The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-18

Feeble almost borne in the arms Of an
other gray old veteran OF he senate
service, James L. Edwards, a doorkeep-
er. Then, handing he invalid his
cane. they slowly walk TO the elevator
inside the building. tne senator's en-
tire weight almost borne on the old
doorkeeper's shoulder and arm. But
all during the daily sessions Senator
Vest leans bravely back in has chair and
closely observes the proceedings OF he
body in which he las for so many
years been a leading figure
When he is gone a host Of memories
will cling about the desk where he spent
the last year Of his great public career
Whoever may come to the senate in his
place. there can be no loftier sentiment
expressed towards HIM than the hope
h he will prove as to his
state and to his nation as was George
Graham Vest"
So many queer, silly things are done
sometimes by government Take the
instance pointed out by the Pittsburg
CPa.) Dispatch regarding neutrality OBJ
Il says, lit is a curious Illus
tration OF the extreme elasticity Of in
ternational law" says the PittsburS
Dispatch. tina American flour sailing
under a neutral flag to a neutral port
was seized rs c~ontraband by h Brit
ish on the ground that it might ulti-
mately reach the Beers, while Ameri-
can mules delivered direct to the Brit
ish army officers for active service are
held to be entirely within the province
Of neutrality"
If men in their individuaI capacity
were to be as unreasonable and unjust
the law would come in to make them
behav themselves.
=. :. =.
There is a trick in the ship subsidy
bill. and The Messenger referred TO l.
so soon as it passed the senate. Han
ma introduced it. The staunch republi-
can Chicago Tribune has recently given
the Hanna amendment a blow
and. strange to say, no sena-
tor objected to it. What does
it mean, what is its purpose. The
Tribune thinks that it is intended I"
open the way to the purchase and con-
troll of foreign steamship lines by
American railway companies, and -
exempt them from the provisions Of the
Sherman antitrust law. This would
seem to be the effect of the words EN-
ployed. since the exemption is made
applicable to former acts Of congress,
as we'll as to this particular one. The
Tribune rightly calls it a dangerous and
audacious proposition.
X i. -
Several territories are knocking at
the door Of the republic to enter and
put in statehood. Republicans will let in
all that give sure promise to voting
with the robber gang-the high protec-
ton, trust, ship subsidy party. They
will be sure to shut out any territory
tina is scored as doubtful Or certaint:
democratic, if there be such. New Mex
leo and Oklahoma will be certainly re-
publican soon if not now. The former
has been voting republican lately, and
the latter can be managed to 10 SO.
The Boston Herald, Und.) says: TT
resources the republicans have in the
possession of the national government
and the superior wealth and smart
ness of their politicians, they should
carry all three Of the localities rs
states" Oklahoma is one of them.
IL Z!
Another example of governmental
foolishness is the way the extra reve-
nue. income was dealt with. No sound.
level-headed business man can do bus
mess ia that way pursued by the gov
eminent The Philadelphia Record ex-
plains and comments very satisfactory
ly as follows:
1T was better to do away with the
war taxes than to continue to collect eX-
cessive event. and pile it VI in the
treasury to derange the business of the
Int and to foster eXtravagant out
lay: but it would have been the part or
craftsmanship to retain those war taxes
most cheaply collected and fairly dis
ibute and to repeal. instead, other
taxes which e with severity upon
the manufacturing industries and which
unduly increase the cost of living. It
would have been better, for example,
to retain the tax on beer and TO epeaI
the tax on beef"
!. \ II
Our Anglo-maniac Secretary of State
Hay is not always wise or fortunate.
ugly fix with the alleged b~ribe-offering
schemer before ventilated in The Mes
senger. The Independent New York
Evening Post begins an editorial in his
wise:
1T is unfortunate that Secretary Hay
should have had any dealings whatev-
er with the adventurer Christmas, as
it appears from his letter to the house
committee on the bribery charges that
he did. We cannot consider it discreet
for the department of state to enter into
relations with 4 foreigner who. as Mr..
Hay admits. had no credentials what
ever. 1t was inadvisable to send this
man TO Copenhagen. along with our
secretary of legation at London. to as
certain what u own minister on the
SPOT would have been able to find out
without any circumlocution."
That cunning fellow was for making
"Hay while the sun shines" so no.