davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
The Wlessenger.
BILLS BEFORE THE STATE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

There were 2,150 bills introduced in
the legislative house of representatives.
In the last legislature there were 2,025.
Legislation is both expensive and tedi-
Gus. Hundreds of bills are dead be-
fore introduced and lie in de archives
of graviey." The Raleigh Post prints
particulars from Chief Clerk Brevard
Nixon. We copy a small part:
of these more thar 300 relate TO pen
sions; more than 400 relate to local
grievances; 30 relate to railroads,
amending charters and Incorporating
the same; 225 amend laws and a
new statutes OF a public and private
nature: 4 relate TO the insane; IL relate
to the finance of the state, counties.
townships, etc; 60 concern fish and
oysters; 9 relate to claims; s concern
public health; 120 concern public and
private corporations; 8 relate to salar-
les and fees; 4 concern salaries and
fees; 80 relate to roads, ETC.; los relate
to ~education; 20 to agriculture; 5 to
penal institutions; 325 to counties,
cities and towns; s to appropriations,
and 126 to justices of the peace. Two
hundred and thirty-seven roll call bills
have passed into laws. These give
towns and counties authority to levy
taxes and issue bonds.
One hundred and ffty-three bills
have been reported from committees
an sleep in the pigeon-hole of unfavor-
able bills"
Mr.. Nixon makes suggestions worthy
of attention that would tend to lessen
expense and facilitate business. He
shows how a saving of $1,000 could be
made in the clerk hire. He thinks
North Carolina badly behind in legisla-
ton machinery as compared with other
sta,es. One thing is certain, there is
10 occasion for the introduction of 50
many needless bills.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

and So it would appear from agitations
in Great Britain and the northern
states. Eleven hours a day are excess
sive. Our able contemporary says and
with foresight and humane considera-
tons:
I'm our opinion, and speaking in the
most general view of the subject, the
agitation for the regulation of labor
hours in the mills in the south will not
cease until they are limited, by law, to
less than Sc our a week, and mill
owner and managers, who require
such laws. might do well to prepare foI
the apparently inevitable reduction.
Tht plea that it would be ruinous to
their industry, it may be added only,
does not consist with their exhibit of
profits for many years, nor with the
widely advertised fact that they are
all now suffering mainly from over
production by working too many hours,
and that manv OF them. in North Car
olina especially, are running their
plants on half time to reduce produc-
tion to h demands of the worlds
market. Fewer working hours the
yea round should be quite as safe and
desirable a proceeding for them as to-
tai suspension or half time for months
together. and would be far better for
their working people of all ages"
1t has been stated. we mention 20
make the matter appear in a clearer
light. that it is understood that the
operatives were anxious to have the
Legislature to avoid enacting a law,
n that the agreement that was u b
mitted to the legislature was signed
by q Il hIe ma iority of the mill
owners. and it vas accepted in place
of the law aiming to regulate labor in
North Carolina in the textile mills
The signers agreed that they will CO.
operate with any feasible plan to pro-
mote the education of the working peo-
pie III the state and will carefully sub
nit to our part Of the burdens and
labOrs to advance the cause of general
education"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
COTTON MILLS AND THE COMPRO.
MISE.

The legislature will pass no law. it
is now said. to regulate the question OF
work in the cotton factories. This pur-
pose has been formed because a part
|of the factories agreed to certain cur-
|tailment of time and to fixing the
|child-age at Is years except in the case
of children whose parents are disabled
Ior whose mothers are widows. Other
enter into the understanding.
Whether operatives are satisfied with
THE arrangement or no Is not known TO
us. We suppose the question will be
kept in allegiance to see how the ar
arrangement works out, and whether 10
the satisfaction of owners and opera
Itives. The compromise may turn out 10
lbe good every way and satisfactory to
employers and employed. The Char
Ileston News and Courier thinks that
l6s hours are too long for a weeks labor
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
RETIRING AND REWARDED SENA-
TORS.

