The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-11

One of the strangest discoveries of re-
cent date is that OF a Boston clergyman
who is sending out tracts to show that
the Odd Fellows and the Masons and
other secret societies are wolves in
sleeps clothing" Next.-Worc-ster
Telegram
There is an inclination in some quar-
ters to criticise the Grafton delivered
by General Miles in Philadelphia on In.
dependence Day, but Secretary-of-War
Root ays he read the speech in full,
and sees nothing in it open to eXcep-
ton. Perhaps Root has come to the
conclusion hat he cant down Miles
Augusta Chronicle.
So far as We remember to have seen,
the Philadelphia Record is the only
northern newspaper which has entered
a protest against the vicious bill passed
by congress granting pensions to de-
serters from the Confederate armies
who went over to the Union ranks.
Some few southern newspapers may
have condemned the measure, but even
in this section the criticisms have been
few-perhapS because protest was be-
lieved to be useless.-Columbia State.
Harry Lehr's dinner TO the monkey
at Newport the other day proves TWO
things; first, that e York's swell So
cial set is not averSe to recognizing q
collateral descendant Of a remote but
common ancestor, and. second, that
when the swell set fihds one who is
really congenal, it does not hesitate to
sit down to dinner with him.. Thus
Mr.. Lehr is laboring to convince the
world that society is not so ~snobbish
and is more democratic than has been
supposed.-Savannah News.
Mr.. Elkins say his annexation reso-
luton provides that the Cubans must
take the initiative. and that we are to
act only after they have asked to be
annexed. That may be. but Mr.. Elkins
seems disposed to apply the thumb
sorrows and keep turning until they cry
out for annexation to get relief. 1t is
to be observed that he has made him
self as conspicuous as possible in op-
posing any measure for the relief of
Cuba as virtually pledged by the Plat
observation-disclosures Chronicle
Neither Mr.. Cleveland, the man who
led the democracy in two victorious
campaigns. nor Mr.. Bryan, who re-
versed that record. being available for
1904, various elements of the demo
cratic party are looking about for a
leader. THE new man" is getting to be
a topic for frequent and frank discus
sion in democratic papers north, south.
east. n west. They have the good
taste not to call him Moses for they
do not want him to die before reaching
the objective point. They are also shy
Of Aaron" the architect of the golden
calf. With a caution born of exb1r
fence, they avoid anything like a
specific designation fo- the longed-for
object of their search, being wisely con-
tent to refer to him as the new man."
Washington Post
The announcement is made on high
authority that Attorney-General Knox
and Representative Littlefield, of
Maine, rave been deputed to frame al
antitrust bill, which will be introduced
at the next session Of congress as an
administration measure. Simultan-
eously the announcement is made in
Chicago dispatches that the packing
industry of the west is to be %consoli-
dated into a gigantic combination, with
Mr.. John d. Rockefeller as the central
figure in the financial arrangements.
All disintersted citizens regardless of
political affiliations, Will wish the At
torney-General and Representative
Littlefield the greatest measure of sue
cess in devising legislation designed to
regulate the trusts. They will meet
with many discouragements, however,
chief of which is the unwillingness Of
those who control the trusts to believe
that antitrust measures ever advance
beyond the Pickwickian stage. Perhaps
the trust regulators really mean bust
ness and are not simply making faces
at the Colossus for moral effect. 1t Is
significant that antitrust activity in
high places has become more pro-
nounced since the minority congress-
men met In caucus in Washington re-
Gently n sounded the anti-combine
keynote. Is it possible that the "ins'
are starting thus early in the season
to try and spike the guns of the "outs7''
Baltimore Sun.