The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-24
WILMINGTON. n. C..
UNFAITHFUL LEADERS AND PAR
TIES.

Rightly the Atlanta CONSTITUTION
holds that in the failure Of the republi-
can party ito reform the tariff lies dem
ocracy's greatest opportunity" But 1t
will reform" before 1904, If the McKin-
ley gang shall be convinced that it is
true policy to cut down the stupen-
Gus robber. The Washington Post, re-
publican, goes heavily for its FRIENDS,
the democracy land denies it all practi-
cal merit. 1t asked, not in sorrow, but
as a philippe: But what use has
democracy made of its opportunities?
Wat has it done in the last
forty years to show its capacity Tor
reforming anything? And especially on
the question of tariff reform, what is
there in democracy's record to inspire
a hope?"
In turn it might be asked, what has
the republican party ever done that
vas Just, fair, honorable, righteous,
VIE. patriotic? 1t has had nearly all
power since 1861, and it has revolution
ize i the country. precipitated the o
INF, rnaI war in modern history, caused
hui. reds of thousands of men to per-
ish. robbed, ruined. ~dragonaded the
sou by it's Infamous reconstruction
laws. piled up the public debt, robbed
the people with its high, huge robber
tariffs, built up and fostered the de-
youring trusts. and created expendi-
lures that are a disgrace to civilization
and a tremendous outrage upon the
people at large. 1t has been the party
of sin and evil and its leaders have
been no better than the rank and file.
The POST thinks h democracy's great
es need lis a regenerated democracy"
According to the Mckinley exponent
the democrats are indeed a sorry lot Of
incapables.
But how about the republicans in
power? Are they all sweet and noble
and fragrant in good deeds and holy
living and wise governing? Hear this
able. bold arraigner of parties:
Banking on the feuds and follies of
the allied opposition, the republicans
have thus far refused to interfere with
those schedules of the tariff which shell
ter public robbery for private gain. If
llG OppOSIIlOH Idu DcCu III llldl l =
was and is; if it had not been a bur-
1esque of the once great democracy, the
Fifty-sixth congress would not have
dared to put up a farce on antitrust
legislation. 1t would have done its
clearly defined duty by revising those
tariff schedules whose only object is to
protect eXtortionate combines. Having
been overwhelmingly victorious in the
presidential campaign in spite of its
IIfo mo with tha trIICtC tho nl1c4n
party in the Fifty-seventh congress
will work Off another farce"
That is sauce for the goose" And
this brings up another readable, spicy
of the same vigorous paper.
1t tells of IAN immortal episode" Sem
{: ator Blackburn, OF Kentucky, in he
senate, said: He who dallies is a dast-
ard; he who doubts is damned" He tells
how his fierce phrasing occurred. The
WASHINGTON correspondent of the
Brooklyn, n. Y. Eagle. gives this from
him:
II believe 1 originated that saying.
At least. so far as / know, l never saw
it in print until l used it during the
controversy at the beginning of Hayes
administration on the question of
whether should pass a meas
ure appropriating money for sending
troops to the polls. My associates,
Alexander Stephens, OF Georgia and
Gen. jos Johnston. of Virginia, failed
to aid me in the stand I had taken
against this movement. and it so anger
er me that I applied the remark to
Them
The Post ccrrects his recollection. Ii
was before Hayes was so wrongfuliy'
rascally inaugurated. stealing the pres
idency from Samuel J. Tilden. Hear the
Post:
1.-THE whole country was afiame WITH
excitement over the HayeS-T1lden con-
test and congress was the focus OF the
epidemic. Mr.. blackburn spoke for the
stalwarts-for those who believe they
were right and stood prepared to push
their claim 1t any cost. If the demo
cratic leaders had united on Mr.. Black
burns proposition. Mr.. Samuel j. Til
den, and not MI. Rutherford 3. Hayes
might have been president OF the UNI
ted States from March 4, 1877, to March
4. 1881"
Divisions in the democratic camp
have caused more serious
than either the wisdom or purchasing
power of the prof1igate republican par
ty. If the democratic leaders and their
special organs had been true to prin-
.ciple. faithful to party convention de-
1~iverances. firm and loyal to promises
and pledges, forever staunch and un-
yielding in devotion to the great demo
cratic party of the people. there wouid
have been victories where there were
defeats. and the present most serious
conditions of the country could never
have happened.
xrrpv NORTH CAROLINA