There were our republican United
States senators who were dropped by
their several states. But goody Nc
Kinley provided for them at once. He
appointed them members of the ST.
Louis Exposition Commission at a sal
airy of S., 200 a year-a new office Of
not much Importance. The senators
are Thomas H. Carter, William Lind
say, George W.. Mcbride and John M.
Thurston. Cannot, will not the benev-
client and sympathetic president give
a small chunk of bread and butter to
Marion Butler, the defunct statesman
and mighty orator of "Hunnycutts,
N. c." Butler, like the four named,
has been adopted and he is ready
to say from the bottom of his anxious
heart. Me Too! Help, good MI. Nc
Kinley, or 1 hunger" Rumor says
that Marion will get a nice bite at the
toothsome cherry-United States dis
trict attorney. He is ignorant of law
but will perhaps grade with some of
the other legal appointments of the
republican Mckinley, as he will with
some of the legal sprouts who have
held federal office under black radical
rule in North Carolina.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTH.

Mr.. Justice Augustus Van Wyck, of
New York city. has been elected pres
Iident of the New York Southern Socie-
Ity. He is a man of accomplishments
and ability, and is true to the south
and it's grand traditions and aspira-
ltions. In the great section that so lone
time has traduced and misrepresented
this glorious southland, so precious IN
its memories and so appealing in its
iclaimS upon every genuine SOUL upon
Ievery piece of real manhood, this hon.
Iored judicial representative of our civ
tilization in the greatest city of the con-
tinent stands up frankly and bravely
flor the people he honors and admires.
We must trench upon our crowded
space for an excerpt or two from his
excellent. stirring address. He began:
children of our Southland: 1 SALUTE
lyou as brethren, bound together by the
lite of a common ancestry. She is rich
in splendid traditions and pregnant
with beneficent ideas and deeds which
have done SO much to ennoble man.
kind"
Toward the close he paid this tribute
Ito the noble womanhod and their south
land W. all so love:
The peerless womanhood of the
lsouth has received not only the eve
Ience of the southerner, but the un-
lstinted homage of the civilized world
ito her purity. intellectually, refine
ment and graceful beauty.
The time has arrived for the COM
plete eXtinguiShment of that Apologize
attitude and self-excusing speech,
Imodesty and aversion to boastfulneSs
has often impelled southerners and
those speaking for the south since 1861
Ito adopt. The time is at hand when
the ostracism Of any leader in any Of
the southern states from an equal right
tic contest on fair terms for the nation
Ial prizes from the lowest to the very
highest, of the locality of his
leadership. should be effaced from the
heart and thought of all good citizens
throughout the land.
For the old south. rich with her no.
BILE traditions. patriotism, culture and
refinement. and the new south whose
l-Ftord has been marked by the most
rapid strides in material progress ever
witnessed before. nav nothing to apol-
logize for.
Both the old n the new have done
their part well in the makeup Of our
marvellous republic, and in her fncom-
parable Industrial prosperity"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

