The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-12
Gie dtlessenger.
SOMETHING THE INAUGURAL
TEACHES.

~ III oO II OAAC Aao a ANAA0
knowledge of facts and occurrences
during the last four OF eight years
The address is quite American, even
something eloquent, in what he says
Blot all records and ent and the
address is a model of rejoicing as well
as a very agreeable resume OF occur
rences from the imperialistic watch
tower. While Americans who are
Americans may we'll rejoice in what
ever of grandeur, glory n prosperity
attend the history of these United
States, there are unpleasant remem-
brances, and the song of rejoicing is
forced to tax on a strain of lamenta-
ton at more than n turn in the mus
ical jubilee. An elaborte. critical ex-
of the address would reveal
many things to be sorrowful for as
we'll as occasions for fear and appre-
hension as TO the future of our country.
The address abounds in salient ut
terances that will attract and cause
the crowd of hero-worshippers to hur-
rah with many bOwings n genuflec-
TONS. How well he speaks when
he declares that I'VE should not per-
NIT our great prosperity to lead us to
reckless ventures in business or pro-
figacy in expenditures" How that
must have fallen on leaden-ears of the
expiring congress-, with it's nearly bill
lion and a half of expenditures, the
most SenseleSs, the most reckless, the
most indefensible, the most profiigate
in all American history. And yet the
president spoke of a reduction" of
$40, &C., 900 of taxes, in the face of an
actual increase of nearly a half bill
lion in expenditures. READ the follow
ing and while you may admire you
may nave cause to wonder if not
groan:
we are now at peace with the
world, and it is my fervent prayer if
differences arise ; : = they may be
settled by peaceful arbitration. =
There are some national questions
in the solution of which patriotism
should exclude craftsmanship.
Hope maketh not ashamed The
prophets of evil were not the builders
of the republic, nor in its crises since
have they saved or served it.
our institutions will not deteriorate
by extension and our sense of justice
will not abate unde tropic suns in dis
tant seas. The path of pro-
gress is seldom smooth. New things
are often found hard to do.
We face at this moment a most inn
portant q~ueStiOn-that of the future
relations of the United States and
CIba.
Our countrymen should not be de-
ceived. We are not waging war
pine islands. A portion of them are
makinQ war against the Tinted
States"
In answer look at the two years war
in tire Philippines. The masters and
usurpers and despoilers and oppressors
LEI yet builded wisely and never
saved or served"a country or republic.
If it is true progress to become imperi-
alistic the wisest of our statesmen
utterly fail to see it or comprehend it.
1t will be found exceeding rugged and
costly and blood-letting to make ex-
pansion mean conquest by guns and
powder. 1t is a truth made plain by
history that adventures have often
come to grief, and so-called progress
has terminated in disappointment and
defeat. Go slow is better than rough
riding. and it is better not to create a
crisis if thereby you practice cruelty
and visit great wrongs upon the unof-
Tending. The cry of Mckinley as to
the Philippines is the cry of deception
and untruth. 1t is not history. He
brought it on by his own wicked course
during the Paris arbitration. That is
now we'll known and made easy of
proof by McKinley's W words writ
ten to the arbitrators. The Philip
pines in. their course have ten times
the cause the American colonies a
for their resistance of Great Britain.
The ablest of living Americans know
wha Mckinley says is not true as to
the Philippines. The Baltimore Sun
lets him off with exceeding ~forbearance
in saying that Judging from the tone
of the presidents inaugural he intends
that the war in the Philippines shall
be a fight to the finish. now that we
have engaged in it. In regard to the
presidents statement that we are not
making war upon the Filipinos, but
that a portion of them are waging wal
against us, there may possibly be
some difference of opinion. If the
president is right the Fflip.nos. with
u exception, are the victims of a
most extraordinary delusion."
He makes war and yet he glibly
talks Of there being mo more blood
she'd" It lies with him IN his imperial
powers. He is the state now. His
talk as to Cuba is deceptive n un-
satisfactory. He a no idea of let
ting Cuba be free in fact. Before it
will be allowed to go free he declares
that it must be capable of performing
the duties and discharging the func-
tions of a separate nation, OF observ-
ing it's international obligations, of
protecting life and property. insuring
safety. order and liberty and conform
ing TO the established and historical