly severe.
Nor was Trinity college 'vindicated'
by the publication of Kilgo's speech.
That was indeed a Fly in the oint-
ment"-wholly unnecessary except to
show Kilgo's mastery of the act of in
vective and indicating a striking
want OF brotherlineSs Ebullitions of
temper do o look we'll in cold type.
The action of the conference last
week, at this distance. looks ill-advis-
ed. 1t was no time for endorsing Kill
go, or repudiating him.. unQuali1edly
It is quite probable that the conference
as a whole have unshakenfaith in his
Integrity; but pending The decision Oh
the case by the supreme court, the con-
ference should have been more conser-
vative. It is to be hoped that
President Kilgo has learned well ths
lesson that has cost him s dearly. An
unbridled tongue has destroyed men
greater than he. To give it license i'm
p pairs not only his own usefulness. but
will work irreparable injury to Trinity
college and the church.-Winston Jour
nal