$50 much effectiveness. for the Massa-
Ichusetts and New England foIks-the
~lfanatical negrophilists-have yexed
their unrigheous souls for generations
lover the cruel. devilish treatment of
the negroes in the south. while not hon
loSng in any way those who sought
homes NOM them. In Boston and in
New England generally the negro has
mo equal chance with the white race,
and never once have the negroes been
promoted and honored by them What
offices Of honor. profit and trust have
negroes ever held in all New England?
In no state mas the negro been given
No governor. no member OF the United
States congress. no member of the ju-
dietary. no mayor OF Boston or Spring
field or any other city ever came from
the ranks OF the negroes. But IA
our Lynchburg contemporary in its
effective handling of the Transcript,
and those it represents:
The appeal Of Congressman White
touched the tender sympathies of the
boston journalist. who seems TO deplore
the departure OF the colored brother
from the halls of congress as a calam-
lity to the country. Now. If the Bos-
tonians share the sentiments of the
Transcript editor they should remem-
Der that the remedy is in their own
hands. AL the negroes that have yet
gone TO congress We're sent thither by
southern constituencies. Neither Bos-
ton, nor Massachusetts,. nor New Eng
land. nor n northern state has ever
conferred this honor on a colored
brother. And yet the negroes in Bos-
ton and elsewhere in the north have
long enjoyed better educational facili-
ties than their brethren in the benight-
ed southern states, and the presump-
ltion Is that they are better fitted to
fulfill the duties Of law makers for the
Estate or the nation. Now, If the SYM
Ipathy of the Transcript is genuine and
not feigned. let that journal nominate
some intelligent and reputable Boston
negro for congress at the next election
and see to il that the reproach is re-
moved from the race by sending him
to Washington to represent in part the
great and enlightened state of Massa-
lchusetts. That would be a practical
way of demonstrating sympathy for
the negro and ~reproving the narrow
ness of southern prejudice"
Yes. let us have something direct and
Expressive in professed sympathy,
confidence and admiration. Words are
cheap. Let acts follow at once. Nom-
Innate a negro for Boston's mayor. send
another to the United States house, and
let the next republican governor be
ISambo, pure in blood and as black as
the ace of spades. 1t is time that pull
ling sentiment was discarded n
worthy action followed. What say the
lnegrophilists to a governor of Massa-
lchusetts from the rank of the negroes?
George White should go up to Boston
and secure the transcripts favor and
support. Perhaps he can represent
IROSton in the congress.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
A BOSTON PAPER ON WHITE, ssTHE
DYING SWAN"

The Boston Transcript is possibly
the EXTREMIST of the extreme newspa-
pers in Massachusetts. 1t has been
smitten with h~ydrophobia for a long
time, and it grows more acrid and viz
lent as the years roll. If it could not
hate the south it would not live long
for it would die of it's own poison 1t
has been greatly moved owe the fare
we'll address of our bumptious George
White. when he was gathering his doc
uments and paper collars to leave the
United States house of representatives
forever The Transcript was deeply
moved by our Georges assault upon
the state he has afflicted. and by his
swan song of his race" 1t was a
gross misnomer to characterize a vi
Imperative and discordant shriek-a
vengeful e~xpectoration of bile and Wis
song. The song of the swan is a pure
fiction, as is the harangue of bumptious
George when classed as a patehtic song.
The Lynchburg News. a we'll edited
Virginian exchange. is aware of the
incongruity of the transcripts descrip-
ton and says informingly:
1T was a pleasing fiction of the an
clients tina the swan ang its sweetest
song whe about to die but ornitholo-
gists have not discovered that the swan
is gifted with song either in his dying
hour or at any other period in his life.
The allusion of the Transcript is not
very happy. for the farewell of Con-
gresham White was not a song at all.
and it possessed no particular elements
of sweetness. 1t was an arrangement
| of the white people of this country for
Injustice to his race and a defiant
threat that the negro would yet come
back to power"
But our excellent contemporary
makes another happy point against the
wicked Boston sheet that expends its
sympathies at long-taw. and ~evaporates
it's enthusiasm in windy rhetoric aimed
at the southern whites. We thank the
I News for driving the wedge home with
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
~EX-PRESIDENT HARRISON.

