The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

| But hasn't the nation reckoned UNI
wisely? National greatness consists
more in the virtue and true worth of
the citizen than in the size of the army
or the number of half starved semi
civilized peoples who live in our poss-
essions.
The number Of good roads bills pass
ed by this legislature is encouraging.
II half the plans for road improve
ment are carried out the states high
ways will be greatly improved. Good
a cannot be built all at once. 1t
X years of constant labor. They
are expensive. too. but are richly worth
all they cost.-Raleigh Times.
Thomas jefferson. when he retired
from the presidency, recounted the
great essential elements that consti-
tute the true foundation of the repub-
lie and closed with this paragraph:
should We wander from them in mo-
ments of error or alarm let us hasten
TO retrace our steps to regain the
road which Ion leads TO peace, liberty
and safety.-Durham Sun.
Concluding a very fulsome editorial
on ex-senator Butler in which great
admiration is expressed for that indi-
vidual. the Graham Tribune, a repub-
Hcan paper, says that I'VE are for
Marion Butler for district attorney.
governor, senator or anything he
wants. We love the man for the en-
emies he has made" Among those
enemies which he has at one time or
the other made was Senator Pritchard.
whom Mr.. Butler tried so hard to de-
feat, n who publicly cursed Con-
gresham Shuford for standing up to
Butler in his NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Telegram.
The legislature has this problem: How
can it ever know how much TO appro-
pirate. when an institution, instead of
using the money appropriated for the
purpose named uses it only as a begin
ninA for a ten fold appropriation? Two
years ago 5000 0 was appropriated for
building at Morganton hospital. II
was used to make the beginning of 4
building to cost not less than 500, 900.
1t is the DrOvince of the legislature
or directors 70 say how much addition
al buildings shall cost?-Raleigh News
and Observer.
The house judiciary committee, as Is
to be seen by our Raleigh special this
morning. has met the cotton mill men
in a friendly and liberal spirit, and all
the mills which have not signed the
agreement in regard TO child labor
should manifest their appreciation of
this spirit by adopting the committees
Il ooS5NSNioh tii1b lIiSN lSh at ~ =
all should live UP religiously to the
contract. 1t will be much better for
the matter to go off this way than
that it should be the subject of legis-
tation. All the mills should hasten 10
sign.-Charlotte Observer.
Whenever a public school in any
school district has a thirty dollar Ii
brary you may be sure that it will not
be long before it will have a sixty dol
lar library, mainly from private sources
There is this about reading that is
universal. Whenone reads a good book
the first impulse is to want others to
enjoy it. The blessings hat flow from
a library are among the highest, and
the habit of reading if not acquired
in youth is seldom acquired. The ap-
preparation from the school fund call
ed for by this bill would not be large,
and it would set influences for good
in motion hat would endure forever
Raleigh News and Observer.
1t is the exception in the south, we
believe. when cotton mill owners do
not have sincerely at heart the inter-
ests and welfare of their employees.
Our Greensboro correspondent yester.
day stated that the Proximity Manu-
featuring Compeny has decided to es-
tabliSh and maintain a graded school,
for the benefit of the children of the
mill employees and has already award
ed the contract for a handsome school
building containing an auditorium
suitable for public gatherings. 1t is a
highly ~commendable undertaking. This
Atherton Cotton Mills of this city have
had such a school, school building and
auditorium for four years or longer
and it has been satisfactory in every
way.-Charlotte Observer.
An item of news in The Observer
this morning gives the startling infor-
nation hat a law has passed the Utah
legislature legalizing polygamy. Says
the dispatch conveying this news:
The federal statute forbids only the
celebration of a plural marriage" The
new law gets around this in some way
through the marriage without h eel
ebration, we presume. The law was
passed at the dictation of the Mormon
church. 1t has long secretly diregard.
ed the law of the land. Congressman
elect Roberts a three wives but his
harem was scattered. So were others
Wives did not all live together unde
the same roof. Now the Mormon
church and it's creature, the Utah leg
islature, think they are strong enough
to defy the law and decency of the
country. Utah is a fostering sore or
the body polite and the question fol
Uncle Sam is, What is he going to dc
about it?-Charlotte Observer.
OF all the blessings possessed by a
free people none are superior in import
ance to an Independent and fearless
judiciary. In fact we may we'll say that
the most precious heritage which come
to us from our Anglo-Saxon ancestry
is that system of polity which secures
to US a free and Independent judiciary,
subject neither to the control of the
executive or legislative departments. II
is an INDEPENDENT judiciary which II
not at all times yet in the majority OF
instances when liberty was in danger
by reason of Entertainments by king Oh
parliament upon the rights of the peo.
1 pie, has stood as a sure barrier for thu
protection Of liberty and justice. Ans
if it has ever failed to stand for the
rights of the people against the kins
it has been when the Judges were de,