The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-23
On Line.

One thought that is suggested by the
address of ex-Secretary Of the Navy H.
A. Herbert, before the Alabama. Bar AS
ISOLATION at Montgomery, is that the
views which Senator McLaurin, of
South Carolina has been expressing in
recent speeches hav the approval of
more southern men who are prominent
in business and the professions han is
generally believed to be the case. The
inference, from what Mr.. Herbert is re-
ported to AVE said. is that he regards
the Philippines as a permanent posses
sion of the United States and approves
the recent decisions Of the supreme
court in the Porto Rico cases. He APP
proves the decisions because the ques-
ton which the possession of the islands
presents is whether we shall govern
them or permit them to govern us.
A point he made that will set men
thinking is that expansion republicans
have taken the position occupied by
democrats before the civil war and hat
democrats are quoting with approval
views once entertained by republicans
and abolitionists. 1t is true, of course,
that Mr.. Bryan quotes Mr.. Lincoln al
most as often as he quotes Thomas JEFF
ferson, n he seldom makes a speech
or writes an article that he does not
quote a great deal from the latter.
The thought that crops out in Mr..
Herbert'S address is hat conditions in
this country ave undergone a wonder
full change within the last quarter Of a
century n that therefore there is need
for a change of politics. Questions are
continually coming up for settlement
that were never thought of by the foun-
ders of the republic. These new queS-
tons make a departure from old politi-
cal doctrines necessary.
Mr.. Herbert made an earnest plea for
greater independence of thought and
less Slavish adherence to parties. His
address was al indication that there
was a tendency towards independent
thinking in political matters. There is
no that in the last national cam
paign there were thousands of southern
voters who did not cast a ballot simply
because they were not satisfied with
the declaration Of principles of the par
ty with which they had always acted.
To what extent independent think
ing in political matters will manifest
itself here in the south, in the next
presidential campaign, cannot now be
predicted with any degree Of certainty.
Much will depend upon what the demo-
cratic party does in its next national
convention, and whether other states
h those that have acted will elimi-
nate the illiterate negro vote. There is
no doubt that If the fear Of negro domi-
nation is reduced to a minimum it will
be a difficult matter to keep the dem
ocratic lines intact, if the doctrines OF
the last democratic platform are ad-
hered to. We do not mean of course
that it will be possible for the republi-
can party or a new party to get control
Of any one of the southern states in the
near future, but hat a very considera-
bic percentage of democrats will refuse
TO continue to give their support to the
l@-o
certain.
The signs are multiplying that there
are many who are in sympathy with
Senator McLaurin and Ex-Secretary
Herbert. Mr.. Bryan has not h inhu-
ence in the south he once had and the
ideas for which he stands are not as
News.