The death of ex-President Benjamin
people north and south. He was an
able man. a wise and safe man. He
vas born at North Bend, Ohio. on 20th
August. 1888, and was therefore in his
6Sth year. Passing through Farmers
college in Cincinnati, he entered Miami
university in 1852, studied law, and n
1854 removed to Indianapolis, Ind,
where he has since resided. In 1860 he
was elected reporter of the state SUI
preme court, and in 1862 entered the
Union army as second lieutenant of In
diana volunteers. After short service
he organized a company of the Seven
tieth ndian regiment. was commits
stoned colonel on completion of the reg
iment, and served through the war, re-
ceiving the brevet of brigadier general
of volunteers on January %, 1866. He
was supreme court reporter, was re-
publican candidate for governor of In
diana but was defeated, was United
States senator in 1881 until 1887, de-
clined a cabinet appointment from
President Garfield, was elected presi-
dent over Cleveland in 1888, but re-
ceived less than a majority of the popu-
lar vote. He was nominated in 1892,
but was defeated by Cleveland. He
was an able debater in the senate, a
superior lecturer on law. a decided re-
publican, but a strong and faithful ad.
xrnoo 70 ar1 Jofandar Of q oonIinp 6prn0-
cratic republican government, opposed
foreign aggression and crafty imper-
ialism. He was a gallant soldier fight
ing the south in several actions. He
was promoted for his bravery and af-
fec5iveness. He was a decided Pres
byterian and active. For some time
he delivered lectures on law in the
Leland stanford university of Califor-
MIA.
Recently he was appointed a men,
Der of the International arbitration
commission by President Mckinley. He
went to Washington about a month
ago as a member of the Presbyterian
committee which had under considera-
ton the proposition for a revision of
the creed.
Latterly he has written very imposing
articles in behalf of the American sys-
tenn of government and welded no lit
tie influence. He and his old political
antagonist. Cleveland. stood together,
side by side. for the preservation of
our free institutions n avoiding the
curse of conquest. General Harrison
held finally to the noble old theory of
the wise men that the constitution fol-
lowed the flag wherever it went. Intwo
articles he presented his contention
with great force and clearness and with
convincing results. \ distinguished
American has gone to his reward. He
was a grandson of General and Presi-
lent William Henry Harrison. He
was marred twice He was a Chris
tan believer.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

The Messenger likes the school libra
ry bill, intended to supply books for
children in the common schools of
North Carolina. 1t is a moderate, feas-
ible plan that will accomplish the ends
sought in So far as procuring a small
library for a school,. If children are
properly taught they will be apt to read
some. There are children born who
can never relish reading. but a large
majority can cultivate a good average
fondness for interesting. imaginative
books, and then become readers of
more solid and importing works. The
plan if carried out will procure a libra
ry for the public school that will cost
$50. This, if properly invested, will
procure a sufficient library for most of
the children taught. The bill is up-to-
date and should meet with legislative
recognition. 1t will become a law as
it has passed the senate and two read
ings in the house.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

How the republicans show their ami
mus in reference to all election law.
Senator London. a wise. safe legislator,
gives it as his opinion that the new law
is the very fairest, best law that North
Carolina has had in two years. The
republicans have been party to such
abominable, vicious, partisan election
laws they are unable TO recognize a
good, fair law when one m under
their biased, perverted vision. One re-
publican senator made a a break in
admitting that he wished to nave re-
stored the infamous election laws of
1895 and 1897. He digged a hole and
he digged it deep"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
BREVITIES.

Mr.. Carnegie, with his $50, 900. 900 or
more, is generous with his many gifts.
1t was nobly done to give S., 1000, 900 to
aid disabled worke in the Carnegie
company. 1t is a high tribute to his
wise generosity.
DR.. Ottolenghi, professor in the Uni
versity of Siena, says the X-ray now
removes all doubt as to when a person
is dead. You car distinguish between
death n a trance.
There is an eagerly pressing opposi-
ton to demanding many more heads
in China. The idea is that justice
should be tempered with mercy. That
would be true Christianity.
England is making great naval prep
a%rations. She will sxpend $3.50. 600. GOO
on her nanny during the next two years,
and 1000, men will be added She is
preparing for her many enemies.
And now the bad news is telegraph
ed on the 10th from Duquoin, Illinois,
tina a negro was tortured by "well-to-
do residents" His offence was that
French was suspected Of knowing
something of the robbery of Henry
Crossman's jewelry store, which was
entered Wednesday and plundered OF
articles woth $3.50.
A riot occurred in Porto Rico over
the treatment of a school girl by Su.
perintendent Armstrong. He was be-
seiged by a mob. Soldiers dispersed it
The supreme court of Utah set aside
a sentence of polygamy imposed or
John c.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19
FOHEwoRDs FROM OLD CAM
PAIGNERs.

