The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-08
WILMi hGT0n. N. C.
FRIDAY. MARCH s. 1901
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Amid great "pomp and circumstance
the Coronation OF William Mckinley
was carried out TO the letter. A big
crowd and eager listeners. and a care
fully prepared address marked h day.
Mckinley is mellifiuous. QUITE a master
Of hOnied phrase and artistic touch. He
knows how to round a period something
akin to an axiom. n to evoke hurrahs
By rhetorical platitudes and solemn
faced wisdom For instance what a
be as an abstract thought safer and
truer than this sentiment:
Honesty. capacity. and industry are
nowhere more Indispensable than in
public employment. These should be
fundamental requisites to original ap-
pointment and the surest guarantees
against removal"
Read that and then behold his course.
see his appointees during his four
vearS in office. 1t reminds one Of Prince
Halls On Falstaf's drinking
bill. But one half-penny worth of
bread to this intolerable deal of sack"
II You will listen to McKinleys strain
of music as he sings of his own deeds
YOU Will De CulTdLCcu 1OI HGNCl NCAS
there more haIcyon days or such in
Vulnerable and glorious blessings
showered upon any people. 'ireat is
Mckinley and hanna is his prophet.
Bill can indeed make the worse appear
the better reason. but that is not precise
~ as Shakespeare wrote it. Two facts
stand out: there is a war of more h a
two years now waging against a weak
people tina never harmed q hair of Nc
Kinley mol did aught against his
mighty republic that fought for seven
years for liberty and independence be-
Cause Great Britain. hard and eXacting,
demanded four cents tax on tea that
aot one American in one hundred had
eyer tasted. The other fact that there
Is great Indignation in the north among
he abIest men-republicans and kick
erS at the attempt to outrage Cuba.
0lney, Cleveland. Carlisle. Harrison.
Boar. and scores of other strong men
are denouncing McKinlev's course in
dealing with Cuba. But to listen to the
presidents plea, it is all right, no harm
Is intended. Cuba shall be free" He
says In one breath that I'VE face al
tkis moment a most important question
that of the future relations of the
Waited States and Cuba With our
near neighbors we must remain close
friends. The declaration OF the pur-
poses OF this government in the resolu-
lion OF April 20. 1898. must be made
good" Then We read this. and it is a
strange comment on what had just
been said: The transfer of American
control to the new government is of
such great Importance. involving an OBJ
ligation resulting from our Intervention
and the treaty OF peace" Cuba free in
one breath, and Cuba controlled by the
United States in the next breath. You
are free in one m and controlled
by us in the next. Now you see it and
now you don't see it. a regular game
Of the Little Joker" known to trick
sters. 1t is a sorry business at best,
and NcKinley's par in the farce OF
tragedy is not one to n him or
enthraI real patriots and men OF sense.
Mckinley has exercised more power
in the last three years THAI any British
monarch has Jared to exercise since
James II. If King Edward VII were to
attempt to take to himself the supreme
powers Mckinley has exercised and
will continue to exercise he woul lose
his head the first year of his fateful
reign. IT New York World is plainly
truthful and exact in what it said the
other day of the abominable Spooner
bill. We quote:
'If congress shall pass the Spooner
bill. comforting upon the president all
military, civil and judicial powers for
the government of the Philippines, Mr..
Mckinley will become possessed of more
absolute power than anv monarch in
Europe.
of conquest and determination without
one word of express authorization by
congress-.
He has exercised the treaty making
power without the consent OF the e
ate in the agreement with the Sultan
OF Sulu, under which poiygamy and
slavery have continued 10 exist for
more han a year in territory under the
jurisdiction of the United States.
"Under the army bill Just passed the
president can and will increase the
standing army from $4,000. it's mini
muIs.> to 100. 900. the maximum, at his
sole discretion. He has also the ap-
pointment of LOO commissioned Off
GERS, and can give as large a proportion
OF these places as he desires to the sons
or fayorites of politicians lately taken
frsm civil life. thus working injustice
To the trained and deserving regular Of
hoers and epdangering b welfare, 4
not the safety Of the army.
'sOn top of these extraordinary usur-
paitfons and grants of power comes the
proposition to make Mr.. Mckinley by
law, as for two a he has been in
fact the absolute military. civil and
iudicial ruler of the Philippines. Under
This broad grant OF power the president
could, unless restrained by the forth
coming decision of the supreme court,
Iegislate, or rather proclaim avs, Tor
{. 1000, eco Of people. He could Z
Z at viii, n through his Judges, decide