The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-27
A LINE OF REFLECTION MADE
NECESSARY.

1t is wrong to speak evil Of the dead.
That comes down to US from the heath
en-the nation building Romans. If
o cannot speak good of one upon
whom God has placed His mighty hand,
then be silent. You may with proprie-
ty at the right time discuss the policies
n acts of presidents beginning with
Washington and ending with Roosevelt,
but you would be wise to pass over the
personal life of a man now known to
have possessed such noble, elevated,
gentle, lovable virtues as the late presi-
dent possessed. When he was a living
factor surely it was not wrong to COM
ment upon his political course or to an
tagonize his policy in earnest phrasing.
That was legitimate and necessary if
there are to be parties and opposing
principles among men. The Messenger
has severely handled in the past some
measures and votes OF the greatly Ia
mented president. 1t did it honestly,
openly. resolutely. Democratic princi-
pies and policies are not n and the
same with republican principles and
policies. If so. let no democrat presume
to question anything hat President
Roosevelt may hereafter do, n let
the democratic party disband, and never
dare to agitate opposition again, or to
nominate candidates again. But there
ave been two parties always in Eng
land and in the United States. and there
must continue to be two parties if there
are to remain free institutions and
principles of liberty, economy and JUS
tice. 1t is right that the wrong should
be scored, and he is a time-server, and
a "wobbler' who plays hide and seek
with it. Out-spoken opposition and
criticism are right, proper, imperious.
This writer would be very sorry to be-
lieve himself a liar when III poured
hot shots into the revered and lamented
presidents foreign and domestic policy.
He may have been betrayed under
serious prOvocation into language too
heated and personal. Writing often
under the pressure of necessity, and
not having night to sleep upon what
was written. it is probable words were
sometimes used that should have been
toned down or avoided. ana milder
language employed. But what has been
written of Mr.. Mckinney since the as
sassin's assault was made has been
sincere and honest in every particular.
There has been no Hypocrisy in any,
thing said. The revelation of his char
acter by scores Of people who know
him most intimately: the scrupulous
honor Of the man; the sweetness, gra-
ciousness, nobility of his life and char
acter; the tender low for his wife; the
beauty of his home: the fidelity and de-
votion to his friends his charming re-
ligions bearing under the greatest trial
and suffering, at one filled with gran
deur. fortitude. Christian resignation
and submission to his Heavenly Faith
er's will-these are the grand, ennobl-
ing. heart-winning. soul-moving, tear
compelling virtues and graces that
make political opponents and severe
critics of policies in the past bow in
sorrow and regret and admiration, and
which rival in sincerity and grief those
who approve of republican measures
and particular policies.
+ To US President Mckinley bound in
the cerements of tie tomb, with his
gracious, benignant. beautiful. engag-
ing character known to us. is altogether
another man from the once extreme re-
publican, voting always for Force bills
against the south. constructing dras-
tic harsh. roEber high tariffs for the
few, that a republican supreme court
declared was robbery helping to build
up hundreds of devouring trusts, and
advocating certain foreign policies that
democrats generally nou and op-
posed. We would gladly recall any,
unnecessary or extreme words we may |
have applied to him under provocation,
but we honor, revere. and greatly ad-
mire his character. and lament with all
sincerity 1.-The deep damnation of his
taking off" and rejoice to believe, with
absolute gertrude of conviction. that
this true Christian, a sinner redeemed
by grace and washed clean Of all sin in !
the precious blood of Jesus. is now in
the home OF the sanctiied and re-
deemed and glorifed. Il 20 to prepare
q place for you. I will come again. and
receive you unto myself: that where I
am, there ye may be also" Johns Gcs-
pei XIX: "a. Certain things spoken
EMM