Mr.. Bryan has ben IN Philadeiphfa
and New York in the interest II his
weekly newspaper. He vas asked:
DO you think there should be any
change in the democratic PLATFORM
II am perfectly satisfied with it as il
stands. IL Is too early yet to write
platforms"
1t was said tha you insisted upon
the Insertion OF the free silver plank in
the platform at Kansas City Dd
your
Everyone knew I preferred q plat
form that was frank and honest o one
that was evasive-"
What do you think Of the proposal
TO r~eorganixe the democracy?"
Il can only repeat what I have Al
ready said-that the party. II rcorgan-
lied. must be reorgaaixed from within
and not from the outside"
He always talks out boldly and tn
cisively. Both Cleveland ard Hill are
writing letters as TO the reorganization
Cleveland says the party must 70 back
To right principles He SAYS there was
never q time when The country was
more willing 10 accept democracy as
they once knew it Mr.. Hill writes
with his usual point. vigor and sense
We make a saiutary extract:
In this time OF dire defeat. when the
shouts Of the victorious hosts NJ plu-
tocracy, commerciaiism. and imperial
ism. II their recent inaugural festiv-
ties at the national capital. are still
ringing in our ears. We snoGid remem-
Der that the darkest hour - oftenumes
just before the dawn Of day. i am
sure that 4 majority OF the American
electorate will not BE- satisfied with the
continued ruls OF radicatism. extrava-
gance. and corruption. But We must
not deceive ourselves. The people viii
not restore the democratic party Ia
power unless they are satisfied that We
will give them better government than
our opponents. The peopre want n safe
and conservative administration OF
public affairs. There must be no ques-
ton of our intention TO fearlessly main
tain the national credit under any and
all circumstances. We must not per
init our opponents to place US In n
false position as the enemies OF public
order. Labor and capital should be
equally respected. but neither should
be unnecessarily assaulted
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

Italy is much stirred over a mystic
rious fall from the skies. 1t is reported
as really quaking at the blood-red an
CRY skies that pours out a OF san
culinary hue. Il falls from a very fiery
drops actually resemble CIRCULATED
blood. Horrible. scarry! This strange.
most mysterious phenomenon extends
over Sicily also. and The people a II
as a sign of most evil portent. In the
United States something similar has
been aforetime reported.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

The resolution i~n-favor of the election
Of L. S. senators by a direct vote of the
people passed boil houses. The reso-
luton passed the senate by a vote of
% to II. The change should be made
to save the u. S. senate from farther
disgrace. 1t is we'll known that manv
men for twenty-five years or longer
have held seats by purchase. Some of
that kind are there now. 1t is an
bounced hat retiring senator Clark
expended recently nearly $4,000 in the
Montana legislature but failed to buy
enough votes to elect him. The change
is needed. The people are no longe-
living under the pure and just and
economic government that the illus
triouS fathers built. The shadow of
the empire is resting already upon this
country.
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

The course Of Germany and Great
Britain as to tariff retaliation that has
beer talked of in this country mas not
created as yet a panic among the re-
publican robber-tax men. Nor has the
reasonable, wise step been haHen as to
a reciprocity treaty with the nations.
The Dingley drag net. Internal tax law
provides reciprocity treaties. but the
senate took no action before adjourn
ing. The Philadelphia Record that
keeps well up in tariff matters says that
1.-THE French treaty will expire by limi-
tation before the senate shall again
meet. The time for the ratification of
that treaty has been extended until
1902. The non-action of the senate
gives a direct snub TO the president. 1t
involves a refusal to carry OF the poll
cy Of the republican party as laid down
in its national platform. 1t is insulting
to the nations that entered into fruit
less negotiation at h instance of our
government. n oppressive to the
great interests OF the country that are
crippled in the extension of their for
eign trade by our restrictive tariff pol.
icy"
The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-19

Senator McLaurin was elected by
democrats as a democratic senator
from South Carolina. He has been
long acting with the republicans on
important measures. His views are
those Of that party. He owes 1t to his
state, n party that elected him under
wrong impressions. and himself TO re-
sign at once. The Washington CORE
spondent of the New York Herald, says
that 'McLaurin has requested that his
name be stricken from the rolls OF the
democratic caucus When he was sum-
moned by Chairman Jones TO attend
the caucus Of democratic senators. held
last week. Senator McLaurin said he
did not care to go into democratic eau
cuses in the future. and that he would
break of all political associations with
his late party associates"